=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=None
|storemode=property
|title=Design Thinking Search User Interfaces
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-763/posterB.pdf
|volume=Vol-763
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/eurohcir/Berger11
}}
==Design Thinking Search User Interfaces==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-763/posterB.pdf
Design Thinking for Search User Interface Design
Arne Berger
Chemnitz University of Technology
Strasse der Nationen 62
09107 Chemnitz
Germany
arne.berger {at} informatik.tu-
chemnitz.de
ABSTRACT better understanding, DT is used as an expression for the design
The paper describes with the help of a brief example how design process, while DM is used as an expression for any design method
methods, namely those formed in design thinking can help search from the DT or any other DM toolbox.
user interface design to innovate throughout the software
development process. 2. CURRENT STATE OF DESIGN
METHODS IN SEARCH USER INTERFACE
Categories and Subject Descriptors DESIGN
H.5.2 [Ergonomics, Evaluation/methodology]: Design Methods The possibilities of DM are still badly implemented into product
in Search User Interface Design development. However, a subset of DM, namely User Centered
Design (UCD) is fairly well implemented in the domain of
interface design, including that of search user interface design.
General Terms UCD significantly helps evaluating user needs but often fails to
Measurement, Documentation, Performance, Design, Human
innovate. UCD methods mainly consist of a relatively strict set of
Factors, Experimentation
methods compared to what DT and DM have to offer [9.]. Those
methods are capable of gaining insight and evaluating interfaces
Keywords but do not encourage an innovation process for future user
Design Thinking, User Interface Design, Design Methods, interfaces.
Qualitative Studies
As an user interface design professional working in an academic
development environment that is mainly formed by information
1. INTRODUCTION retrieval experts, the following description of a typical workflow
Since Tim Browns ingenious talk on TED [1.], Design Thinking abstracts the prototypical UCD process of developing search user
(DT) had a huge impact on the business and design world. By interfaces.
injecting the way designers think into accustomed business
processes, CEOs hoped to gain an advantage in competition.
Designers on the other hand hoped their overall influence might
2.1 Current Process of Search User Interface
increase. However, the field has more to offer than bringing Design
creative techniques to supposedly uncreative domains. The first 1. Users tasks and problems are observed via Site Visits or
publications on the matter appeared as early as the late 1960s [2., Website Analytics [10.]. Those methods help to gain insight into
3., 4.] as a way to externalize the enigmatic design process. Since specific user problems. The combination of both nowadays is the
then, the creative application of design methods (DM) has proven holy grail of gaining insight into users issues [10.].
its effectiveness, fun and relevance countless times. [5., 6.]
2. Information retrieval experts and search user interface
Despite its persistent application in typical creative domains, the
designers use methods like brainstorming to plan a software
radical application of DM for digital age products is still a young
product. It is used mainly as a conversation starter, but also
discipline.
functions as a way to frame the current state of technical
possibilities.
1.1 Design Thinking vs. Design Methods
The difference between DT coined and developed at Stanford [7.] 3. Users problems (step 1.) are interpreted and tried to be solved
and DM as defined by Jones amongst many others [3.] needs to be with the help of the technical possibilities (step 2.) which are then
precised in another publication. For now, the author (a Designer) implemented.
is grateful to see the broad spectrum of DM finally being brought
4. The usability of the search user interface proposed in 3. is
to attention due to the success of DT. However, there are way
evaluated via user studies comparable to the ones in step 1.
more methods to use than the 51 methods as suggested by DT [8.]
and there are way more feasible design processes than defined in Iterations: The abovementioned steps are iteratively repeated
DT. Because of the briefness of this paper and for the sake of a several times. With the help of prototypes the interface is refined
before a final implementation takes place. However these steps
Copyright © 2011 for the individual papers by the papers' authors.
Copying permitted only for private and academic purposes. This volume only help to streamline the interface. They are not fully useful for
is published and copyrighted by the editors of euroHCIR2011 innovating an interface according to DTs possibilities.
2.2 Critics of the Current Process 3.1.1 Very Low-Fi Prototype (Conceptual Model)
We believe that the process of nailing down the problem and Generated by: user
suggesting a vital solution after framing technical possibilities and
Function: none, may not be technically feasible
observing users is insufficient. Those well established methods
have the main advantage of providing hard numerical measures. Workflow: only conceptual
Which is even more so, when measures like precision and recall
are used to learn how efficient a system is. Via those standardized Visual Design: none
measurements a comparison between different solutions is easy to Medium: analog
draw. Relying on those hard measures only shows insights, which
can be formulated in numbers and concluded from those. Modality: any
On the other hand, soft properties of a search user interface like Usually user generated, often not understandable without the
»what user really want«, »fun of use«, »suitability to unusual creators explanations. It only describes a preliminary workflow of
tasks« and in parts »user satisfaction« are next to impossible to operations and functions and is not necessarily technically
measure via hard numbers. Although efforts exist [11.] feasible.
measurability of qualitative soft properties is hard to be
standardized. Outcomes therefore are less clear cut and often fail 3.1.2 Low-Fi Prototype (e.g. Paper Prototype)
to be comparable via statistics. As the academic viewpoint in the Generated by: user, designer
field tends to analytic comparison, soft properties are seldom Function: none, may not be technically feasible
explored, described and measured. Therefore subsequent findings
often fail to be implemented. Workflow: preliminary, mimicking operations
Based on the before mentioned, we propose the radical application Visual Design: none
of DT in search user interface design via »participatory
Medium: analog
prototypes«. This concept integrates users and developers alike.
We demonstrate its process briefly in the next chapter and explain Modality: any
its application in three following examples.
Usually presented via the Wizard-Of-Oz technique it incorporates
3. PROPOSED DESIGN THINKING as many operations as possible and always fakes function.
PROCESS FOR SEARCH USER 3.1.3 Mock-Up
INTERFACES Generated by: designer
In the business world (see introduction) DT is foremost a process
Function: none, may not be technically feasible
used for innovating new products.
Workflow: mimicking operations closely
The DT process is defined as following [8.]
Visual Design: none
Understand: Understand problem and context.
Observe: Externalize future users problems via e.g. extreme user Medium: digital
interviews or empathy maps. Modality: any
Define: Interpreting and weighting the gained knowledge from
Is often (and should be) visually unapealing, mimicking
the previous steps via e.g. ad-hoc personas.
operations closely, but fakes function.
Ideate: Using common or uncommon creative techniques, e.g.
body storming for generating many ideas. 3.1.4 Dummy (often refered to as Click Dummy)
Prototype: Visualize and communicate ideas with the help of fast Generated by: designer
and cheap prototypes with paper, Lego bricks or the product box Function: none, may not be technically feasible
method.
Workflow: mimicking operations
Test: Future users test those prototypes, via e.g. story telling
techniques. Visual Design: existing, often visually polished
We believe that DT can and should be incorporated in any Medium: digital
possible stage of a development cycle. Interface design prototypes
are extraordinary easy to manufacture and cost next to nothing. Modality: any
We suggest to apply the DT process more closely to the Incorporates a polished visual design, mimicking operations, but
development of search user interfaces to benefit from its many fakes function. May or may not incorporate the proposed
advantages, esp. to force the pace of innovation. interaction paradigm. The most common implementation of the
later is a browser based click dummy that fakes the functions off a
3.1 Prototype Categories mobile touchscreen device.
As the label »prototype« may be misleading, we tend to think of
anything capable of producing feedback as a prototype. To make 3.1.5 High-Fi Prototype
further understanding easier we classify prototypes as following in Generated by: designer, developer
the order of their advancement: Function: incorporates some or most of the proposed functions
Workflow: mimicking operations
Visual Design: existing, often visually polished we introduced participatory prototypes to search user interface
design for the creation of playlists for mobile video consumption.
Medium: digital
Two other successful projects include Design Thinking for a
Modality: same as end product customized faceted navigation and Design Thinking for a
Is similiar to a Dummy but also incorporates some of the multitouch interface for searching in large multimedial
proposed functions. It also incorporates the proposed interaction repositories.
paradigm.
4. DESIGN THINKING THE CREATION
3.1.6 Alpha Grade Version OF PLAYLISTS FOR MOBILE VIDEO
Generated by: developer
CONSUMPTION
Function: incorporates some or most of the proposed functions We wanted to address a problem, know to many smartphone users
on the move. We understand that, weather commuting or going
Workflow: mostly operational
out with friends users usually avoid constructing complex search
Visual Design: may or not be existing queries to find suitable content to watch.
Medium: digital To define the problem, we asked users what they miss and want
from a mobile TV application. Two main points emerged:
Modality: any
With services like youtube consumers are left having to refine a
A prototype proposed by developers that demonstrates most basic search query several times or to use non-customized item lists
functions, usually does not feature a polished design. such as »most viewed«. On the other hand, in traditional TV a
moderator weaves a golden thread and guides viewers via this
3.1.7 Beta Version potentially emotional connection through a series of video clips.
Generated by: developer After an ideate session the most promising prototype was a mixed
Function: incorporates some or most of the proposed functions breed of playlists, woven together by emotional metadata. To gain
insight into users mindsets regarding the construction of those
Workflow: fully operational personalized playlists we applied various DM.
Visual Design: existing To find out which emotional content attributes users are looking
for, we asked participants to map out a virtual space of content
Medium: digital
properties and show how they thought to navigate within it. This
Modality: same as end product method usually helps to discover pathways and interests in which
people make sense of a particular content space. The results
A visually polished prototype most often proposed by developers eventually help to make sense of how to construct queries for
is a functioning program that may have bugs or quirks and is filter specification.
mainly used in order to get rid of those.
Users were asked to individually draw a map or diagram of what
3.2 Observations for Prototypes comes to their mind when being on the move and having a mobile
As this brief listing suggests most of the prototyping work in video handset available, whether sitting on public transportation
search user interface design is done by a designer. Thus helping to alone or being in a pub with friends. The six users had 15 minutes
maintain a conversation between what users want and what time to draw a map or scheme and were asked to freely associate
developers can implement. parameters to form a personalized playlist. Given the mindset of
being on the move, users formed questions from a simple
There are usually no direct prototypes from the users. Users vocabulary and subsequently wanted to change only certain
comments or observations are interpreted multiple times. First parameters after watching a few video items. A discussion with all
they are made operable via prototypes, crafted by designers, participants followed.
which subsequently are interpreted by the developers.
The results lead to the assumption that users are interested in
Prototypes from the perspective of a developer are used only for direct mood filters. Most of the user generated maps feature mood
evaluation during the end of the implementation cycle. As a lot of clusters or the simple question »how« in a list of questions.
code and effort went into these, heavy changes are omitted and
hopefully eliminated with earlier prototypes. Based on those findings the developers of the future interface with
the help of a designer proposed a low fidelity prototype containing
While the main goal of DT is to encourage interdisciplinary user a filter named »How« together with more filters based on the four
groups to create innovative prototypes, it does not focus on direct cardinal questions Who, Where, When, What. This was done
prototypes from users or developers. because all those metadata fields could be filled with metadata
readily available in the existing database. To prove the concept it
3.3 Implications for Process was introduced to twelve users. Users’ feedback on this approach
We want to continously implement user prototypes into the was insightful in two ways. On one hand, users at large expressed
development and we also encourage a process where developers their general approval on the advantages that might arise by
explain technical feasibility via prototypes even in very draft and constructing exhaustive content filters with just a few steps of
early stages. interaction. On the other hand, the pre-structured characteristic
This realization came through practical usage of various DM in a was heavily criticized. However, the rigidly defined prototype
couple of projects. The following chapter briefly describes how inspired participants to incredibly rich feedback. This proposal in
combination with open ended questions has proved to be a fast
and convenient way to gain user feedback on a large variety of References
issues without a lot of explanation. The main insight is, that all [1] http://www.ted.com/talks/tim_brown_urges_designers_to_thi
users found and used the filter option »how«. Most user feedback nk_big.html (accessed Apr 29, 2011)
was given on only this feature. Findings are discussed in depth in
[12]. [2] Archer. Design as a discipline. Design Studies (1979) vol. 1
(1) pp. 17-20
TV Anytime [13.] is a metadata standard that defines metadata for
[3] Jones. Design Methods. John Wiley and Sons (1992)
broadcasts. It is common to use in describing video items and also
features 53 moods. For the sake of technical interoperability we [4] Newell et al. The processes of creative thinking. (1959)
wanted to stay within the realm of this particular metadata [5] Lawson. How designers think: the design process
standard but also wanted to make the proposed moods more demystified. (2006) (Elsevier)
accessible for users. Based on those technical restrictions and the
previous results we individually asked 45 potential users to sort [6] Schön. The reflective practitioner: how professionals think in
the moods into self-defined categories that made sense to them. action. Basic Books (1983)
[7] Kelley. The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from
At least two completely different ways of sorting prevailed. One
IDEO. Crown Business (2001)
group of users preferred an order that resembles a classification
into movie genres, while a second group was interested to sort [8] Plattner. Design Thinking. Mi Wirtschaftsbuch (2009)
them according to emotional dependencies. While a number of 45 [9] Cooper. About Face 3. Wiley and Sons (2007)
users was significant enough to reveal two groups, users assigned
to the first group were too few to manifest significance. Focusing [10] Hearst. Search User Interfaces. Cambridge University Press
on the larger group (35 participants) seven mood categories were (2009)
filled unanimously. Apart from very few moods all other moods [11] Hassenzahl et. al. AttrakDiff: Ein Fragebogen zur Messung
are mutually joint to groups. This could make the previous wahrgenommener hedonischer und pragmatischer Qualität.
discussed low fidelity prototype more flexible in navigating In: Proceedings of Mensch & Computer (2003)
complete mood sets. Based on those findings, users proposed an [12] Knauf, Berger, et. al. Constraints and simplification for a
interface that asks questions in an order that is more determined better mobile video annotation and content customization
by them. A subsequent High-Fi prototype was built, incorporated process. In Workshop Proceedings of the EuroITV. (2010)
1000 video items. It allows the selection of a variety of moods as
well as a combination of filters derived from the five cardinal [13] TV-Anytime Phase 1: Metadata schemas
questions. A formal user study is now underway. http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/102800_102899/1028220
301/01.02.01_60/ts_1028220301v010201p.pdf (accessed Oct
5. Acknowledgements 10, 2010)
This publication was prepared as a part of the research initiative
sachsMedia (http://sachsmedia.tv), which is funded by the
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the
grant reference number 03IP608. The authors take sole
responsibility for the contents of this publication.