Virtual Floorspace

The last post discussed a participatory design module for in-depth customer interviews. This post gives an example exercise and script.

To determine participant’s concept of the ideal Kiosk system for on-site booking of reservations and events.

1) Introduce list of 50 tasks used in card sort, to provide more raw material for participatory design exercise.

2) Provide blank wireframe with placeholders for header, navigation, portlets

3) Ask participant to design their own Home Page using their personal task list created above, and the list of 50 tasks provided

4) Probe regarding design elements

5) Offer possibilities based on previous comments if participant is stuck

Data to capture:

Wireframe sketch

Notes regarding optimal kiosk design

Script:

Introduce topic

In this exercise, I’d like to ask you to create the ideal Guest Kiosk Home Page. I’m not so much concerned about what everybody else would want on the Home Page. I’m concerned right now with what the ideal would be for you personally.

Before we start this exercise, I’d like to remind you of the tasks and content you’ve already mentioned. I’d also like to present you with a list of tasks have come up before, so that you can have plenty of raw material for doing this exercise. But again, we’re interested in what’s most useful and interesting for you.

Please take a moment to read through this list quickly, to jog your memory about things you would like to see represented at the very top of the kiosk Home Page.

Give participant time to review list and mark desired tasks.

This is a blank page, on which I’d like to ask you to draw your ideal kiosk home page. If you need more room, we can just make a notation on the front of the page, and continue that element or list on the back of the page.

First of all, what do you think the main sections you would like to see here at the top, or perhaps along the side?

What kinds of news or other content would you like to see spelled out here on the Home Page with a paragraph and perhaps a picture?

What kinds of links would you like to see?

What kinds of spotlights or highlights of content would you like to see here?

Would you want those to be just links, or part of the story as well?

What else would you like to place on the Home Page? Where would you place the search box? Do you want to be able to print this page? What about save this information for later viewing.

What kinds of functionality would you like to see on this page? How do you think it should work? Do you expect to have to sign in to use it?

Allow participant to fill in page. Probe as necessary using participant’s lists of tasks and content, as well as the pre-determined list of tasks.

Design review

Let’s talk about the page you’ve created, to make sure I understand what you’ve represented.

Review design, and ask for explanations as needed.

Paul Bryan, Usography Corporation (www.usography.com) customer interviews, design research, e-commerce design strategy, participatory design, research protocol