Lessons Learnt from NM4210

I’m glad that this module has given me a taste of what its like to embark on the design process and shedding some light on how it is far from easy.  Though it’d be even nicer to see how industries execute this.
I honestly never expected it to be so much about ‘research’ – understanding the users; conducting evaluations after evaluations of the product.
And possibly the hardest two things about designing User Experience is marrying good aesthetic design with functionality.
I enjoyed the activities and assignments we had to do although they were challenging at times, but what we covered during lecture provided us with useful tools on understanding our users better.
I feel that I need to be more passionate about understanding users, because it really is something so tedious, time consuming and not always enjoyable especially when they don’t seem like a very interesting bunch.
However, I feel that we’ve only skimmed the surface of UX design and there still is a whole lot more to learn!

Final Project Reflections

The final project has provided me with a good learning experience with regards to designing user experience. It was a chance to put concepts learnt into practice and to actually see how all of them fit together.
It was also interesting that despite being cautioned in class about placing functionality before experience, we somehow found ourselves doing it. In retrospect, we unwittingly did that in hopes of increasing user satisfaction and because it was the easier thing to do
But what I probably took home about User Experience Design from this project were with respect to these 3 things:
1.    User’s Needs & Experience
2.    Design Aesthetics
3.    Technical Ability

User’s Needs & Experience
This is something that was really hard to do, especially if what you designed wasn’t something that you’d use. Unlike designing the LT experience, of which we were also users of, the iCook wasn’t something we’d use.
This meant that we really needed to get down and dirty with our users – to truly understand them and their needs. We needed to spend time talking to them, finding out more about them, doing field research instead of jumping straight into working on the product, with the little we knew about them and assuming that was sufficient. Getting more into their psyche was something we could and should have done more of.
Undoubtedly, this is probably the most boring aspect, apart from user evaluations but I believe this is probably the most important consideration when it comes to designing. Although there are needs that can be met with functionality, our ultimate aim is to please a thinking and more importantly, feeling human being.

Design Aesthetics
This is probably the next most important thing in UX design because appearance communicates and appeals to the emotions, affecting experience. It took us quite awhile to come up with an interface design that pleased our users, but I’m glad we eventually did.
Technical Ability
I couldn’t imagine if there were no students from Computing in this course, because constructing a prototype would have been almost impossible. The lack of technical ability to make ideas a reality would also affect the end product.  It was a good experience working with students from another faculty, albeit challenging at times because we had differing viewpoints. Nonetheless, it was a good simulation of working with other departments in a company.

User Research Smoke & Mirrors

The article has addressed pertinent issues related to scientific user research in the design of user experience. Though the author is generally doubtful of scientific research affecting design processes, he has pointed out some advantages such as ‘Research as a Political Tool’ (Part 3) and ‘Interpreting research to influence Design’ (part 2), both of which I agree with.
Like him, I too reject scientific research as foundations of design processes because of the subjective nature of user experience. I believe that scientific research only serves to provide designers with useful empirical data to aids them in their work.
Scientific research merely provides designers with data on users’ attitudes and behavior, which is insufficient to create a user experience. Alternatively, information herald from such research should serve as a basis for designers to further question and understand users better through other research methods.
And as mentioned in the article, results from scientific research should also help designers in gaining management’s trust and support.
Instead of scientific research being the foundation of the design process, let its purpose be an evaluation tool on user’s experience with the product.
I believe that there is no ‘___ (fill in desired number) Step Formula’ in ensuring a good user experience design. In fact, I daresay that there is no fixed formula in deriving a good experience because an experience cannot be quantifiable.
Also, I believe that flexibility is the key because no two design problems are alike. Targeted user demographics may differ when designing the same product and even this difference will have a significant effect on the design process.

Lecture Theater Transformation: Enhancing learning experience

The Task:
To find out how the learning experience in lecture theaters (LTs) can be improved.

The Process:
We assessed the quality of the ‘learning experience’ in NUS’ lecture theaters through 2 methods
– (i) An observational field study
- (ii) user interviews.

(i) Observational Field Study
The habits and behavior of students during lecture time were observed at 3 different lecture theatres (LT8, 11 & 12) over 3 days. The results were used to identify problem areas that could be looked into for further improvement.

Based on our findings, working on these potential areas could improve the learning experience in the LTs.

- Doors: sound
- Table: size, retractability
- Seating arrangements: distance from one seat to the other/connectedess
- Buzzer: sound
- Availability of power points
- Temperature of the room

(ii) Interview: Laddering approach
The laddering approach was used to better understand what hindered students from having a good learning experience. 5 students were interviewed in this study.

The interviews highlight some causes of a poor learning experience:
• Insufficient power points in lecture theatre
• Lessons are too long
• Air-con is too cold
• Lecture theatre is too enclosed
• Table is too small

The Conclusion:
Collectively, the data gathered from both studies reflected these areas we could work on.

• Availability of power points
• Duration of the lecture
• The temperature of the theatre
• Lecture theatre is too enclosed
• Tables are too small, problems pulling them out
• The noise of the doors opening and closing
• The sound of the buzzer signaling the end of class
• The distance between one seat to the next

The Recommendations:
We came up with improvements to the lecture theatre experience that takes place on 3 different levels
– the architectural/ambient level, the personal level and the virtual level.

However, the main feature of the improved learning experience will be the chairs with tablet PCs attached to them. More details of the chair will be covered in the description of the latter levels.
Architectural/ambient level
• An ‘open’ architectural concept
• Warm colored interior
• Temperature set at 21 Degrees Celsius
• Stand alone seats
• Well oiled doors
• Breaks after every 45 minutes
• Melody to replace the buzzer sound

We propose that the LT either be designed with a sun roof or big glass windows so it will feel bigger and closer to nature. As colors evoke moods, warmer colors should be used to perk students up. Also, research has shown that the optimum temperature for learning is between 20-21 Degrees Celsius, thus we suggest the air-condition be set at this level.

We also propose that seats in the LT should stand alone rather than be connected so as to facilitate the ease of moving around. Another perk of this seating arrangement is that students will be less inclined to chat with the person beside them while the lecture is going on.

The doors of the LT should be well oiled or have a dampener attached to mute the sounds of them moving.

We would also like to suggest that the lecturer administer breaks every 45 minutes as studies have shown that concentration lapses after that.

The last suggestion at this stage would be to replace the buzzer sound with a more pleasant melody.

Personal Level
• Writing tablet PCs attached to the chair
• Adjustable angle of elevation for the tablet
• Cupholder attached to the chair
• Bagholder compartment on the chair
• A3 sized writing tablet
• Chair with adjustable armrest
• Availability of plug-in headphones

As mentioned earlier, each chair will have its own tablet PC attached. This tablet can be extended to an A3 size. The rationale for the tablet PC is to eliminate the need for students to bring their laptops and their subsequent need for a power point. It also saves the need for space for papers and stationery. The attached cup holder and bag holder also solves the problem of a lack of space. The tablet’s angle of elevation will be adjustable so as to suit the different users preferences. The armrest will also be adjustable so the handedness of the user will not be a deterrent to experiencing the design.

Finally, the chair will feature the option of listening to the lecture using headphones. This will provide an alternative listening channel to the lecture should there be chatter.

Virtual level
The experience at this level will feature the software and features found on the tablet PCs. Students can log onto these computers and download their lecture slides which they can take notes on. After writing on the ‘virtual paper’ they can either save it onto their personal database or send it straight to the printer. On this system, students can also send queries to the lecturer immediately instead of keeping it for an opportune moment that may never arrive. Conversely, the lecturer can choose to answer these questions at his or her own timing, as random questions can sometimes be disrupting.

Personal Reflection

I think it really helped that we (like the users) were also student’s who attended classes in these LTs because we were able to better understand the users and grasp the essence of their predicament when they say “the table is too small”. Designing the user experience of something which you are not a user of is even more difficult and challenging because we lack the background and social context of users when they engage with the product and that is extremely important.

I suppose the only way then is to really infiltrate the lives of the users, know them better, their thoughts, motivations, desires (as we have learnt during the lectures) and examine their relationship and interaction with the product.

Assignment Trois

The Profile
Known  to most of his acquaintances and colleagues as Chris, Chen Ye Ming gave himself that name after deciding that having an English name seemed more sophisticated. He turns 27 this year and has been in the Banking line for almost 2 years now. He is still working his way up the ranks so it’s important for him to make a good impression on everyone.

It’s not suprising that he goes to great lengths to ensure that he is well groomed and impeccably dressed. Perpetually clean shaven, he goes for facials monthly, threads his eyebrows and heads to the manicurist occasionally. His weekly ritual of going to the gym and playing tennis with close friends shows in his toned physique. Adding to his list of activities  is golf lessons as well. He hopes it will help with clinching deals in the future.

Chris primes himself to be up to date with trends so he almost always has the latest tech gadget, be it an iPhone or a good digital SLR camera.

He goes shopping fairly often and is willing to pay for a $500 Paul Smith shirt as long as it fits well and looks great on him. Branded merchandise is what he goes for because he feels that it’ll help him look like he’s already ‘made it’ in the corporate world. On a deeper level, it actually makes up for an insecurity that stems from his not so well-to-do family background which he is sometimes ashamed of.

Nonetheless, he hides his insecurities and presents himself as a charmer, using humour and wit to get around. Chris is outgoing and personable and someone whom everyone loves being around.

The Analysis 

Physio-pleasure 

* Going to the Gym and playing Tennis keeps Chris physically fit and healthy (NEED)
* Visiting the manicurist is not necessary but it makes him feel good. (APPRECIATION)

Socio-pleasure

* $500 on a Paul Smith shirt seems reasonable to Chris because it gives people the impression that he’s rich. (APPRECIATION)
* Tennis games with close friends provides R&R time with people who truly know and understand him. A needed break from the superficialities of work. (NEED)

Psycho-pleasure

* Learning to play Golf is a challenge for Chris. Also in the future it opens more avenues to interact with clients and gives him a place in the local ‘golf scene’ that is rather prestegious. (NEED)
* Going for designer labels makes up for Chris’ insecurities about himself.
* Owning an iPhone makes Chris feel exclusive and cool because it still has not yet been launched in Singapore. (APPRECIATION)

Ideo-pleasure 

*Buying designer merchandise is part of Chris’ way of ensuring that he looks good and will leave a good impression on the people around him. (NEED)

The Product Benefit Specs of a Handphone

The Phone will have to be from a strong brand that makes a statement.
It should be one of the latest models and boast many incredible functions as well as performance since he prides himself on keeping up with technological trends.
Cost would not be  an issue with Chris.
Looks wise it should be sleek,  and clean cut just like him -the phone acting as an extention of himself.

I think the iPhone would be the best bet.

Assignment deux

Visceral

Nooka Zot
Designed by Matthew Waldman, a New York based artist and designer, the Zot bears a unique design that disappointingly makes the watch hard to read although the style factor is definitely strong.

 

Visceral: Aestheically pleasing, sleek and unique design.

Behavioral: Reasonably priced – $300+, hard to read, not minute-specific

Reflective: Cool trendy factor

 

 

This watch is definitely eye-catching and attention grabbing but who wants to wear a watch that doesn’t quite serve its purpose. Although wearing this watch will elevate you to coolhunter status, the main draw is really it’s physical design.

 

Behavioral

Casio G-Shock
Touted as shockproof, the G-Shock is marketed as a hardy timepiece that boasts many functions well suited to a sporty, active individual.

Visceral: Sporty, durable, dull

Behavioral: Tough, multi-functional

Reflective: Economical watch, no style appeal

Not particulary eye-catching or aesthetically appealing but this watch takes a utilitarian approach.
No doubts about that.

 

Reflective

 

Vacheron Constantin Kallista
Made in 1979 with an initial price of $5 million. Today the watch is valued at about $11 million. It took about 6,000 hours for the watch masters to make this watch with 118 emerald cut diamonds and about 20 months for the best jewelers in the world to enrich the watch.

Visceral: UGLY.

Behavioral: hard to read, no other functions

Reflective: status symbol (one of the most expensive watches in the world), the value of diamonds

 

Its aesthetics and attractiveness is debatable, but in my opinion it looks awful. Even though the function of a watch is to tell the time, this hardly looks possible with a face like that. Nonetheless, if it’s in your possession the whole world will want to be best friends with you! And remember me then too.

 

Welcome

To my NM4210 User Experience Design blog.

Good design starts here,

just wait and see.