Contextual Design

This user centered design process was generated by Karen Holtzblatt and Hugh Beyer in the 90s and developed over the years

It provides complete support for the whole design process. From the initial customer data gathering research through the transition to design.

Contextual Design..

provides insights right at the point of the inquiry
produces reusable knowledge within the working field
offers the whole team to experience what user really need
shows the context of use not just with other tools, but also overall work and life of the user
builds a shared understanding within the team
helps a team to keep the design coherent

(Holtzblatt, Beyer, o. J.)

Contextual Inquiry

Observe what matters to users and characterise what they do

Contextual Interview

Contextual Inquiry achieved to be established throughout the comprehensive methods used within the process.

The field research method is based on the main principles: focus, context, and partnership. These priniciples ensure that the team captures the real tasks and activities of the users.

Focus means to get concrete about what needs to be observed. This is not just making the aim of the project clear, it also helps to see the context of the activity and to select the key participants that need to be observed.

Used models

Apprenticeship Model

Seeking to understand the user's work as an apprentice would from a master, as the work is ongoing.

Work Models

Used to make work practice explicit, public, and sharable.

Flow Model
Sequence Model
Artifact Model
Cultural Model
Physical Model
Sequence Model

Hide Models

Interpretation Sessions

Through these discussions, the team comes to understand the whole story of an interview and capture the insights, while at the same time, drawing work models, and developing a shared understanding of the customer's world.

Steps involved in the process

Summarise Insights

Manage the flood of insights from all team members, capture design ideas.

Capturing Work Models

Reveal work that matters for design and capture these elements

Hide steps

(Beyer, Holtzblatt, 1998)

Data Consuldation

Create full market view and shared understanding so new ideas and directions can be generated

Affinity Diagram

Tells a story of the customer and captures all insights of all inquiries. A well worked-through affinity map highlights also possible gaps in the research.

Consuldating Work Models

Transforming set of individual sequences into a coherent view of customer's work practice.

Visioning

The team reviews the consolidated data by 'walking' it. After the 'data walk' the team runs a visioning session to apply the data to technology.

(Beyer, Holtzblatt, 1998)

Implementation

Physical representations of their concepts

Storyboarding

Provides coherence of tasks.

User Environment Design

Used to explain the structure of the system as experienced by the user.

Paper Mock-Up Interviews

Key concept of partnership also comes into play in use of paper prototypes.

Interaction Visual Design

Redesign activities and create new technologies to provide value to users and iterate the process with them.

(Holtzblatt u. a., 2005)