Tuesday, 1 December

Week 14: User-Centered Design 4/4

Housekeeping

Thursday is a "Work Period" -- your Mentors and I will be here to help but there will be no formal class activities

Your final quiz, on this week's topics, will be given next week.

Looking ahead (re: Syllabus)

Final Exam (Tuesday, 15 December: 8:00 - 10:00 am (in this room)) Study Questions


Review of Quiz Questions

What is “brainstorming”? What is the value of it? What are the eight rules of brainstorming?

Brainstorming is a great way to come up with a lot of ideas that you would not be able to generate by just sitting down with a pen and paper.

The intention of brainstorming is to leverage the collective thinking of the group, by engaging with each other, listening, and building on other ideas. Conducting a brainstorm also creates a distinct segment of time when you intentionally turn up the generative part of your brain and turn down the evaluative part.

The eight rules of brainstorming: 

1. Defer Judgment; 2. Go for volume; 3. One conversation at a time; 4. Be visual; 5. Headline your idea; 6. Build on the Ideas of others; 7. Stay on topic; 8. Encourage wild ideas

How are brainstorming sessions facilitated?

There are three main aspects for facilitate brainstorm. 

ENERGY – As the facilitator it is your task to keep the ideas flowing. 

CONSTRAINTS – Add constraints that may spark new ideas. 

SPACE – Be mindful about the space in which you conduct a brainstorm.

What is “selection” in the brainstorming process? Why is it important and how is it done?

Selection is to choose a range of ideas generated from brainstorming. 

Your brainstorm should generate many, wide-ranging ideas. Now harvest that brainstorm, so those ideas don’t just sit there on the board.

How can you “Prototype for Empathy”? Please give an example of this that could be done by your group in the context of Project 4.

Empathy prototypes are often best used when you have done some work to understand the design space, and want to dig deeper into a certain area or probe an insight you are developing. Think about what aspect of the challenge you want to learn more about. Then discuss or brainstorm ways you might investigate that subject. You can create prototypes for empathy to test with users or with your design team.

What is the purpose of the “Prototype to Test” method? Please give an example of this that could be done by your group in the context of Project 4.

Prototyping to test is the iterative generation of low-resolution artifacts that probe different aspects of your design solution or design space. The fundamental way we test our prototypes is by letting users experience them and react to them. In creating prototypes to test with users you have the opportunity to examine your solution decisions as well as your perception of your users and their needs.

What is the procedure you would follow, in the context of Project 4, to “Test with Users”?

1. Let your user experience the prototype. 

2. Have them talk through their experience. 

3. Actively observe.

4. Follow up with questions.

Who, according to your textbook’s authors, is design for? Be comprehensive in your answer.

The book argues that design is for other people; not for us. Being a more empathic designer requires that you step out of yourself, and recognize that different people have different needs and expectations.

What are some of the benefits and challenges of design for user experience?

The benefits are to get to know the needs of real users and understand what they think. 

Challenges are that UXD methods require designers to actively inviting other people to be critical of their work and of their ideas. What is more, designers may have to leave the comfort of the familiar environment to hear this and respond constructively at all times.

Clarifying what is due for Project 4.3 (re: Project Brief)

Group meeting time, mentor check-in

Assignment for Monday, 8 December at 11:59 pm through Canvas Assignments

Project 4.3 due along with Group Member Evaluations and Individual Reflection Paper