Eliciting mental models of user methods for product and communications design

Abstract

In order for products and services to be designed inclusively, designers need to understand users' capabilities and needs Thus methods for involving and understanding users are of key importance for inclusive design. However, many of these methods have limited uptake, possibly because of a poor fit with design practice. We conducted a card-sorting study with twenty-one product and communications designers, examining how they view user-centred methods, and how they relate them to other design methods. Results were analysed using hierarchical agglommerative cluster analysis to try to identify groups of methods that are considered similar to each other. This paper particularly examines the differences between product and communications designers. We found that product designers perceive a larger distinction between user involvement and other design methods, and communications designers are less structured in their approach to methods. We conclude that inclusive design methods and their presentation need to be adapted for different groups of designers.