What information can ethnographic tools give you to improve the interactivity of an online banking website? (pp. 48-54)
- Ethnography can teach designers about what users will want and need. Ethnography will help predict how users will interact with a design. Study groups/user testing could show us that a user is concerned with the security of their online banking website/app. They could express that they would be comfortable if it looked a certain way or had extra checkpoints (like security questions or verification of their password).
At what point is a design finished? What makes it a success? What is its purpose? (pp. 54-62)
- A design is finished when the function of the design doesn’t seem like it was designed at all. The way a design functions and the way someone interacts with the design should feel intuitive and instinctual as if it has to be designed that way. The design should serve its purpose completely and leave the user without questions of how to use the technology.
- A design should be balanced between aesthetics and user engagement/useage.
- A design should serve its purpose easily and with little to no question/complication.
Identify a product family you use regularly (can be anything from technology to consumables except for coffee). How has its branding affected your use, relationship and experience with the product? (pp. 78-84)
- Apple: I have an iPhone, which I stay up to date on all of the new gadgets and updates. I have a Macbook Pro that I use everyday and connect it to my iPhone. I have an iPad to stay connected in more portable situations, but when I don’t need my phone or my laptop. Everything that I purchase, as far as technology goes, is Apple friendly. I will not buy a product that is not compatible with all of my devices or if the product will harm any of my devices (like some charging cables from outside sources).
- Apple’s brand is all about being innovative, but completely intuitive and user friendly. Apple’s tagline is “Think Different”, which speaks a lot about the brand and how they want to be viewed.
- Apple is not just a product, it’s a lifestyle. Everything that I do revolved around how I use one of my Apple products. All of my assignments are done on a Mac. All of my communication-other than in person- is done on an iPhone or Mac. Everything is connected to each other in iCloud. Everything I do (sadly, probably) revolves around Apple technology.