The Role of Storytelling in Contextual Design
Role of Storytelling in Contextual Design
Storytelling is one of the most well-known aspects of UX design. It has become a standard practice in the field to use narratives as a framework for understanding user journeys and mapping them out to create better experiences. This makes sense, as stories can help designers understand the full range of factors that are at play with their designs, from lead-up and interaction to follow-up and retention.
However, storytelling has also a role to play in Contextual Design. Essentially, contextual design is the process of using the contextual understanding of users and their tasks to inform the design of a product. It is a human–centered design method that combines ethnographic research methods with human–computer interface (HCI) design. The contextual design approach focuses on understanding the tasks performed by the user in their current work practice, and then using that consolidated data to guide conversations about how technology could be used to transform those work practices.
This approach enables teams to build empathy with their users and ensures that all work is centered on the user’s needs, desires and expectations. One way to do this is through the use of a persona, which is a representation of a real user that helps designers empathize with their users and craft stories about them. Another way to do this is through a series of structured activities, called visioning, where the team focuses on understanding how their users work and then works out a product direction together, all guided by the same consolidated data.
The Role of Storytelling in Contextual Design
Once the team has a clear direction, it is time to begin designing the product. One way to do this is through the iterative design process, where the team takes a low-fidelity prototype and tests it with users, making changes as they go. This approach is a great way to get the input of users, and it’s also a good way to test the effectiveness of a new design.
One stage where storytelling finds less applicability is in the prototyping phase of the design process, but even so, it can still be useful. In this phase, the designer can use the consolidated data from the research and personas to create stories that will give them insight into how the product will be used, and what type of user experience it will provide.
Creating a compelling story about your product’s users can make it easier for them to identify with its features and functions, and thus feel more invested in the product. Stories also allow designers to communicate the value and benefits of a product in a way that is easily understood by their audience, which can be particularly important in a business context.
When telling a story, it is also important to remember that less is more. A simple and effective story will engage the audience much more than a long, complicated narrative. Similarly, when it comes to design, there are some visuals that can be overdone and be distracting, so it is important to keep the number of visuals to a minimum.