Ethnography, Design Research....call it what you will. Simon Johnson & Claire Mitchell
Previously presented to the UX Brighton audience in May 2009, Simon and Claire will be reporting on a research project that they completed for the Environment Agency, using a combination of methods to gather insights from a varied, and at times very angry selection of ‘end users’. These insights led through to the design of key interactive features for the Environment Agency website.
The project involved a mix of ethnography, user testing with Silverback, depth interviews, use of war rooms and interaction design. Simon was sent out into the field while Claire remained at HQ, keenly awaiting his data-laden return.
Normally such projects have tight NDAs, which stop the wider UX community from learning about them. However, in this special case, the Environment Agency has given the all clear, making this a great opportunity to learn about a project that would normally be kept behind closed doors.
Some of the talk’s highlights:
* Learn how street research can be translated into a final design – that is so challenging, it changes the mind of the Secretary of State for Environment!
* Get the ‘heads up’ on a national project that will affect 2.1 million homes on the coast.
* Hear how Silverback software fared in dated 1970 seedy coastal hotels.
* Learn how to be jabbed in the chest by irate ‘users’ from Norfolk and take it like a man.
* Marvel at how simple ethnographic research can put the government machine onto a different track.
Simon Johnson is a former User Experience Consultant at Flow Interactive, currently working as an independent.
Claire Mitchell is the President of the UKUPA and is currently a Principal Consultant at Flow Interactive.
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Register for this event via our Eventbrite page
Date: Thursday 27th August 2009
Time: 6.30 for 7pm
Location: LBi, Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1 6RU
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There is no charge for UPA members. For non-members the cost is £10, and for student non-members £5 - payable at the door.