Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
This project is a little unique in that it started out as a personal interest, then turned into self-selected assignment work across two courses, and finally ended by meeting with campus dining services to discuss usability issues and recommendations.
Dining services launched self-service kiosks at locations on campus in 2022. I used them and noticed that the physical display was not being used effectively and that the software was not very friendly to interact with. I didn't know it at the time but I started doing some user research with other students.
I'm highlighting this project particularly because of its depth and length, as well as it being a good story. It shows how I took an interest in the dining kiosks as a user who noticed usability flaws, then taking it to the classroom to turn it into reality, and finally bringing it to staff members who actually work on the interface.
The Process
So when I had my choice of project for class, I picked this topic! I did a hierarchical task analysis of the steps in the current kiosk. I interviewed three students who use the kiosks to get their insights.
Then I optimized the task analysis, mocked up some screens, and tested a prototype with three others.
The following semester, I worked with a group to pick this back up. We did sketching, storyboarding, and made higher-quality screens and a prototype.
The screens here make improved use of the physical kiosk display by implementing a three-column layout. This allows a more comprehensive view of the system to be seen at once, rather than sparsely detailed.
As a team, we collaboratively built out a high-fidelity prototype that included a design style and realistic images. We then got lots of positive feedback from those we tested with!
Reflection
As part of my student government experience, I'd been serving on the food services advisory committee and I used that connection to schedule a meeting with a member of the dining services staff to talk about the kiosks and how they work. I showed them the breadth of my research and designs and we discussed the limitations of the kiosk's hardware and software. I conveyed the importance of taking advantage of using the system's flexibility to maximize usability. Ultimately, improvements were made and I continued to offer UX recommendations in our committee meetings.
Check out the folder of assignment documents, including our full report, for more information.
