Light user research
Interview and observation
We asked Magda to show us how she uses the website. She performed 2 multi layered tasks: Submitting the details of the speech and registering attendance. She performed each task two times – once on desktop and once on a mobile device.
Recall of a critical incident
When I was putting details of my next speech in I had to jump between 3 tabs. I was very tired that day and when trying to check some details, I hit the wrong button and lost my work in progress.
– Magda
Empathy map & storyboardent
Putting oneself in the shoes of another person
To illustrate the results of the user research we used the empathy map linked here and storyboard as per the illustration beside.
The diagrams for the tasks AS IS helped us to understand the sequence of the actions related to both tasks. The insight from Magda led us to clarification regarding the most used features of Easyspeak among her club members. We decided to add the menu issue to the prototype. Diagram 1 and Diagram 2 contain the AS IS flows for 2 tasks. Diagram 3 and Diagram 4 contain TO BE version of the flow.

The diagrams for the tasks AS IS helped us to understand the sequence of the actions related to both tasks. The insight from Magda led us to clarification regarding the most used features of Easyspeak among her club members. We decided to add the menu issue to the prototype.Diagram 1 and Diagram 2 contain the AS IS flows for 2 tasks

Personas
Magda is challenged by her vision impairment in her professional and private live.
Magda lives in Dublin with a husband and 3 kids. She works long hours on front of the screen every day. As a person experiencing nystagmus in left eye and amblyopia and strabismus in her right eye, she is challenged by the tech world and necessity of the work on screens.
After work Magda works on her personal development – she is a member of speaking club, business network and choir.

Problem statement
Magda, tech-savvy woman in her early ’40s wants to actively participate in the Toastmasters Club she is a member of.
She wants to make sure all required information is received on time so she can then focus on rehearsing the speeches.
Every decision we make can raise or lower barriers to participation in society
– Inclusive Toolkit, Microsoft 2016
References
- Empathy Mapping: The First Step in Design Thinking (January 14, 2018). Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/empathy-mapping/
- Personas Make Users Memorable for Product Team Members (February 16, 2015). Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/persona/
- W3C Introduction to Web Accessibility. (Updated 5 June 2019). Retrieved from https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-intro/
- Incusive Toolkint, Microsoft (2016) Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/design/inclusive/