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COMP719-2025-S1-Wk7-2

COMP719-2025-S1-L7 User Research 1: Cognitive Task Analysis

Design Thinking Phases

  • A non-linear approach to tackle ill-defined or unknown problems involving five phases:

    • Empathize

    • Define

    • Ideate

    • Prototype

    • Test

    • Implement

  • Note that the process is not linear.

The Double Diamond Design Thinking Process

  • Adapted from the Design Council (2004).

  • Involves a cyclical process: User Problem -> Tasks / Activities -> Context Phenomenon -> Design Problem.

HCI Analysis-Design-Evaluate Process

Analysis / User Research (Empathize)

  • Understand the User Problem.

  • Problem Analysis:

    • Who are the users?

    • What do they do?

    • What's difficult?

    • Why is it difficult?

  • User – Task, Activities, Work:

    • What is the primary task?

    • Context, Purpose

    • Work Phenomenon

  • Methods:

    • Interviews

    • Task Analysis (TA): HTA, Process chart / process maps, model the problem

    • Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA): cognitive strategies

    • Observation

    • Surveys and Questionnaires

    • User Journey Map

    • Personas

  • Understanding Human Capabilities and limits e.g. ABCS Framework

Design (Define & Ideate)

  • Define the Design Problem:

    • What will the design do to address the problem and primary task?

  • Ideate:

    • Generate several design alternatives

    • Conceptual Design

Prototype

  • Rapid prototyping

  • Lo-fidelity prototyping

    • Sketching, storytelling

    • Storyboards

    • Wireframes

    • Mock-ups

  • Hi-fidelity prototype (interactive)

  • Implement as software

Evaluate (Test)

  • Evaluate without people (analytic methods)

    • Heuristic Evaluation (expert)

    • Cognitive Walkthrough

    • e.g. Human Working Memory Capacity (7 \pm 2), GOMS / KLM, PUMA, Fitts Law, etc.

  • Evaluate with people

    • Controlled settings

      • Usability Testing

      • Usability Experiments

      • Usability labs

    • Natural settings

      • Living labs

      • Field studies (studying actual users use a device in-situ)

Stage comparison

  • Double Diamond stages: Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver

  • NN/g Design Thinking stages: Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, Implement