UB: Looking Back and Forward Fondly on Mental Models
A little earlier today I got a note from a user experience peer in Germany—she was asking for some advice about developing mental models in Omnigraffle. Her query made me realize that I hadn’t yet closed the loop on my UB chronicles.
Part of the reason is, honestly, we’re not quite done yet. The final stretch of the project involves mapping out a faceted search function for support and solutions section of the UB Information Technology site. If we get our way, it’s going to be seriously tricked out and cool and highly usable for IT solution seekers. More on that, in a little bit.
Since we started this project, I’ve been trying to find new stuff to bring Indi and Eric in on. They recently completed an intranet information architecture project with us for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, and I’ve recommended that we use the mental model framework for creating a new alumni and development site for a prospective client.
Why? Because I love the systematic method by which mental models collect, parse, and group data points with targeted audiences at the center of the work. I love the visual representation of the research that really helps people to grasp not only our audiences’ mental spaces, but also the information and services that exist to meet their needs within those spaces. Sometimes, the sheer gap between audience expectations and existing content jumps out at you from the diagrams—a picture can be worth a thousand words (or, come budget time, contract hours for necessary resources). Finally, I love the headstart that the models give in developing content—mental models show not only what’s necessary, what exists, and what’s missing … they also provide details what people think and feel and believe in each mental space.
Once we get the IT site more fully mapped out, I’ll follow up one last time. Meanwhile, links to my previous entries, in case you, like me, dislike even limited commercial interruptions:
- UB Mental Models Unveiled
- The Race to Place a Mental Space
- Oh, My Kingdom for a Finely Tuned Comb
- Unlearning My Cocktail Conversation
- Report from the Front, Week Nine
- Report from the Front, Week Five
- All the Pretty Little Rows and Columns
- I Get to be Batman
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