My presentation introduces the notion of 'context' and why it is especially important when designing (products/services) for mobile. I introduce a hypothetical local example, the Gautrain Bus, to illustrate this and close with some practical and strategic considerations to help people effectively design products that have a mobile nature to them.

1. Rob Enslin
Experience Designer, ThoughtWorks
Designing
for context
using a
mobile UX
strategy

2. Context is about
understanding human
relationships to the
people, places, and
things in the world.

3. This talk is NOT
about
why mobile is
important

4. This talk is NOT
about
making money

5. This talk is NOT
about
beautiful visual
design

6. This talk is NOT
about
working within
teams

7. This talk is NOT
about
deliverables

8. This talk is NOT
about
principles or
techniques of
design

9. Mobile context
=
anywhere and
everywhere.

10. Context framework
ThingsPlaces
People
Spatial
Temporal
Social
Sematic

11. Mobile growth

12. The wild west, and
new frontiers

13. Understand its context of use

14. Mobile is personal
Mobile is social
Mobile is always near
Mobile is everywhere
Mobile has context
Remember…

15. Utility
Locale
Information
Productivity
Immersive
Experience type (tasks)
Quick look
Location-based services
Content quality
Completing tasks
See everything
App type Duration (consumption)
Snacking
Quick
Quick
Varies
Sticky / Long
Recall information
Contextual information
Finding information
Manage information
Entertainment

16. Let’s take
a closer look
at some mobile
applications...

23. What would
Gautrain Bus
do?

25. Scenario 1

26. I'm on the bus on my way to work. I get a
call from my boss who says that I should
meet him in Rosebank. He asks what time
I'll be there?
A scenario…

27. A scenario…
Mobile (bus)
Morning (habit)
Mobile phone (call)
Noise (disruption)
Connectivity (coverage)
Location (Rosebank)
Timings (time of day)
Duration (length of time)
I'm on the bus on my way to work. I get a
call from my boss who says that I should
meet him in Rosebank. He asks what time
I'll be there?

28. Context Framework
Things
Bus
Signs
Touchpad
Website
People
Commuter
(me)
Driver
Spatial
Temporal
Social
Sematic
Places Office, Home

29. Experience Map
Trip Planning Pre-Trip Actual Trip Post Trip
Place /
Location
Needs
Mode
Tasks
Goals
Home
Office
Telephone
Home
Bus stop
Telephone
Bus stop
Bus station
On the bus
Home
Pack ticket
What routes
exist?
What’s the cost
Pamphlets
Tablets
Desktop
Establish
available routes
Register & buy
tickets
Conduct
research
Check
balance
Mobile
Bus stop
signage
Bus ticker
Collect ticket
(Ad—hoc)
Get from origin
to destination
Desktop
Mobile
Mobile
Touch pad
Printed
signage
Bus ticker

31. Mobile UX
strategy / principles

32. Remove excess
Design for short attention
spans
Limit the need for digging
Exploit existing device
information
Design to pick up where you
left off
Use the notion of time wisely
1
2
3
4
5
6
Mobile UX strategy / principles

33. Key takeaways

34. Have a solid
Product
Strategy
1
Product
Design
Business
Strategy
Product
Strategy

35. Product
Design
Business
Strategy
Product
Strategy

36. Know who
you’re
designing for
2
Know the
users

37. Know the
users and
their contexts

38. Exploit mobile /
handset
capability
3
Use
what’sbuilt in

39. Use
what’sbuilt in

40. Use tools like
Experience
Maps to expose
context
4
Experience
Map

41. Experience Map
Trip Planning Pre-Trip Actual Trip Post Trip
Place /
Location
Needs
Mode
Tasks
Goals
Home
Office
Telephone
Home
Bus stop
Telephone
Bus stop
Bus station
On the bus
Home
Pack ticket
What routes exist?
What’s the cost
Pamphlets
Tablets
Desktop
Establish available
routes
Register & buy
tickets
Conduct
research
Check
balance
Mobile
Bus stop
signage
Bus ticker
Collect ticket
(Ad—hoc)
Get from origin to
destination
Desktop
Mobile
Mobile
Touch pad
Printed
signage

42. Create
uniquely
mobile
experiences
5

44. Thank you.
@robenslin