Seeking examples of design informed by user research…

…but not just any user research. A while back I posted some thoughts on how user research might begin to take a more complex and therefore more real view of people. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about how to go beyond tasks and goals and incorporate meaning, culture, and context. I’ve also talked about this at a few conferences as well. Every time I bring it up, there’s a lot of discussion and general agreement. I think on some level this just feels right, especially to those of us who have made careers out of being advocates for users.

But how much evidence do we have that this really makes a difference in design outcomes? When have more nuanced or more complex understandings of users been instrumental in creating successful designs?

One good example of this might be Ziba’s work for Lenovo. They clearly moved beyond the task/goal framework and had a very successful design as a result.

I have a few other examples like this, many internal to AP, but would really like to find more. If you now of any, please post them in the comments. And please give as much detail as you can.  What did you do? Why?  How did it make a difference? We will all be able to benefit from these either for improving our craft or just making our case to clients or managers.

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Originally
from Adaptive Path

by Todd W


reBlogged

by michael

on Jan 11, 2007, 3:29AM

Originally by Todd W from Adaptive Path on January 10, 2007, 8:29pm