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1) To understand the importance of contextual design

2) To learn the stages of contextual design
3) To identify contextual design challenges

What Is Contextual Design?

Contextual design is a user-centered design process developed by Hugh Beyer

and Karen Holtzblatt.

Contextual Design is a structured, well-defined user-centered design process that

provides methods to collect data about users in the field, interpret and consolidate that
data in a structured way. Data are used to create product prototypes and service
concepts, and iteratively test and refine those concepts with users.

This is the core of the Contextual Design philosophy, in which it understand users in
order to find out their fundamental intents, desires, and drivers.

However, these desires are invisible to the users, hence the only way to glean them is to
go out in the field and engage in conversations with people.

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A user-centric interface should make the user feel as if you have read their mind. The
processes involved in designing products and systems that meet both users’ and
business’ needs.

The best product designs are produced when the product’s designers are involved in
collecting and interpreting customers’ data and appreciate what customer need. It
heavily emphasis getting the right data to make the right decisions.

The focus is on designing effective solutions. E,g, Data gathered from customers is the
basic criteria that are used to decide what a product should do. It acts as a guide during
the designing process and helps avoid claims such as “what customers may like,” which
at times can be misleading. Contextual inquiry is an explicit step for understanding who
the customers really are and how they work on a daily basis.

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Case Study- Contextual Design Is Effortless:

For The User
Spotify, is a music streaming service developed by Swedish company Spotify
Technology, which headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. It creates a custom weekly
playlist for each user based on their listening habits.

Spotify also suggests playlists based on the time, date and the user’s location. These
solutions are using context-awareness to create a personalized experience, reward the
user for being active, and encourage further participation.

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Stages of Contextual Design

1) CONTEXTUAL ENQUIRY:

 In this stage, it is important to understand the customer, their needs and how
they work every day.
 Interviews should be conducted as customers work.
 discusses their unique perspectives of the data so that they develop a shared
view of their customers.

2) WORK MODEL :

 At times understanding a customer’s work can be complex when multiple

departments of an organization are involved.
 In such scenarios work models or diagrams can be created to get an idea of what
work is being done.

3) CONSOLIDATION:

 When solutions are designed, they may at times be required to serve the needs
of the entire customer population.
 In such scenario, all individual diagrams of the work of various customers should
be put together in order to identify any common patterns.
 This is done through an affinity diagram that shows the scope of issues and
consolidated work models that shows the underlying pattern and structure that
needs to be addressed.

4) WORK REDESIGN:

 The consolidated data that is collected helps the design team to find ways in
which technology and other changes to organizational procedures can be
introduced to help improve work.
 Storyboards are used as part of this process to define a new work system.

5) USER ENVIRONMENT DESIGN:

 This helps a user understand the various parts of the system that has been
created and the functions each part serves
 It also shows how each part fits into other existing systems.

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6) MOCK-UP AND TEST WITH CUSTOMERS:

 Testing through prototypes is essential to eliminate problems at the early stages

 Mock-ups are redesigned together by the design team and the end-user to
ensure that it meets the requirements better.

7) PUTTING INTO PRACTICE:

 When introducing a product, solution or a new work system, sometimes there

may be resistance.
 Existing resources and skills should be used to deal with such issues.
 Contextual design has to be customised to each organization.
 Systems that work for a small organization may not work as effectively in a larger
organization.

Fig.4 Similar Type of Contextual Design Process

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Contextual Design Is Functional

1) User need to be guided along or through a process
Creates a status dashboard that presents a clear call-to-action, it also tracks their
progress, keeps them updated, gets their attention when time has passed and
rewards them when they have finished.

2) Need to avoid drop-off on screens prone to user error

 Provide context-sensitive help. Tell them why they’ve encountered the error.
 Suggest solutions. Offer alternatives.
 Use the data you have to help them pass the barrier.

3) Need to achieve a business goal the user wouldn’t seek out on their own.
Sneak in an extra step in their journey.

Contextual Design Can Delight

Users don’t always notice when you’re making their life easier, but if they are not thinking
about the process then you’re probably doing a good job.

In order to bring your product from good to great, you need a delight factor. It could be a

 cute illustration,
 a cool animation
 a level of personalization they didn’t expect.

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EXERCISE

Identify one system that you like a lot.

Share your experience about the system with your class.

Describe how the system have used the contextual design concept to fullfill your need?

Contextual Design Challenges

One of the first challenges you may run into is data collection. Permissions can create
barriers for gaining access to the necessary data.

Designers need to plan for all scenarios, including times when there is no data to work
with. Contextual designs will require more screen states than a static interface would

This means more error- prone and more testing.

Contextual design can be:

the foundation of your product

Personalized products

help your product meet a business objective

It may require some extra effort to design and develop

However, it is worth it for every user to feel as if the app was designed for them.

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