This session focused on how to create compelling user experiences in a collaborative way and incorporate usability and design into existing product development lifecycles and budgets.

Stewart offered three techniques designed to help front-load design and usability and fit into existing product development lifecycles:

• Dirty research. This guerilla-style approach to research involves looking at the web sites, products, and other influences in your user’s lives to leverage the studies that have already been done and learn about the world they live in. Phone interviews, surveys, and reaching out to universities are other useful sources of data about your users.

• Sketching. It is not the sketch, but the process of sketching that is important. Sketches allow you to experiment easily in order to expand thought and generate ideas.

• Paper prototyping. Starting with user stories, designers work with developers, product managers and other key stakeholders to sketch paper versions of the interface. Two users act are then asked to interact with the interface by talking through each action. A person acts as the computer, swapping out the screens and other interface items. The interface can be quickly revved in between tests, giving you extremely fast iterations

To leave comments, please login or sign up to the Engage Network at the top of this page.