In this metaphor, the model itself is the language, while grammar rules are the links between the tasks. The mental model describes a typical behaviour which is tool-independent.Īccording to author of these lines, the best metaphor of the book for the mental model is language. The applicability of mental models covers a spectrum considerably broader than for example a usability test. The greatness of mental models is that they capture the typical behaviour of a person.They give quasi conditioned answer not to a certain situation or issue, but on the contrary: Indi Young specifically points out that from the perspective of mental models, the tools with which we perform a task is irrelevant. The concept of mental modelįirst of all, let me quote the definition of mental model taken from the book: “ Mental models give you a deep understanding of people’s motivations and thought-processes, along with the emotional and philosophical landscape in which they operate.” Mental models offer deep knowledge of the motives and thought-processes of people and along with these, the emotional and philosophical framework in which they act in their everyday lives as well. Namely, it is based on these gaps that we can identify which functionalities that users would need are still missing as well as any unnecessary functions featured in the content map that cannot be classified in our mental model. The “gap” featured in the name of the operation refers to the fact that the gaps remaining after the grouping may carry relevant information. Once the mental model and the content map are ready, one can start grouping the function corresponding to the need under the right tower of the mental model. The grouping can be by various types, but the classification as envisaged by the designer will always prevail. These maps summarise the services of the webpage.
Gap analysis is an operation that identifies existing needs.Ĭontent Maps. If we are willing to devote more energy to getting to know the user, we can gain more valuable insights than if we were to get to know them strictly from a product perspective.īy identifying the mental models, not only the product can be designed more intuitive, but using gap analysis (more on this later), we can possibly also perform more developments, some that are truly warranted. It is not the product, but the user experience which is in focus: the user’s daily routine, and their ideas and preliminary perception of the world. While the objective of UX research is indeed to bridge the gap between the ideas of users and those of the industry about a given product, Indi Young’s book stresses that this area is about a lot more than just that.
#Young models plus
Indi Young’s book is considered unique in its class since the scholarly research methodology and the philosophy underlying UX is intertwined in it than usual, plus it extends well beyond the general UX researcher approach. This was the recognition that turned Indi Young towards UX research and led to the foundation of UX agency Adaptive Path in 2001. graduating in 1987, in her early projects, she realized that there was a gap between what computer scientists knew about the users, as engineers and creators, and what people were trying to ultimately accomplish.
#Young models software
Indi Young started her career as a software engineer, with a Computer Science B.S.