DECO2014 - User Experience Studio

Project

Public Interactive Installation

Brief

Using the idea of playful cities (the intersection between play and the urban environment), design an interactive installation for a location of your choice, that is physical, digital, and spatial.

NOTE: This project was completed with Eva Mary Arun & Olga Medvedieva.

Requirements

1. Secondary research - about shopping centres and issues within the spaces
2. Primary research - specifically about the Galeries (minimum 3 methods)
3. Analysis of data - including personas and at least one UX map
   
4. Mid fidelity prototype for testing during the User Testing Fair
5. Evaluation and iteration
6. High fidelity prototype
7. Poster highlighting final product
   

Skills

• Secondary research
• Primary research methods - questionnaire, interview, contextual observation
  
• Ideation methods - mindmap, storyboard, crazy 8's, sketching, decision matrix
• Prototyping - physical prototype development, mobile mockups
  

Final Product

Our final product, GET PUZZLED! is a set of interactive installations set up within a shopping centre where users can play a variety of games on digital screens. The installation will also be connected to an application, where the user can see an interactive map of the centre with indicators for the locations of the puzzles, information about upcoming events, sales, and store openings, and access the rewards they can gain by interacting with the installations. The installations will have different digital and interactive games and upon completion, the user will receive a code to redeem a reward at a participating store within the Galeries.

Process

RESEARCH

Background Research -

As a group, we researched the overall topic of shopping centres, including the issues users were having, the changes to shopping centres and the experience since COVID-19 began, and design precedents of installations in shopping centres around the world.

Research Questions -

We outlined our research questions as:

• To understand how people perceive the Galeries.
  
• To explore the needs of visitors at the Galeries.
  
• To identify the problems users encounter at the Galeries
  

Questionnaires -

The questionnaire was a mix of 12 open and closed ended questions with 46 participants.

The aim of this questionnaire was to determined users experiences with the Galeries shopping centre including what encourages them to spend time, their satisfaction with particular offerings, and how they spend their time when they are there.

Contextual Observations -

We conducted three contextual observations in the centre on different days of the week with the aim of seeing how people travelled through areas, group sizes, pace (motivation), and any other noticeable behaviours.

Interviews -

We conducted six semi-structured interviews, all of frequent visitors to the Galeries. The aim of the interviews was to get more in depth information about experiences in the centre and find out where issues were arising in some key areas of shopping experience including seating, crowdedness, navigation, and cleanliness.

Insights -

As a group, we determine used an affinity diagram to turn our findings into four main insights:

1. Design interventions need to keep time in mind, as the turnover rate inside the Galeries is high.

2. Wayfinding needs to be improved.

3. There is a demand for inclusive seating spaces catering to a variety of needs.

4. The shopping experience has to be engaging, unique and varied.

ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS

We used a persona and a customer journey map to further understand the needs of our potential users. Additionally, we

used the 5 Whys method to help us reframe and improve our initial problem statement:

"to investigate how to design for engaging, unique and dynamic experiences at the Galeries"

SOLUTION IDEATION

Initially, we did a quick mindmap to make sure we understood our insights, then we each developed

three storyboards of potential solutions for our problem. From here we each picked our best solution

for navigation and for unique engagement and used a decision matrix to score these based a

selection of criteria including addressing insights, ease of use and accessibility, and whether it would

be achievable to build and test. Our first solution option was an AR application which assisted users in

navigating the Galeries while encouraging them to earn points by finding special statues around the

centre. We completed a modified version of Crazy 8's to quickly design screens which could be used

in our application. From here we looked at all the designs and selected elements we liked and

sketched a condensed version of the features we liked. We went through a number of iterations

while trying to balance the briefs requirements of playfulness that is also physical, digital and spatial.

Our final iteration of the product needed to be more playful and therefore it became an installation

where instead of scanning statues, visitors can play physical games in order to earn rewards and

discounts for stores within the Galeries, access through our original application concept.

TESTING

For our testing fair, we developed wireframes which would become these mockups, as well as a physical cardboard, paper, and magnet prototype of our final design concept. We tested our product with users given three specific tasks and utilised the six usability goals, including effectiveness, efficiency, and learnability. We asked follow up questions about their experience and the product, and had each participant complete an SUS evaluation. Although, we only achieved a "B" grade in this evaluation, it gave us some very useful guidance on how to iterated on our product for the final, high fidelity submission. The main feedback related to a disconnect between the physical games and digital interface and intuitiveness of the physical puzzles.

FINAL ITERATION

Our final product, GET PUZZLED! is a set of interactive installations set up within a shopping centre where users can play a variety of games on digital screens. The installation will also be connected to a Galeries application. Within this application, the user can see an interactive map of the centre with indicators for the locations of the puzzle, information about upcoming events, store openings, etc, and access the rewards they can gain by interacting with the installations. The installations will have different digital and interactive games and upon completion, the user will receive a code to redeem a reward at a participating store within the Galeries.

Name: Mia

Occupation: Student UTS, Japanese minor

Age: 19

Home: Lives near Central

Scenario: It is a Friday afternoon. Mia is supposed to meet with some friends for drinks at Town Hall in the evening. She decides to find a book that she needs for her Intro to Japanese class in the meanwhile. Using google she learns that there is a wide variety of Japanese language materials available at Kinokuniya bookstore which is located in the Galeries, which is in the area. She decides to leave early and try to get the materials that she needs before meeting her friends.

DECO2200 - Interaction Design Studio

Project

Mobile Application & Public Kiosk

Brief

As a group, choose a problem area positioned within a selection of categories and develop a digital solution that has visual, screen based components, includes social interactions between users, and includes multi-modal and/or omni-channel interactions.

NOTE: This project was completed with Eva Mary Arun & Jana Plumm.

Requirements

1. Research video - highlighting chosen problem scenario and research approach, and findings.
2. Presentation - high-fidelity mockup of a potential solution to their chosen problem
3. Promotional video - highlighting problem scenario and prototype of solution
4. Report - providing evidence of entire design process
5. Prototype - high-fidelity, interactive prototype using Figma
   

Skills

• Secondary research
• Primary research methods - questionnaire, interviews, contextual observation, online ethnography
  
• Ideation methods - mind map, storyboard, crazy 8's, sketching, decision matrix
• Prototyping - physical prototype development, mobile mockups
  

Final Product

Our proposed design solution bridges multiple gaps. Domestic and international students can improve their employability skills through accessible learning modules. They can socially interact and support each other in the discussions feature. They can also register for workshops organised informally by students or by the university, providing greater exposure to university career services. Employers can get a quick understanding of international students facts through fun mythbuster-like quizzes. They can also view student profiles and request to connect for work opportunities.

Process

RESEARCH

Background Research -

After selecting our choice of category options, ‘Cultural Harmony & Valuing Multiculturalism’, we researched specific areas that we could focus on within that space. Overall, our research found that international students face limited opportunities and employer hesitation, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Additionally, university career services don’t offer enough support and career fairs are primarily targeted at domestic students. We used the concerns found in our background research as the basis for how we conducted our research methods and developed the below research questions. Our methods included an online ethnography, interviews, a questionnaire and a contextual observation.

Research Questions -

1. What challenges and barriers are experienced by international students when seeking employment opportunities?
   
2. How do cultural differences impact the process of seeking employment for international students?
   
3. What role do university networking and career services play in the employment search for international students?
   
4. What drives employer hesitancy towards hiring international students?
   

Online Ethnography -

We gathered qualitative data in the form of quotes on Reddit threads and similar social forums. International students generally feel as though they are not valued in the Australian workforce. Additionally, I conducted a review of the services available at top universities in Australia, with a focus on international students.

Interviews -

A round of 8 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a mix of domestic and international students and a selection of professionals and hiring managers. The interviews found that employers are hesitant to hire due to temporary visa status and need stronger soft skills.

Questionnaire -

A 14 question questionnaire with a target of domestic and international students. There were a lot of similarities between the two groups and both rarely engage in uni networking events or career services. However, this appeared to be for differing reasons.

Contextual Observation -

A 60 minute observation of a University of Sydney Learning Hub session, “Interviewing for International Students”. This session was tailored at interviewing skills for international students. There was an impressive turnout with positive engagement, showing a clear need for these services.

Findings -

Our findings from the research methods conducted, lead to the the following six findings through an affinity diagram:

• I want my unique international experience and perspective to be valued in the competitive job market.
• I feel discriminated against based on my cultural background and residency status.
• I need an easy hiring experience by connecting with employable and authentic people.
• I want to develop more confidence in my communication skills.
• I need career services to be better adapted to current job market trends.
• I feel frustrated by the lack of opportunities available to international students.

Refined Problem Statement -

International students are underrepresented in the internship and graduate role space. Employers are hesitant to hire international students due to lack of understanding of work rights and need applicants with strong soft skills adapted to the Australian job market. International students want to build confidence and need university career services to be more visible and updated with current trends. How can we bridge the gap between these three stakeholders to improve international student employability in Australia?

IDEATION

Personas & Storyboards

We each developed one persona based on our research, one for each of the significant stakeholders within our problem area; a current student, a recent graduate, and a hiring manager. A storyboard was created for each of these personas to better understand their experiences and problems. These personas were used throughout the development and ideation process.

Reframing & Initial Ideation

We conducted several reframing methods to ensure we understood our problem area sufficiently before we began our initial ideation process. These included 5 Whys and Questionstorming. Additionally, this is where our initial ideation phase began, we utilised Challenge Assumptions, Worst Possible Idea, Mindmapping and Moodboards to develop individual solutions.

Decision Matrix & Ethics Canvas

We each chose our favourite concept from our ideation sessions and compared them using a

decision matrix. The decision matrix highlighted each of the concepts having positives and

negatives while all having similar scores. From this we combined components of each idea into

one multipurpose application. From here, we sketched out the chosen, combined solution and

used an ethics canvas to addressed concerns we had for each component of the canvas to

improve the overall concept.

FINAL CONCEPT

The final concept was an application where users were able to access resources to help improve their soft skills by receiving feedback on interview skills, complete modules about key considerations for the Australian job market trends, access discussions from other students surrounding feedback and available opportunities. Additionally, the solution will include a public display kiosk as the omni-channel component of the brief.

WIREFRAMES & TESTING

Wireframes were developed based on the initial sketches of the application main

pages. These wireframes were required to be tested using a Think Aloud and SUS

with users and a cognitive walkthrough with experts. These testing sessions provided

fantastic feedback about about how and where to improve and develop the

application further. Our SUS score of 77.8 indicated we had a lot of room for

improvement. The results from each of our testing sessions indicated the Modules

and Discussions sections were in need of the most attention.

DESIGN SYSTEM

We employed a 60-30-10 colour scheme, with white as the main colour, followed by blue and orange. These

colours are not only complementary but are also suggested to boost productivity, and improve neural

functioning. The specific colours changed multiple times with the addition of the gradient later on for more

depth in the designs. This system informed the mockups we produced.

PROTOTYPING & TESTING

Once the inital mockups were complete, we prototyped them using Figma. We were required to test these using a Heuristic Evaluation with experts and another Think Aloud and SUS with users. This round of testing was a significant improvement from the wireframe stage and the required improvements for the mobile application were minimal.

FINAL ITERATION

Below is a selection of screens from the mobile application including sign up, home, profile, workshops and modules.