Usage-centered design
Encyclopedia
Usage-centered design is an approach to user interface design
based on a focus on user intentions and usage patterns. It analyzes users in terms of the roles they play in relation to systems and employs abstract (essential) use cases
for task analysis
. It derives visual and interaction design
from abstract prototypes
based on the understanding of user roles and task cases.
Usage-centered design was introduced by Larry Constantine
and Lucy Lockwood. The primary reference is their book.
workflow models and task case and role profiles.
Usage-centered design proponents argue for abstract modelling while many designers use realistic personas
, scenarios
and high-fidelity prototypes
. The techniques have been applied with particular success in complex software projects, some of which have been reported in case studies.
. It is concerned more with the activities of users but not the users per se. In [Constantine, 2006] an integrated framework is presented where the models of Usage-centered design are enriched with concepts from the Activity theory
.
User interface design
User interface design or user interface engineering is the design of computers, appliances, machines, mobile communication devices, software applications, and websites with the focus on the user's experience and interaction...
based on a focus on user intentions and usage patterns. It analyzes users in terms of the roles they play in relation to systems and employs abstract (essential) use cases
Use case
In software engineering and systems engineering, a use case is a description of steps or actions between a user and a software system which leads the user towards something useful...
for task analysis
Task analysis
Task analysis is the analysis of how a task is accomplished, including a detailed description of both manual and mental activities, task and element durations, task frequency, task allocation, task complexity, environmental conditions, necessary clothing and equipment, and any other unique factors...
. It derives visual and interaction design
Interaction design
In design, human–computer interaction, and software development, interaction design, often abbreviated IxD, is "the practice of designing interactive digital products, environments, systems, and services." Like many other design fields interaction design also has an interest in form but its main...
from abstract prototypes
Software prototyping
*Software prototyping, refers to the activity of creating prototypes of software applications, i.e., incomplete versions of the software program being developed...
based on the understanding of user roles and task cases.
Usage-centered design was introduced by Larry Constantine
Larry Constantine
Larry LeRoy Constantine is an American software engineer and professor in the Mathematics and Engineering Department at the University of Madeira Portugal, who is considered one of the pioneers of computing...
and Lucy Lockwood. The primary reference is their book.
Usage-centered design methods
Usage-centered design is largely based on formal, abstract models such as models of interaction between user roles, UMLUnified Modeling Language
Unified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
workflow models and task case and role profiles.
Usage-centered design proponents argue for abstract modelling while many designers use realistic personas
Personas
In marketing and user-centered design, personas are fictional characters created to represent the different user types within a targeted demographic, attitude and/or behavior set that might use a site, brand or product in a similar way. Personas are a tool or method of market segmentation...
, scenarios
Scenario (computing)
In computing, a scenario is a narrative describing foreseeable interactions of types of users and the system. Scenarios include information about goals, expectations, motivations, actions and reactions...
and high-fidelity prototypes
Software prototyping
*Software prototyping, refers to the activity of creating prototypes of software applications, i.e., incomplete versions of the software program being developed...
. The techniques have been applied with particular success in complex software projects, some of which have been reported in case studies.
Usage-centered design and activity-centered design approach
Usage-centered design share some common ideas with activity-centered designActivity-centered design
Activity-centered design , which is an approach to interaction design, does not focus on the goals and preferences of the user, but on how users behave when performing particular tasks. Activities can be defined as actions and decisions that are done for a purpose. They can be easy and fast, or...
. It is concerned more with the activities of users but not the users per se. In [Constantine, 2006] an integrated framework is presented where the models of Usage-centered design are enriched with concepts from the Activity theory
Activity theory
Activity theory is a psychological meta-theory, paradigm, or theoretical framework, with its roots in Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky's cultural-historical psychology. Its founders were Alexei N...
.