Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
University of York
ETHNOGRAPHY + POSSIBILITIES
FOR LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES AND MUSEUMS
UX
At the University of York Library weve undertaken
several projects using UX techniques, which has given
us a hugely rich understanding of our users. Its
increasingly embedded in our way of working. These
slides detail some of the techniques weve used.
You can read more about our ethnographic work on
the Lib-Innovation Blog: theres a link at the end of
the presentation (as Slideshare doesnt allow working
links in the first few slides online).
TERMINOLOGY
TERMINOLOGY
Ethnographic Museum
Ethnographic Archive
Ethnographic Library
TERMINOLOGY
Ethnographic Museum
Ethnographic Archive
Ethnographic Library
What are
their paths?
What do they
see? What
do they use?
What do they
ignore?
3. Cognitive Maps
The Cognitive Map can be of a
building or space but it can also
be of a process, like researching
their family tree, or completing a
college assignment.
3. Cognitive Maps
Note what they put down first,
whats a last minute addition, what
they leave out entirely. You can
code this later.
3. Cognitive Maps
3. Cognitive Maps
3. Cognitive Maps
3. Cognitive Maps
Rather than showing your users around, let them
take YOU on a tour of the building (and record
what they say). Does their understanding of
processes, systems and the space match your
expectations?
4. Touchstone Tours
Ask
your users
to write a letter
to a collection or
service (NOT a member
of staff!) either professing
their love for, or breaking up
with, that service. This seems
very gimmicky and wont work with
everyone, but when it does work it
really allows you to understand the
emotion engendered by the
user experiences
6. Cultural Probes
Give your users a
feedback mechanism
which is quick, easy
and interactive
7. Graffiti Walls
7. Graffiti Walls
7. Graffiti Walls
These methods for
feedback gathering
tend to reveal very in-
depth and varied
views, feelings and
experiences
The key is not to get stuck on
the ethnography phase the next step
is to design changes to your service
based on what youve learned.
PART TWO: DESIGN
The aim is to tweak the
service to make the user
experience better. This
may mean a small number
of large changes you
never know what the data
will tell you but most
often this will mean a large
number of small changes
that positively influence the
user day to day
The Design Thinking process first defines the
problem and then implements the solutions,
always with the needs of the user demographic at
the core of concept development. This process
focuses on needfinding, understanding, creating,
thinking, and doing. At the core of this process is
a bias towards action and creation: by creating
and testing something, you can continue to learn
and improve upon your initial ideas.
THIS
= a better user experience,
happier users
Often UX fieldwork can be
the evidence and trigger
required to make the
changes youve known
you want to do for a while
FINALLY: NEXT STEPS
If youd like to try this at your library, museum or archive
(or any other organisation) heres a potential path forward:
1. Choose either a space or a demographic
1. Choose either a space or a demographic
2. Choose some ethnographic fieldwork to try
out. Behavioural Mapping is a good way to
start for space. Cognitive Mapping and
Interviews are good to do with a
demographic.
3. Practice on colleagues first!
1. Choose either a space or a demographic
2. Choose some ethnographic fieldwork to try
out. Behavioural Mapping is a good way to
start for space. Cognitive Mapping and
Interviews are good to do with a
demographic.
3. Practice on colleagues first!
4. Try to avoid going in trying to solve a
specific problem. Be led by the data.
1. Choose either a space or a demographic
2. Choose some ethnographic fieldwork to try
out. Behavioural Mapping is a good way to
start for space. Cognitive Mapping and
Interviews are good to do with a
demographic.
3. Practice on colleagues first!
4. Try to avoid going in trying to solve a
specific problem. Be led by the data.
5. As soon as you find something you can
change, design and implement the change
right away.
1. Choose either a space or a demographic
2. Choose some ethnographic fieldwork to try
out. Behavioural Mapping is a good way to
start for space. Cognitive Mapping and
Interviews are good to do with a
demographic.
3. Practice on colleagues first!
4. Try to avoid going in trying to solve a
specific problem. Be led by the data.
5. As soon as you find something you can
change, design and implement the change
right away.
6. Have fun!
SOME CREDITS
Thanks to Andy Priestner, Jenny All photos are CC0 (sourced via
Foster, Ingela Wahlgren and Carl Pixabay & Pexels) except the
Barrow for their examples of UX-led Touchstone Tour pic, courtesy of
changes. Follow them on Twitter for Georgina Cronin and the Modern
more good stuff! Human design cards, taken by me.
Read more about UX at the
University of York Library
libinnovation.blogspot.co.uk