What Designers Can Learn From Cities

PROJECT

BY FROMALEXA ANDRZEJEWSKI (@LADYLEXY) FOODSPOTTING.COM

LEARNING FROM URBAN DESIGN:10 NEW WAYS TO EVALUATE EXPERIENCES

NAVIGATING JAPAN WITHOUT AN IPHONEWHERE AM I? HOW DO I GET BACK? WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THIS?

I MASTERED THE TRAIN SYSTEM IN A DAY.STRUCTURE

I FELT CONFIDENT & COMPETENT.CERTAINTY

I COULD FIND WHAT I NEEDEDMEANING

THOUGH ALMOST OVERWHELMING...ACCESS

EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS MEMORABLE.SENSE OF PLACE

It was an amazing experience!In fact, it was the inspiration behind my startup, Foodspotting.

What made this a good experience? And how can these same qualities apply to digital experiences?

We know how to evaluate usability...

But how can we evaluate experiences?

Learning from Cities“It is a common feeling that most urban places are less than satisfactory... if we could articulate about why we feel that way, we might be prepared to make effective changes.” -Kevin Lynch

A language for describing experiences.

10 DIMENSIONS FROM GOOD CITY FORMFOR EXAMPLE, HOW TRANSPARENT IS A PLACE?

TRANSPARENCY

1: Sense of MeaningDoes it tell a story? How is the form a reflection of values? Can people read the environment?

SENSE OF MEANING: URBAN EXAMPLESVISUAL CUES... LOTS OF VISUAL CUES

SENSE OF MEANING: DIGITAL EXAMPLEFOODSPOTTING’S HOMEPAGE

What story do you want to tell and how can you use the language of design to communicate it?

2: Sense of PlaceDoes it leave an impression on the senses? Is it memorable?

SENSE OF PLACE: URBAN EXAMPLETHREE DISTINCT NEIGHBORHOODS

SENSE OF PLACE: DIGITAL EXAMPLESTUMBLR & SCOUTMOB

What moments do you want users to remember and how can you make them memorable?

3: Sense of StructureCan you wrap your mind around the structure? Does the design yield accurate mental maps?

SENSE OF STRUCTURE: URBAN EXAMPLESTHE YAMANOTE LINE

SENSE OF STRUCTURE: DIGITAL EXAMPLEPATH

If you look at a page or screen in isolation, is it evident where it fits into the bigger picture?

4: Sense of UnfoldingDoes it get better the more you explore? Is the first time experience tempered so as not to be overwhelming?

SENSE OF UNFOLDING: URBAN EXAMPLESSHIBUYA ON MANY SCALES

SENSE OF UNFOLDING: DIGITAL EXAMPLESFOODILY

What is the #1 thing you want people to do on their first visit? Their second? Their third?

5: Sense of TransparencyCan you see signs of life on the inside from the outside?

SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY: URBAN EXAMPLESFISH MARKETS & FOOD EXPERIENCES

SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY: DIGITAL EXAMPLEPINTEREST

What activities do you want users to engage in? Are people able to learn by example?

6: FitDoes the design of a place anticipate and facilitate people’s desired actions so seamlessly that it makes you feel competent and smart?

FIT: URBAN EXAMPLESSMART STAIRCASES

FIT: DIGITAL EXAMPLEHASHABLE

Observe user behavior and ask users questions: Is there any evidence of misfit?

7: AdaptabilityCan users modify or adapt the structure to increase fit?

ADAPTABILITY: URBAN EXAMPLESMAKESHIFT PARKS & MEETING SPOTS

ADAPTABILITY: DIGITAL EXAMPLEFACEBOOK & TWITTER

Have you noticed any surprising adaptations or workarounds in how users interact with your site or app? What can you learn from them?

8: AccessHow much and what range of choices are presented to a user at any given time? Is it too many or too few?

ACCESS: URBAN EXAMPLESSUBWAY STATIONS

ACCESS: DIGITAL EXAMPLEFAB

When are users presented with palettes of choices? Are there any choices you could take away?

9: ResponsibilityDo the users of a place feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the experience?

RESPONSIBILITY: URBAN EXAMPLECOMMUNITY GARDENS

RESPONSIBILITY: DIGITAL EXAMPLESGOWALLA SPOT FIXER, FACEBOOK COMMENTS, QUORA REPUTATION

How can you increase users’ sense of responsibility?

10: CertaintyCan people trust in the systems of control? Does the environment act in predictable ways?

CERTAINTY: URBAN EXAMPLESTRANSIT INFORMATION

CERTAINTY: DIGITAL EXAMPLEMINT

What are the most anxiety-inducing moments in your site or app? What sights/sounds/interactions could reduce this anxiety?

Evaluating ExperiencesTen “Lenses” or ways of seeing your designs

1. Sense of Meaning: Does the design tell a story?

2. Sense of Place: Is it memorable or are there memorable moments?

3. Sense of Structure: Can you tell how the pieces and parts fit together?

4. Sense of Unfolding: Are options revealed over time vs. thrown at users all at once?

5. Sense of Transparency: Can you observe and learn by observation?

6. Fit: Does it make people feel competent? Is there any evidence of misfit?

7. Adaptability: Can it be repurposed in novel ways?

8. Access: Are people confronted with the right number of choices at the right time?

9. Responsibility: Do people feel ownership of the experience?

10. Certainty: Can people trust in the system?

SENSE OF MEANING?ARE WE TELLING THE RIGHT STORY?

SENSE OF UNFOLDING?DOES THE EXPERIENCE GET BETTER AND BETTER AS YOU GO?

FIT?ARE THERE ANY SIGNS OF POOR FIT WITHIN FOODSPOTTING?

ADAPTABILITY?ARE OUR DESIGNS ADAPTABLE AND ARE WE LEARNING FROM ADAPTATIONS?

GUIDES

ACCESS?ARE WE GIVING PEOPLE THE RIGHT NUMBER OF CHOICES?

1. Sense of Meaning: Does the design tell a story?

2. Sense of Place: Is it memorable or are there memorable moments?

3. Sense of Structure: Can you tell how the pieces and parts fit together?

4. Sense of Unfolding: Are options revealed over time vs. thrown at users all at once?

5. Sense of Transparency: Can you observe and learn by observation?

6. Fit: Does it make people feel competent? Is there any evidence of misfit?

7. Adaptability: Can it be repurposed in novel ways?

8. Access: Are people confronted with the right number of choices at the right time?

9. Responsibility: Do people feel ownership of the experience?

10. Certainty: Can people trust in the system?

Now go forth and create great experiences!

-ALEXA ANDRZEJEWSKI @LADYLEXY

@FOODSPOTTING

W W W. A N E V E N TA PA RT. C O M / 2 0 1 1 / S A N F R A N C I S C O / S L I D E S /