Interface

Interactive Web Design I · DM2280B spring 2013 · Corcoran College of Art + Design
Instructor: David Ramos alberto_ramos@corcoran.edu

We interact with a variety of machines in the course of a day. Some of them are simple, like drinking fountains with one button to active water flow. Some, like Metro’s farecard vending machines, are far more complex, with designs shaped by historical engineering requirements and layers of unplanned growth.

Identify one of these kinds of machines – choose something complex, and something that lets a user perform some kind of transaction. Previous classes worked with Metro farecard machines. You might also consider machines for pay-to-park systems; Amtrak or airline self-ticketing; electronic voting; Bikeshare vending; or supermarket self-checkout. (Other systems might work well, but propose your idea to the instructor first.)

Imagine that we now have the chance to create new machines. Study the way that people use the existing machines and report on their strengths, their failings, and any unmet needs or ideas you have for improvement. Plan a flow for the user, then create three paper prototype interfaces, each examining a different approach, and test these prototypes with people from outside of the class. On the basis of your findings and in-class critiques, create a final paper prototype and repeat the user testing.

Brief

Design for today’s world, with today’s mix of users and requirements. Machines should occupy the same footprint as the current machines, and should work with existing tickets, credit cards, and currency. Use real-world technology. Your redesign is not, however, constrained by budgetary concerns.

Topics

empathy, user behavior, interaction design, prototyping, user testing

Phases of Work

Observation/research/reflection

In this phase, try to answer four questions: who uses these machines? how do people use the machines? what do different people need and expect? and how well do the machines serve those needs and expectations?

Start by using one of these machines yourself. Then observe people at the machines, watching for any differences between different users. Interview friends and colleagues, asking not only what they think about the current machines, but what they expect from a machine.

Based on your findings about expectations/needs, propose improvements to the machines.

For 7 February: tell us what you’re thinking about doing, and what your ideas are. Bring images, diagrams, or other supporting visuals.

You will want to conduct more research after the 7th.

Conceptual design

Think about how you would redesign the machines. Make two to four paper prototypes that explore different approaches. Deliverable: three rough paper prototypes, each consisting of a flowchart that maps out a user’s experience with the system; a drawing of the front of the machine; and any other details or screens that you need to explain your draft idea. Your drawings do not need to be well resolved – they just need to explain how the machine should work. user testing. Find friends, relatives, or colleagues – two to four people will do fine. Test the paper prototypes against these people, and observe the results.

Deliverable: a one-page table or diagram summarizing your findings.

Design development

Create one final proposed redesign, drawing on what you have learned from user testing and critiques.

Deliverable: one rough paper prototypes, each consisting of a flowchart that maps out a user’s experience with the system; a drawing of the front of the machine; and any other details or screens that you need to explain your draft idea. These drawings should be more polished; pay attention to type, layout, and the rendering of shapes and images.

Final user testing

Test the final prototype against one or two people.

Deliverable: a one-page table or diagram summarizing your findings.

Published 2013-01-31.