Playbook for universal design

Universal design methods for more inclusive solutions

User interviews Add/remove

Purpose:

The purpose of a user interview is to gain knowledge and empiric data about a topic or situation seen from a users point of view, through a structured conversation. 

It is good for both initial contact to get to know the user and their experience, but can also be used for tasks like validation of a concept

Step by step Facilitating tips Materials needed Goes well with

Tips to include participants who are not able to:

Focus

If the person interviewed has a hard time focusing, reduce the interview length or plan in breaks.

Emote

If the user have trouble showing emotions be clever about how you ask people to describe their experiences. Do not get frustrated about the emotional level but try to work with it instead.

Speak

Use paper and pen to allow the user to write down their answers or include a translator

Hear

Use paper and pen to allow the you to write down the questions and the user to write down their answers or include a translator

Invest

Dont pick a meeting spot that will be a financial burden to the user.

Think

If the person interviewed has a hard time comprehending the questions, reduce the interview length and complexity of the questions.

Overview

Input

Project topic

Output

Empiric data

Complexity

Simple

Time

1-3 hours

Participants

1-2

Activity

Communicating

Step by step:

  1. Locate the right users for your situation and project and get into contact

  2. Prepare the questions/talking points you want to ask in advance

  3. Meet with the user at a spot you are both comfortable with and perform the interview

  4. To fully engage the user ask them back for validation of concepts

When doing this method you should consider:

  • Make sure not to just ask the questions but more intertwine them into a conversation. The questions should be more talking points to guide through a conversation. 
  • Make sure the questions are cohesive when planning the interview guide. 
  • Make sure to have as few users being interviewed at a time to allow all users to contribute – some might though feel more comfortable if they have another person to spar with during the interview.
  • Its okay to have someone joining you for documentation during an interview, but it is advised that the amount of interviewers does not exceed the amount of users interviewed.    
  • Make sure the questions are not offensive to the person being interviewed
  • Look at body language and tone as much as the spoken word

Materials needed:

Interview guide