Abstract
In today’s marketplace, developing new user experiences significantly influences success. Like never before, it has become vital to connect with consumers in experiential ways. “Recognizing experiences as a distinct economic offering,” note Joseph Pine and James Gilmore (1999), authors of The Experience Economy, “provides the key to future economic growth.” This paper describes a (x 4), a new method for designing user experiences. Drawing from elements found in market research, ethnography and design, a (x 4) is an effective tool that features a unique emphasis on visual and narrative communication. The paper includes: • background information about the emergence of user experience as a critical design challenge. • a full description of a (x 4), including theory and the application process. • results from a research project conducted to explore and evaluate the effectiveness of a (x 4).
Citation
Rothstein, P. (2002) a (x 4): Combining ethnography, scenario-building, and design to explore user experience, 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/69
a (x 4): Combining ethnography, scenario-building, and design to explore user experience
In today’s marketplace, developing new user experiences significantly influences success. Like never before, it has become vital to connect with consumers in experiential ways. “Recognizing experiences as a distinct economic offering,” note Joseph Pine and James Gilmore (1999), authors of The Experience Economy, “provides the key to future economic growth.” This paper describes a (x 4), a new method for designing user experiences. Drawing from elements found in market research, ethnography and design, a (x 4) is an effective tool that features a unique emphasis on visual and narrative communication. The paper includes: • background information about the emergence of user experience as a critical design challenge. • a full description of a (x 4), including theory and the application process. • results from a research project conducted to explore and evaluate the effectiveness of a (x 4).