I am obsessed with process. The following steps represent an approach for experience design that blends techniques from architecture, product design, UX design and interaction design. This is a process I continue to hone and utilize in solving a breadth of human centered problems. These are samples of the projects that aren’t under NDAs.
Step 1 | Identify the Problem
I start by asking as many questions as possible to the stakeholders, end users, and myself. What are the main friction points? Where can the end user experience have the most impact/improvement?
How might we:
-provide patients with a seamless discharge experience from rehab?
-create an experience where small primates can be viewed by zoo visitors and have agency over their privacy while remaining active and communal?
-communicate the process of innovation in a museum exhibit?
CIVIO.IO a venture focused on the experience of leaving inpatient rehab
Who are the stakeholders?
Rehab: Vendors, PT/OT Staff, Hospital Admins
Zoo: Staff, Zoo Board, Municipal Board, AZA
Museum: Museum Staff, Museum Board, Donors
De Brazza Monkey from Primate Point at Cape May Courthouse Zoo
Model I - The process of innovation exhibit at The Henry Ford Museum
Who are the end users?
Rehab: Patients, Friends/Family, Therapists
Zoo: 3 Species of Primates, Visitors, Zoo Staff
Museum: Visitors and Museum Staff
Step 2 | User Research
Budget permitting, I incorporate as much user research as possible; including surveys, focus groups, workshops, competitive landscape case studies and any available market analysis tools for that specific sector. I often incorporate historic research on the product, sector, market trends, or business to understand the bigger cycles that may impact stakeholders.
Taking a close look at qualitative and quantitative data related to the opportunities can significantly impact the trajectory a project takes and also validates decision making in areas that can feel murky.
Data from a workshop pulling the collective memory from a group of loved ones to the client.
Step 3 | Analysis & Planning
This is where insights get converted into actionable goals. The user, stakeholder, and market research get integrated into personas representing averages of the user groups which then get simulated through user journeys. These simulations can help generate, pivot, or alter the design progression and are the first form of prototyping.
Create a safe 18’ tall barrier for Lions that feels like it doesn’t exist
Communicating the breadth and depth of a large corporate focused on products and parts of products.
Provide ways for people to interact with plants and learn about their uses regardless of the plant’s legal status in that country.
User Journey Sketch
The user journey has touchpoints or nodes that offer design opportunities. Considering these elements in relation to time and emotion drive at IMPACT.
Example Persona for Rarify:
Photograph of a Lion through the barrier at the Maryland Zoo.
The magical moment that capacitive elements light up the product wall at W.L. Gore Capabilities Center
A quick and dirty prototype design for a plant simulator at SACRD GARDN
Step 4 | Design & Wireframe
Using the simulations through the personas and journey maps, low fidelity concept iteration and wireframing helps to visualize design directions. The design phase involves creating and refining iterative design concepts and solutions that align with the user's needs and goals. During this phase, I prefer to work with the other cross-functional team members to iterate on potential prototypes and concept designs to gather feedback from stakeholders and end-users internally and externally.
The goal of the design phase is to produce a refined concept that accurately represents the final potential product and meets the requirements and expectations of all involved parties.
W.L. Gore Capabilities Center space plan in 3D highlighting major touchpoints
Early app map for CIVIO.IO
Capacitive touch elements to activate media in The Henry Ford Museum of Innovation exhibit that focuses on Innovators.
Step 5 | Prototyping
I use different forms of prototyping depending on the user interactions. The three main categories are physical, digital, and phygital (overlap of physical & digital). The purpose of each prototype is to create the appropriate fidelity of a design concept to test specific assumptions about user behavior. The projects I work on often have a need for multiple different types of prototypes depending on the complexity and uncertainty of a design concept.
This is a “Spatial Cloud” prototype for 515 N State St. in the lobby of a Kenzo Tange buidling downtown Chicago. The design was ultimately eliminated from the design due to the complexity and cost of adding sprinklers.
Prototyping might be my favorite part of the entire process. It is the first moment that the concept actually becomes part of your reality and experience.
I prefer to test early and often, depending on the type of test subjects and the testing method. The prototype fidelity depends on the situation.
