Weekly Challenge 4: Define user problems | Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate | Week 4
Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate (Week 4)
Weekly Challenge 4: Define user problems
Define problem and hypothesis statements, Create a value proposition, Explore the influence of psychology in UX design, Week 4 review, Wrap-up: Defining user problems, Glossary, Weekly Challenge 4: Define user problems, Define user problems
Question 1
Fill in the blank: A problem
statement is a(n) _____.
clear description of the
user's need that should be addressed
set of constraints identified
in the user research plan
educated guess about what the
solution to a design problem might be
actionable series of steps
captured in an empathy map
Why this answer?
A problem statement is a
clear description of the user's need that should be addressed. Problem
statements align the team on which user problem to focus on and give everyone a
clear goal.
Question 2
Fill in the blank: To write a
problem statement, you include the name of the user, their characteristics, and
a description of _____.
the user’s need
the user’s design
expectations
the user’s target demographic
the user’s preferred product
features
Why this answer?
A problem statement starts
with the name of the user and a short description of the user’s
characteristics. Next, it includes a description of the user’s need, and an
explanation of why they have that need.
Question 3
Can an effective problem
statement help UX designers set benchmarks for success?
Yes. Problem statements
explain the user’s need, which helps designers benchmark a successful design
solution.
No. Problem statements
address the process of solving a design problem, and do not address how to set
success benchmarks.
Sometimes. Problem statements
may address benchmarks for success later in the design process, after prototype
development and user testing.
Why this answer?
Problem statements can help
UX designers set benchmarks for success. If the design goal is to boil water,
for example, you know you are successful when you notice bubbles and steam. A
problem statement establishes this kind of target.
Question 4
After crafting a problem
statement, a designer begins to brainstorm design solutions that may solve the
user’s problem. How should the designer document possible design solutions?
In a hypothesis statement
In a success benchmark
In a mind map
In a research plan
Why this answer?
A hypothesis statement
captures the designer’s best educated guess on what they think the solution to
a design problem might be.
Question 5
What action should you take
when you identify a pain point in your product?
Ask your team to collaborate
on a list of possible user needs
Define the problem as
something that your UX team can solve
Create user personas to
understand who your users are
Write user stories to find
out what users need from your product
Why this answer?
This is where the five “w”
questions can help. When you ask these questions, you get the answers you need
to empathize with the user and solve the user’s problem.
Question 6
In the 5 W’s framework,
researchers ask five “w” questions based on who, what, when, where, and why.
Which of the following is an example of a good “where” question?
Where is the user when they
are using the product?
Where does the user want to
be when they experience the problem?
Where is the product that the
user frequently uses located?
Where does the user go after
they experience the problem?
Why this answer?
It is important to consider
where the user experiences their problem. For instance, is it in a noisy public
environment? Does it occur while users are at home? Physical context matters.
Question 7
Which of the five “w”
questions (who, what, when, where, or why) is missing from the following
problem statement?
The user, Shandel, is a fine
arts enthusiast that lives in a major city. Shandel goes to museums several
times a month. They want an easy way to secure timed museum tickets. The
product Shandel uses to secure tickets requires advance purchase, so they get
frustrated when they try to spontaneously book tickets to popular exhibits.
Shandel wants to be able to easily book tickets in the app, in real time on
weekend afternoons, without advance planning.
Who
Where
When
What
Why
Question 8
Imagine that a designer is
ready to build a value proposition for their new photo organizing app. To
start, they clearly describe how the product addresses users’ pain points.
Which value proposition research question does this answer?
What target users should the
design consider?
What does the product do?
What features should the
product include?
Why should the user care?
Why this answer?
The product offerings may be
clear to the designer, but they need to consider the user when building a value
proposition. To do that, they need to articulate what the product does and why
users should care.
Question 9
Imagine that a designer
starts to develop the value proposition for their new mobile photo app. For the
first step, they list all of the app’s benefits and features, like free
unlimited photo storage and social media integration. What is the second step
the designer needs to take?
Review the official value
proposition list
Create user personas for the
target user group
Explain the value of the
product
Develop a high-fidelity
prototype of the app
Why this answer?
The designer needs to explain
the value of the product, not simply list the app’s benefits and features.
Question 10
A designer reaches the final
stage of building value propositions. They review their official value
proposition list. Using this list, how can they make sure their product stands
out from the competition? Select all that apply.
Create new value propositions
to align with the competitor's product
Remove value propositions
that are offered by competitors
Identify their product’s
unique value propositions
Schedule a round of user
research to validate their value propositions