Re: [IxDA Discuss] User Research: Three user groups, five hours. What would you do?
I guess my response earlier got lost. I am planning on taking notes and hoping for the chance to do audio. I was thinking about video but as others have mentioned that might make the user feel strange and alter the results. I still have to talk to our contact at the location about audio recording. I will have one other person going with me. He is a business analyst and has asked me to let him know what I need him to do. If we do a focus group I'll probably have him do notes since in my experience it has been awkward to facilitate and take notes. On note taking I usually do general point notes or things that really stand out and then use the tape for direct quotes or clarifications. My journalism degree comes in handy with note taking, interviews and focus groups. @Jonathan To the rest of your points. I'll be doing a contextual inquiry since we want to observe how the software is being used vs the model of how we think it is being used. Plus either interviews or a focus groups depending on the number of people they are making available in each user group. No resources for transcription, our UI team is 3 people. The on site time is a one shot deal in and out the same day. We have to fly to the location so we have to cram as much as we can into one session. We could probably do some follow up e-mails but I doubt we will be able to go back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=38073 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] User Research: Three user groups, five hours. What would you do?
I am being given the opportunity to visit a client of our software to do some user research. I have never been on site with any of our clients before. At this client we have 3 user groups two who do different tasks and one super user who can do everything plus config. I only have five maybe six hours depending on flights being on time etc. We have full access to both groups all day but I would like to send them some sort of schedule so they are not just sitting around waiting on us. Goals: 1. Understand the users and how they use the software. 2. Uncover any pain points. 3. Bring back recommendations for changes. Right now my plan is to do a contextual inquiry and watch one member of each group work through their tasks using the software. Then move to either an interview or a focus group of what they think about the software. As far as time most of it will be spent with the individual users and not the super user. This is the first time the company has sent anyone to do something like this.I am hoping it goes well and we can bring back good information so we can do some more of these visits. Advice is appreciated! Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] User Research: Three user groups, five hours. What would you do?
@Elizabeth I was planning on talking to the user after I spend some time observing them. I am not sure how many people they will really free up for us so if we have a number of people in that group I might do a focus group instead. @Dana What we are trying to do is understand our user base more and take that to propose changes to the software. We know there are some issues and others that seem like issues but may not be. I have been through the full work flow with the business analyst for this product so I know the way we think they do things but I am not sure if this is the right model. Thanks for the suggestions I am working on the plan right now and your ideas really help. @Nicholas I was thinking of doing a meeting in the morning to explain who we are and why we are here. I hadn't thought of using it to figure out exactly who to target but that is a good idea. I am planning on asking if I can record the sessions in some manner so I can share them with the rest of the UI team and others people who work on this product. Thanks everyone for your great feedback. If anyone else has thoughts or experiences please share. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=38073 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] UI Team Marketing
Our UI team is getting ready to start a marketing program. The purpose is to raise awareness of the existence of the team, educate people as to what we do, what UI is and some basic information about it. This will lead up to a training class on UI standards. The plan right now is a series of posters for the break room shared by the US RD department. We are planning on changing them every week or every other week depending on the topics we have to cover. Has anyone tried something like this before? Any advice, thoughts etc would be welcome. Thanks, Jamie McAtee UI Designer Manhattan Associates Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Prospective IxD student seeking some portfolio / grad program advice
I am a graduate of the HCI Design program at Indiana University. http://xavier.informatics.indiana.edu/gradsites/hcid/masters/ A portfolio is not required for this program. My background is in Journalism so I had some photography and graphic design training. I had been doing web design and development before I started the program. Others in the program had backgrounds in psychology, criminal justice, computer science and a wide variety of other majors. The program also had people from all over the world. Feel free to contact me off list if you want to discuss the program some more. Others to look at: University of Michigan http://www.si.umich.edu/msi/hci.htm Georgia Tech http://www.cc.gatech.edu/education/grad/ms-hci I know Savannah College of Art and design is working on a program. David Malouf can speak about this program more. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=35211 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Gathering Data from Training
Bojhan, I am also in a similar situation. The company I work for builds supply chain management products. Everything from warehousing and transportation to forecasting of goods. The system is quite complex and has a fairly high learning curve. We also have training courses and consultants that go on site to install the software. The consultants are not UI people but I am sure they see many things that would be helpful. We are hoping to be able to engage them for feedback but haven't come up with a strategy for it yet. Jamie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=34208 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Creating a UI Spec Document Template
Thanks to everyone who shared examples and gave ideas. I have ordered Communicating Design it looks like a great book. We are a very new team the person who has been around the longest has been here 5 months and I have been here a month. We have one more person joining in two months and that will round out the team minus the manager who started the initiative. So we have a lot of work ahead of us to establish how things are communicated etc. Thanks again and keep the suggestions/ideas coming. Jamie McAtee User Interface Designer Manhattan Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=32403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Creating a UI Spec Document Template
Right now our small team is communicating UI changes and enhancements with developers using PowerPoint mock ups with notes. I am concerned this will eventually backfire and would like to bring a little more formality to the process. Is anyone willing to share their UI spec document and/or recommendations for putting together a spec. I have used the PayPal format before but it has been a while and I don't remember everything that was in it. Since our team is very small I don't want to bring about a lot of paperwork just something to make sure we have all of our bases covered. Thanks, Jamie Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Creating a UI Spec Document Template
Right now our small team is communicating UI changes and enhancements with developers using PowerPoint mock ups with notes. I am concerned this will eventually backfire and would like to bring a little more formality to the process. Is anyone willing to share their UI spec document and/or recommendations for putting together a spec? I have used the PayPal format before but it has been a while and I don't remember everything that was in it. Since our team is very small I don't want to bring about a lot of paperwork just something to make sure we have all of our bases covered. Thanks, Jamie Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
