Showing posts with label User Experience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label User Experience. Show all posts

8.5.12

USER EXPERIENCE: MY FINAL THOUGHT

I'm not entirely sure where to begin. But I will start by saying that taking the User Experience has made the way I think about my projects considerably different. I used to be aware of my audience yes, but now it seems that I actually really consider not what I think they would like, but I try and find out what their goals, values, and traits are. I take the time to find out and research what these things would be to them. In my iPhone app for Information Architecture, because of my research for the Roller Derby Girl it made the ending product that much better and richer in content. I was also hesitant to go into this class. All I heard was research research research. But come to find out, it was research that I really like doing. It's research about people. And I really like people! The User Experience is something I could really see myself pursuing. It is a completely new side of design for me– something I did not realize existed until now.  It is design with a mixture of anthropology, research, writing, talking to people, understanding, thinking outside of the box, being even more considerate and thoughtful in your design, and knowing not just your audience, but in the this situation who will be using and buying the product.

24.4.12

NELSON MAP: user testing day reflection

User Testing Day at the Nelson
I was not really sure how exactly this was going to play out, but it was a lot of fun and I see why it is such an important part of our project. I had the joy of "shadowing" mom, Heidi, her two sons Julian and Zain. It was great seeing my map in the actual hands of the little ones. How they interacted with the map and used it as they ran around the park. They did run at times I will add, but it was great chasing them around. I observed how the parent to child to map relationship played out. I was glad that I got to experience another groups map as well. It helped to see more than one map be tested so I could see their interaction with our maps and the kids with sculptures and park.


The Plan of Action
This user testing day was beneficial to our map in so many ways.  We have a lot of things to improve on the work out. The biggest part is fixing the navigation. The way  we are rendering our map is very illustrative, but it still needs to be a tool for the user. I am thinking that we are going to have to add possibly a smaller very simplified map to the side, just so that there is some sense of relation from sculpture to sculpture. Our map is not traditional in the sense of the scale of things and distances. I think also at least with my family, the boys stated that it wasn't super obvious to look through the map to see the sculptures. Also, because of the way our map is rendered is not typically what is seen when it comes to maps we need to use more text and explaining than we thought would be necessary.








NELSON MAP: process








4.4.12

Roller Derby Advertisements, contact sheet + final response




For my advertisements I wanted to really take advantage of the derby girls language. I saw this as a great opportunity to use their lingo to my advantage. I also saw BAND-AID as a good "who/what" for the derby girl culture. They are very conscious of their health. I wanted to used channels that hit on different parts of their life as well. Using a magazine ad, postcard, and button all hit different parts of their life. If a girl doesn't read magazines maybe they could receive a postcard, or if a girl is involved in a local skate shop maybe she could receive a button. 
I wanted to the button to not be about BAND-AID but attract the derby girl to the button by having "Derby Love" so large on the button and then they see that it is from BAND-AID.  It becomes something that they end up putting on their bags or clothing because of the lingo. With the postcard I wanted it to pull them in because of the imagery and then it's something that they keep because of the lingo and the picture on the front. Even the small details such as the address being to the derby girl in their derby name is a big detail that they would notice. 
I wanted to create advertisements that stick with them visually. Their thought process hopefully being that they see the bold imagery and color, then the language/lingo, then seeing that it's by BAND-AID they go buy the products, but also end up keeping the advertisement because it is so visually attractive to them. 




29.3.12

BAND-AID campaign for Roller Derby Girls (2nd round)

back of postcard
front of postcard
sticker/button



magazine ad

4.3.12

ROLLER DERBY GIRL, final response

QUEEN of the RINK Throughout this research process Sam and I have had the awesome experience in researching Roller Derby Girls. We used varying methodologies and analysis techniques to do so. We began our research by interviewing different roller derby girls, attending bouts, a practice, and studying their history. Keeping visual analysis by documenting our outings helped us come to better understanding of their behavior. We created affinity diagrams explaining their values, traits, goals, and obstacles. We also created visual and verbal analysis to showcase their distinctive language and appearance. We studied the technical language of the game and the lingo/slang that is used. We needed to understand the sport in order to understand the girl. We wanted to really understand the affect that this game has on them and why it becomes such a large part of their lives. We felt that creating an image dense book would best show their attitude and passion for the sport. Sticking with a bright color palette of a reddish-pink and (s)lime green we wanted to obtain a feminine quality but we layered our spreads with a texture to rough up the feeling. We wanted to reflect the creativity of the culture but also encompass all of their bold and eclectic attitudes. 

16.2.12

Roller Lingo (verbal analysis)

Roller Derby Girl Lingo





quick  overview

Roller Derby, intro writing

A Roller Derby Girl.
    Fishnets, tattoos, face paint, and shoving a girl to the ground all while wearing booty shorts, and racing around a track at dangerous speeds... is the appearance of a roller derby girl. That is what is on the outside, but when taking a step into the rink and into the chaotic world of derby, one realizes it consists of so much more. Their dedication to the team, the game, athleticism, and acceptance towards one another is what derby life is really about. 

    With a rich history dating back to 1935, roller derby began as a co-ed endurance race for the purpose of entertainment. As its popularity grew, it evolved into a theatrical spectacle. It soon fell out of style until the resurgence in the 2000s. Today, roller derby upholds a value of athleticism, but still pays homage to its history and its showmanship. 
    These are women from all walks of life who seek a liberation that they do not get anywhere else.  It is an escape from their reality. They uphold values such as community, acceptance, and dedication. Female empowerment and a rough attitude are considered positive traits that stem from a group of women who are working together for a singular purpose. Roller derby is as much fun to play as it is to watch. It’s a celebration of women who are confident in themselves and their derby love… and their bruises.

1.2.12

Roller Derby Girl, PERSONAS

"The Escapist"
Name: Patti Tracy
Derby Name:  Patti LuPuncha (I was named after Patti LuPone)
Age: 38
Occupation: Accountant, Single Mother
Number of seasons: 6 (veteran)
"I have two kids and am raising them on my own and it's nice to have something that is just for me."

Personal Focus
Camaraderie
Social escape/break

Patti is a single mother of two who found roller derby as a chance to spend time on herself. Her time is usually spent at work providing for her two children and being a mom. She wanted an outlet to meet other woman like herself as well as a way to be her own person. She wanted to be able to get away from the PTA or her mom duties for a couple of hours each week. She was inspired after a friend at work mentioned the sport to her. She didn't know much and the last time she put on a pair of skates was in middle school. She found a local team and attended tryouts.  She was happily surprised by the welcoming personalities of the other woman. Little did she know what an affect these woman would have on her life. She now has her "Derby Family" and has full faith and trust in them.

"The Refreshed Roller"
Name: Zooey Peterson
Derby Name: Zooey Bash'EmAll
Age: 2
Occupation: Student
Number of Seasons: 2

"I needed something in life. I was bored"

Camaraderie
Creativity
Sense of belonging
Acceptance

Zooey is a nursing student at KU. She was going to school, working part time, and interning, but she needed something different and new way of creativity. Zooey first experienced roller derby when she saw a posted flier at her school for a bout coming up. She decided to go having just seen the movie Whip It. She went to the bout and saw roller derby in a new light. Zooey was instantly interested in trying out. Growing up she never felt a place where she belonged until she joined the Royal Pains. She met a group of women that she was able to feel connected with. She now uses her new and found creativity in entertaining ways. Before every bout, she always wears bedazzled panties. And eats a banana for potassium.