2.3 - Analysing Existing Digital Products and User Feedback
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Interactive Audio Lesson
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Heuristic Evaluation Workshop
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Today, weβre going to explore heuristic evaluation, a fantastic tool for assessing the usability of digital products. Can anyone tell me what they think usability means?
I think itβs about how easy a product is to use.
Exactly! Usability refers to how effectively and efficiently users can interact with a product. Now, letβs discuss Nielsenβs 10 Usability Heuristics. One heuristic is 'Match between system and real world'. Can anyone understand what that might imply?
It means the language used in the app should be familiar to users, right?
Spot on! Itβs crucial that we avoid jargon that users might not understand. This can make their experience frustrating. As a memory aid, think 'Common Speak, Weak Freak' β if we use common language, users won't freak out trying to understand our product!
So, if an app uses financial terms, it might confuse teenagers?
Yes, exactly! Now, letβs apply what weβve learned by evaluating an app together.
SWOT Analysis Deep Dive
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Great job on the heuristic evaluations! Now let's talk about SWOT analysis, a powerful tool to evaluate a product's strategic position. Can someone tell me what SWOT stands for?
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats!
That's correct! Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors, while opportunities and threats are external. An example could be a product that has a strong social media presence β that's a strength. What might be an opportunity for that same product?
Expanding into new markets, maybe?
Perfect! And threats could be competition or changing regulations. To remember the order of SWOT, use the acronym 'Silly Waves Offer Tasty-fish.β Now, let's collaborate and fill out a SWOT analysis for the app we evaluated earlier!
Feedback Theming and Affinity Diagramming
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Now, we will dive into user feedback and how to cluster it into meaningful themes using affinity diagramming. Why is user feedback important, class?
It helps us understand what users like or dislike about a product!
Exactly! It guides our design decisions. Now, letβs try clustering this user feedback into themes. Can anyone identify a common issue from our user quotes?
I see several users mention that the app crashes frequently.
Good catch! That's a usability issue we need to address. To remember the importance of user feedback, think 'Listen to Fix, Listen to Fix!' β we must listen to improve the user experience. Let's create an affinity diagram together.
Comprehensive Reporting
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As we wrap up our evaluations, we need to compile everything into a cohesive report. What sections do you think should be included?
Product overview and the SWOT analysis?
Great start! We also need a section for our heuristic evaluations and user feedback findings. To structure your report, think 'Eager Students Create Great Reports'. Now, let's outline these sections!
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
In this section, students learn to analyze existing digital products by applying heuristic evaluations and gathering user feedback. Techniques like SWOT analysis and affinity clustering are introduced to derive actionable insights. This process is critical in understanding usability, identifying opportunities for improvement, and enhancing user experience.
Detailed
Analysing Existing Digital Products and User Feedback
In this important section, students delve into the analysis of digital products and the importance of user feedback. This process helps them understand how to assess usability and identify areas for enhancement in their design projects. Key methodologies include:
- Heuristic Evaluation Workshop: Students familiarize themselves with Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics and apply them to critique well-known apps. They learn to articulate usability flaws and suggest improvements through structured evaluation sheets. This practice emphasizes the importance of user-centric design and recognizing potential pain points for users.
- SWOT Analysis: A comprehensive workshop prompts students to conduct a SWOT analysis of a digital product they choose to evaluate. Here, they identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the product. Additionally, discussions help highlight external influences, such as regulations, which may affect design and business strategy.
- Feedback Theming: Using methods such as affinity diagramming, students analyze existing user feedback, clustering similar feedback themes into coherent groups. They also conduct sentiment analysis to quantify user feelings about the product, summarizing these insights visually through charts. This process reinforces the importance of listening to the userβs voice and translating data into actionable insights.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Finally, students learn to compile their evaluations into a structured case study report, incorporating all elements of their analysis. This document serves not only as a record of their observations but also as a tool for engagement with stakeholders as they refine their design specifications. Ultimately, this section equips students with tangible tools and frameworks essential for creating responsive, user-centered designs.
Key Concepts
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Heuristic Evaluation: A systematic method for reviewing usability in digital products.
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SWOT Analysis: A tool for analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a product.
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Feedback Theming: The process of organizing user feedback into coherent themes.
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Sentiment Mapping: Categorizing user feedback based on emotional tone to gauge overall sentiment.
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Affinity Diagramming: A technique for organizing qualitative data into structured themes.
Examples & Applications
Analyzing a popular social media app using Nielsen's heuristics to identify usability issues.
Conducting a SWOT analysis on a well-known e-commerce platform to evaluate its strategic position.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
When itβs hard to improve, listen and groove, user feedback helps our design to move!
Stories
Imagine a ship navigating through fog. The captain can't see the lighthouse, but the crew's voices guide him. This is like user feedback guiding designers through unclear paths.
Memory Tools
To recall SWOT framework, remember: 'Sally Wore Our T-shirt' β Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.
Acronyms
Heuristic Evaluations are 'HELP' - Helps Evaluate Latent Problems!
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Heuristic Evaluation
A usability inspection method for computer software that helps identify usability problems.
- SWOT Analysis
A strategic planning tool used to identify the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of a product.
- Affinity Diagram
A tool used to organize ideas and data based on their natural relationships.
- User Feedback
Information provided by users regarding their experience with a product.
- Sentiment Analysis
The process of determining the emotional tone behind user comments or feedback.
Reference links
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