27 Experience Prototype&Test
Revisiting back the fallout of the technology usage
The premise of this project is simple: how do I become more aware of my screen usage? How do I use less? The challenge for Angélique, Elsa, Loic, and Joelle was to explore beyond the notification we see on our mobile screen nowadays to be aware of our phone usage.
The project started with an investigation through desktop research: they dive onto the classic ideology of attention economy as well as using the existing mobile apps exploring the confine of mindfulness and self-help to conquer the phone misuse. I invite you to read up on the previous article describing their inspiration and background research in French
The team stumbles on the dilemma of creating another app to get people away from the app. If so what angle should we take? The intelligence of the contents such as https://beastsofburden.co/ or shall we start before touching the phone?
They did not go on making a mobile application as it would contradict with their original goal for the users. They did not go either to the critical design path of Crispin Jones Social Mobiles project at IDEO in 2002. The team focused on experimenting with the cover material of the smartphone.
Looking back whether it is a candy stick phone or smartphones after 17 years, the underlying human issues remain the same.
3-day experience prototype and test
The team demonstrated mastery on applying user-centered design and design thinking during the 3-day sprint, thanks to their day-to-day job at Axance.
The first challenge when working on a rapid prototype and testing is the team’s capability to focus on one topic feasible within three day and valuable in terms of bringing insights. The team has successfully focused on what needs to be tested and created with whatever available cover materials for testing the tactility of the materials. They opted to create a cover that can change in tactility to moderate the screen time of smartphone users.
What kind of material sensation would discourage people from touching the smartphone? They went on exploring with available day-to-day material. they have successfully recreated different sensations to put on the users’ test.
The major insights from the user testing:
- The most attractive sensation users seek is “soft” as in modeling clay
- The most appalling sensation is stickiness like glue tape
The notion of what makes a material attractive vs. appalling was not clear for other material board they have created. Their conclusion was to let users choose.
How should I run successful internal projects?
The team of 27 was discouraged and frustrated by the process of doing a parallel project outside their clients’ regular projects. They are not proud of the project they have accomplished. It is unfortunate as the next step was the real design dive in balancing the aesthetics and interaction opportunity of chemical engineering such as demonstrated by bioLogic of MIT Lab.
When ambition is high, the amplification of the frustration is higher. The first step in design management was to lower their own expectation, chunking and directing in a hands-on manner to create a sense of accomplishment.
Regardless, they had acquired the ability to apply their hard-earned user-centered method design in any project they take on. Getting on as a team and setting the design goals and going from point A to B of the user-centered design process is never an easy task. Believe me, I see that every day on clients’ project where people cannot trust the process and rush their personal preferences to the release of an app.
The critical design process exploration was the other project we have done as an internal project. The team posited the concept and learned how to story-tell and design research in a different mindset than the regular UX that emphasizes on the usability.
You will find the links to their articles at the end of the page. In this team, they were content of the learning platform given and they advanced step-by-step at their own pace to their goal of the practicing critical design process. And you can feel their enjoyment in the articles…
