Abstract
Designing a usable web site structure requires understanding users’ concepts of the content. There are many approaches to usability that advocate human factors research methods and lengthy engineering style approaches to design. Such methods however, can be time consuming and may involve expertise outside the remit of the designer. We describe a user-centred design tool, whereby a proposed information architecture can be tested against users’ understanding via the web. Pilot studies suggest that the web is an effective medium for user-testing and enabled us to conduct tests quickly and efficiently. This supports our view of the efficacy of the tool approach to user-centred design research. We argue that usability cannot be achieved by applying prescriptive methods and design guidelines, but rather by applying a set of practical and focused tools that leave the design in the hands of the designer.
Citation
Knight, J., and Jefsioutine, M. (2002) Understanding the user-experience: tools for user-centred design of interactive media, in Durling, D. and Shackleton, J. (eds.), Common Ground - DRS International Conference 2002, 5-7 September, London, United Kingdom. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2002/researchpapers/42
Understanding the user-experience: tools for user-centred design of interactive media
Designing a usable web site structure requires understanding users’ concepts of the content. There are many approaches to usability that advocate human factors research methods and lengthy engineering style approaches to design. Such methods however, can be time consuming and may involve expertise outside the remit of the designer. We describe a user-centred design tool, whereby a proposed information architecture can be tested against users’ understanding via the web. Pilot studies suggest that the web is an effective medium for user-testing and enabled us to conduct tests quickly and efficiently. This supports our view of the efficacy of the tool approach to user-centred design research. We argue that usability cannot be achieved by applying prescriptive methods and design guidelines, but rather by applying a set of practical and focused tools that leave the design in the hands of the designer.