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Heather Wright Karlson - UX Consultant, UXC Bentley University

Mélanie St. James - Associate Director, Tufts University

Erin Freeburger - Sr. UX Lead Specialist, GfK 

Experimenting with New Research Techniques

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The Emoji Method - Heather Wright Karlson

The Mapping Method – Mélanie St. James

The Remote Shop Along - Erin Freeburger 

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MEENA’S CHALLENGE

Meena

Kothandaraman

Experiment with research techniques!

Come back to share!

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Challenge accepted!

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Approach

We gave ourselves permission to tinker or try something new

Heather: Evolve a methodology

Melanie: Flip it around!

Erin: Tinker with an existing approach

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The Emoji Method

Heather Wright Karlson

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WHAT IS GOING ON IN THERE?

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METHODS

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  • Review
  • Usage
  • Challenges

MICROSOFT PRODUCT REACTION CARDS

The complete set of 118 Product Reaction Cards

Accessible

Creative

Fast

Meaningful

Slow

Advanced

Customizable

Flexible

Motivating

Sophisticated

Annoying

Cutting edge

Fragile

Not Secure

Stable

Appealing

Dated

Fresh

Not Valuable

Sterile

Approachable

Desirable

Friendly

Novel

Stimulating

Attractive

Difficult

Frustrating

Old

Straight Forward

Boring

Disconnected

Fun

Optimistic

Stressful

Business-like

Disruptive

Gets in the way

Ordinary

Time-consuming

Busy

Distracting

Hard to Use

Organized

Time-Saving

Calm

Dull

Helpful

Overbearing

Too Technical

Clean

Easy to use

High quality

Overwhelming

Trustworthy

Clear

Effective

Impersonal

Patronizing

Unapproachable

Collaborative

Efficient

Impressive

Personal

Unattractive

Comfortable

Effortless

Incomprehensible

Poor quality

Uncontrollable

Compatible

Empowering

Inconsistent

Powerful

Unconventional

Compelling

Energetic

Ineffective

Predictable

Understandable

Complex

Engaging

Innovative

Professional

Undesirable

Comprehensive

Entertaining

Inspiring

Relevant

Unpredictable

Confident

Enthusiastic

Integrated

Reliable

Unrefined

Confusing

Essential

Intimidating

Responsive

Usable

Connected

Exceptional

Intuitive

Rigid

Useful

Consistent

Exciting

Inviting

Satisfying

Valuable

Controllable

Expected

Irrelevant

Secure

Convenient

Familiar

Low Maintenance

Simplistic

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NEW METHOD

REQUIREMENTS

  • Little or no cost
  • Easy to use
  • Flexible
  • Primarily visuals rather than words

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BEYOND UX

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AN IDEA

  • Familiar to most
  • Accessible
  • Little or no cost
  • Easy to use
  • Flexible
  • Room for individualized meaning and interpretation

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TRYING IT OUT

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BENEFIT

“I’m proud to get a loan.”

“I’m in the money. I got approved.”

“They are an angel because they gave me money.”

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CHALLENGES

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POTENTIAL & LESSONS LEARNED

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What can you �re-combine from your past experience?

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The Mapping Method

Mélanie St. James

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TRAIN OF THOUGHT #1

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TRAIN OF THOUGHT #2

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Teach

Advise

Conduct research / Run a research lab

Publish

Write grants

Serve on university committees

Serve as department chair

Co-chair conferences

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

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METHOD

  • Use this sheet to describe the type of activities you do during the year
  • Use a blue pen when you feel calm
  • Use a red pen when you feel stress

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Faculty - Medicine

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Adjunct Lecturer - Dance

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Lecturer - Spanish

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BENEFIT

  • 2x P: playful, welcome relief from a traditional interview.
  • 1x P: awkward, but created a good launching pad for a narrative.

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BENEFIT

  • A framework to explore the “big picture”
  • Participants can talk about what I might not think of asking them

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CHALLENGE

  • Might be a little too unstructured
  • Not all participants feel comfortable “doodling”

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OUTCOMES & LESSONS LEARNED

  • Technique might be more effective in disciplines with visual or graphical components
  • But maybe it’s not the resulting map that matters, but the conversation it facilitates

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OUTCOMES & LESSONS LEARNED

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What will be your inspiration?

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The Remote Shop Along

Erin Freeburger

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?

  • Product
  • Packaging
  • Marketing Display

Experience?

Perception?

Actual retail store?

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SHOP ALONG 1.0

Shop Alongs are a common market research technique.

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“What can I use here that will work for me?”

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THE 2 PART SOLUTION

What??

App-based Scavenger Hunt

Part 1: In Store

Phone Call In-Depth Interview

Part 2: At Home

Why?!

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PRIVACY

extra level of privacy

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OBSCURITY

a more

authentic interaction between people

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GLOBAL

Be anywhere and everywhere

at the same time

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THE SHOP ALONG

3 key areas of focus

1. Layout

3. Display

2. Staff

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TYPES OF QUESTIONS

    • Take a Picture
    • Short Answer
    • Multiple Choice

Take 3 pictures of what grabs your attention.

Take 3 pictures of what grabs your attention.

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THE SHOP ALONG

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TYPES OF QUESTIONS

What grabs your attention?

Take 3 photos of what stands out the most as you walk through the store.�

Take 3 pictures of what grabs your attention.

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SHORT ANSWER

How would you describe Pub Cheese in 3 words?��

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Creamy.”

“Delicious.”

“Orange.”

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“Bright Orange.”

Unnatural.”

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“It’s very Orange.”

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Orange, creamy, easy. (insert Trump joke here)”

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“Not for me.”

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MULTIPLE CHOICE

  • Not at all likely
  • Not very likely
  • Neutral
  • Somewhat likely
  • Very likely

  • The overall display
  • The product signage
  • The product itself
  • The store rep
  • Something else

What was it that gave you this impression?

Choose all that apply.

How likely is it that you will buy this product based on what you’ve seen today?

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Meanwhile, back at my desk…

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Meanwhile, back at my desk…

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THE PHONE CALL

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FEEDBACK

What I see…

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FEEDBACK

After speaking to the participant…

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FEEDBACK

What I see…

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FEEDBACK

After speaking to the participant…

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FEEDBACK

What I see…

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FEEDBACK

Sign

Display

Competition

Cleanliness

What else I see…

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DATA ANALYSIS�What do people see?

FLOWERS

SIGNS

SNACKS

DRINKS

FREEBIES

ETC.

50%

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It’s very

ORANGE

BRIGHT

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MULTIPLE CHOICE

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 �

Try this at home!

SOFTWARE TOOLS

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FREE DIY�A Smartphone & Email

 �

+

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Thank you, team!

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The Emoji Method - Heather Wright Karlson

The Mapping Method – Melanie St. James

The Remote Shop Along - Erin Freeburger 

RECAP & REMIX

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Now your turn!

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Our UX Community is:

  • talented
  • generous
  • creative

Let’s evolve together our UX �and methods!

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Ideas? Comments?

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Thank YOU!�See you next year!

Heather Wright Karlson - UX Consultant, UXC Bentley University

Mélanie St. James - Associate Director, Tufts University

Erin Freeburger - Sr. UX Lead Specialist, GfK