Mood Board: User Persona on How to Make Toast

Mood Boards are very simple but highly effective planning tool. It allows people to get a gist of the persona development stage without having to read all the details. It effectively visually communicates the interests, lifestyles, hobbies and media consumption.

Example User Persona:

Johnny Smith

John is a 75-year-old retired carpenter who still enjoys hikes in national parks and ridding his Harley-Davidson. He looks forward to the local club raffle and a catch up with the boys on a Thursday evening. He also enjoys playing bingo, listening to local radio and watching old western movies with his wife Jill. As he gets older and has to visit the hospital more often, he prefers quick and efficient healthcare with simple, bold instructions and hospital signs. He aims to enjoy the rest of his life traveling a little and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.

• Location: Hobart
• Toaster Usage: Unfortunately Johnny has never used a fancy new electric toaster
• Computer/Internet Usage: PC, Occasionally browses the Internet with the help of his grandchildren.
• Computer Skill: Novice user. Finds things too complicated on the computer to use. Has an email but doesn’t know how to use it properly.


Sample Mood Board of Johnny Smith:

Storyboard Sample - How to Make Toast

Steps 4-5

Step by Step Guide & Flowchart - How to Make Toast

Information/Instructional Examples

Acne Heroes intends to focus on teenagers with acne. It intends to inform young teens about how acne develops and how to prevent them in a fun and fresh way.

http://www.acneheroes.com


Instructables is an online instructional website that helps users with almost any process with the use of easy to follow instructions.

http://www.instructables.com



Fun Brain is an informational website directed for children from grades K-8. It is an interactive website that focuses on engaging children and making learning fun. There are also a section for parents and teachers who want to be involved in the learning experience.

http://www.funbrain.com

Information/Instructional Design

Definition

Instructional design is the process by which instructions is improved through the analysis of learning needs and developments of learning materials. Instructional designers often use technology and multimedia as tools to enhance instructions.

The purpose of information design is to make the instructions effective, efficient and appealing. The instructional designer uses a vast amount of interactive media to enhance and improve learning. For example, face to face teaching methods can be enhanced and even be replaced by innovative e-learning methods.

Many instructional designers attempt to make content much simpler is to take out information. However, it just leaves learners with unanswered questions. The key solution is not to take out information but to present the content in a simpler way.

We now live in the Information Age where the need to attain information is in constant demand. Information is now distributed across a vast network and shared among people from around the world. Information designers are now challenged to help people use this information safely, wisely and productively as they adapt a rapidly changing world.

References


Culley, Annette. "What is Instructional Design?." Instructional Design Australia. 16 January 2009. 14 Mar 2009 .

Culatta, Richard. "Instructional Design." Instructional Design. 14 Mar 2009 .

Information/Instructional Design

Definition

Instructional design is the process by which instructions is improved through the analysis of learning needs and developments of learning materials. Instructional designers often use technology and multimedia as tools to enhance instructions.

The purpose of information design is to make the instructions effective, efficient and appealing. The instructional designer uses a vast amount of interactive media to enhance and improve learning. For example, face to face teaching methods can be enhanced and even be replaced by innovative e-learning methods.

Many instructional designers attempt to make content much simpler is to take out information. However, it just leaves learners with unanswered questions. The key solution is not to take out information but to present the content in a simpler way.

We now live in the Information Age where the need to attain information is in constant demand.Information is now distributed across a vast network and shared among people from around the world. Information designers are now challenged to help people use this information safely, wisely and productively as they adapt a rapidly changing world.

References:

Culley, Annette. "What is Instructional Design?." Instructional Design Australia. 16 January 2009. 14 Mar 2009 .

Culatta, Richard. "Instructional Design." Instructional Design. 14 Mar 2009 .

Great Web Design Examples

http://www.youniverse.com

Youniverse helps thousands of people discover their ‘Visual DNA’, compare quiz results with friends, chat, form Youniverse groups and get connected in a whole new way. Their professional 44 questions cover six life areas; Emotions, Intellect, Dynamism, Skills, Optimism, Barometer and Life Context.



http://www.wefeelfine.org

We Feel Fine is an interactive website that allows users to explore different emotions from around the world. Not only that, they are able to compare their current feelings from people all over the world.

Interactive Design

Interactive Design involves designing interactive products to support people in everyday lives. Interaction Design defines the behaviour of products and systems that a user can interact with. It revolves around complex technology systems such as mobile devices, electronic devices and software. However, it can also involve with other types of products, services, and organizations. Simply said, interaction design identifies the behaviour of the system or product in response to its users.

Reference

"Interactive Design." Wikipedia. 8 Mar 2009 .

Web 2.0 examples

http://www.flickr.com
Flickr is a Web 2.0 photo sharing site. It always people to collaboratively post and share photos, as well as comment on each other’s photos.

http://www.youtube.com
This is a Web 2.0 for videos. People upload personal as well as public videos for people to view and comment.

www.wikipedia.com
This is a great example upon how broad knowledge of the community can be harnessed using Web 2.0 technologies.


http://www.facebook.com
This is a phenomenon Web 2.0 social network that allows people to interact, network and relate to one another.

Web 2.0

What is this you ask?

According to conference sponsor Tim O’Reily, Web 2.0 is“architecture of participation” – a network made up of links between web applications that rival desktop applications, the blog publishing revolution and self-service advertising.

This interactive environment is based on social software where users generate the information and content by whatever they desire, rather than simply consume the given information. It is a playground where the web rather than the user’s private desktop is the main platform. It affects people who use it socially, culturally, and even politically. Designers and developers are most affected by the domination of Web 2.0 who will be building it- not because their technical skills will change over time, but also because they need to treat the content as a integrated environment and not a secluded island.

References

Singel, Ryan. "Are you ready for Web 2.0?." Wired. 10 June 2005. 5 Mar 2009 .

MacManus, Richard. "Web 2.0 for Designers." Digital Web Magazine. 05 May 2005. 6 Mar 2009 .