How card sorting can improve your service and product design
Card Sorting is a method used in service and product design to understand how users organize and categorize information. The method involves creating a set of cards, each representing a piece of information or content, and asking users to sort the cards into categories that make sense to them. Card Sorting can be used to inform the design of information architecture, navigation, and content organization in a wide range of products and services.
In service design, Card Sorting can be used to understand how users perceive and organize information related to a service. For example, a financial services provider may use Card Sorting to understand how customers categorize different types of financial products or services. By analyzing the results of the Card Sorting exercise, the provider can identify patterns in how customers organize and categorize financial products, and use this information to improve the structure and organization of their service offerings.
In product design, Card Sorting can be used to inform the design of navigation and content organization in digital products such as websites and mobile apps. By understanding how users categorize and group different types of content, designers can create intuitive and user-friendly navigation structures that make it easy for users to find what they are looking for.
The Card Sorting method typically involves several steps. First, the design team will identify the information or content that they want to test. Then, they will create a set of cards, each representing a piece of information or content. Next, they will ask users to sort the cards into categories that make sense to them, and to label each category. Finally, the design team will analyze the results of the Card Sorting exercise to identify patterns and insights that can inform the design of the product or service.
Card Sorting is a powerful tool for service and product design that enables designers to understand how users organize and categorize information. By gaining insights into how users perceive and group different types of content, designers can create intuitive and user-friendly navigation structures that improve the user experience and make it easier for users to find what they are looking for.
Here are some examples and links to tools that can help you apply the Card Sorting method in your service and product design:
OptimalSort: a digital card sorting tool that allows you to create, administer and analyze card sorting exercises. It also provides you with various templates and designs for customization:
https://www.optimalworkshop.com/optimalsort
UserZoom: a user research platform that includes a feature for conducting online Card Sorting exercises with real users. It also allows you to analyze the results and identify patterns in the data:
https://www.userzoom.com/card-sorting/
Canva: a graphic design tool that can be used to create physical cards for Card Sorting exercises. The tool includes a wide range of design templates and graphics that can be used to create cards for different types of content:
https://www.canva.com/templates/search/card-sorting/
Usability.gov: a website that provides resources and guidelines for conducting user-centered design and user research. The site includes a section on Card Sorting, with information on how to plan and conduct a Card Sorting exercise, as well as tips for analyzing the results:
https://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/card-sorting.html
Figma: is another design tool that can be used for Card Sorting exercises:
https://www.figma.com/
Figma is my actual favorite tool for Card Sorting work. Here's how you can use Figma for Card Sorting:
Create a new file in Figma, and create a frame for each card that represents a piece of information or content.
Organize the frames on the canvas in a way that makes sense to you and the design team.
Share the file with users, and ask them to sort the frames into categories that make sense to them. You can ask users to label each category as they sort the cards.
Once users have completed the Card Sorting exercise, you can use Figma's commenting and collaboration features to analyze the results and identify patterns in the data.
Figma's collaborative features make it easy to share Card Sorting exercises with other designers and stakeholders, and to work together to analyze the results and incorporate insights into your design. Additionally, Figma's design and prototyping features can be used to test and iterate on the design based on the results of the Card Sorting exercise.
Figma is a versatile and powerful design tool that can be used for a wide range of design tasks, including Card Sorting exercises. Whether you're designing a service or a product, Figma can help you create intuitive and user-friendly navigation structures that improve the user experience and make it easier for users to find what they are looking for.
These are just a few examples of the many resources and tools that are available to help designers apply the Card Sorting method. As with any design tool or method, it's important to choose the ones that work best for your specific needs and context.
Good luck!
Monika
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Analogous inspiration to sparks innovation in service and product design
Analogous Inspiration is a creative problem-solving method used in service and product design that involves finding inspiration and solutions from unrelated industries or fields. The idea behind Analogous Inspiration is that by looking beyond the traditional sources of inspiration, designers can generate new ideas and solutions that can lead to breakthrough innovation.
In service design, Analogous Inspiration can be used to identify solutions for complex service challenges. For example, a healthcare provider may look to the hospitality industry for inspiration on how to improve the patient experience. By examining the way that hotels or resorts create a welcoming and comfortable environment for their guests, the healthcare provider may be able to identify new ways to improve the comfort and care of their patients.
In product design, Analogous Inspiration can be used to develop new product ideas or improve existing ones. For example, a designer working on a new mobile app may look to the gaming industry for inspiration on how to create engaging user experiences. By examining the way that games create immersive and addictive experiences, the designer may be able to identify new ways to make the app more engaging and fun for users.
The Analogous Inspiration method typically involves several steps. First, the design team will identify the problem or challenge they are trying to solve. Then, they will identify unrelated industries or fields that may have insights or solutions that can be applied to their problem. Next, the team will research and analyze the identified industries or fields to understand their approaches and strategies. Finally, the team will apply the insights and strategies they have learned to their own problem or challenge, developing new ideas and solutions.
Analogous Inspiration is a powerful tool for service and product design that enables designers to break out of their traditional sources of inspiration and generate new ideas and solutions. By looking to unrelated industries or fields for inspiration, designers can gain fresh perspectives and insights that can lead to breakthrough innovation and improved user experiences.
Here are some examples and links to tools that can help you apply the Analogous Inspiration method in your service and product design:
IDEO Design Kit: IDEO is a design agency that has developed a toolkit to help designers apply the Analogous Inspiration method. The kit includes a set of cards that can be used to identify and analyze unrelated industries and fields for inspiration. It also includes a guidebook with step-by-step instructions on how to apply the method:
https://www.designkit.org/methods/analogous-inspiration/
Smaply: a service design tool that includes a feature for identifying and analyzing inspiration from unrelated industries or fields. The tool allows designers to create customer journey maps, personas, and other visualizations to help them identify and analyze potential sources of inspiration:
https://www.smaply.com/analogous-inspiration/
Canva: a graphic design tool that can be used to create visual representations of Analogous Inspiration. The tool includes a wide range of design templates and graphics that can be used to create mood boards, mind maps, and other visualizations of inspiration from unrelated industries or fields:
https://www.canva.com/templates/search/analogous-inspiration/
Google: can be a great resource for finding inspiration from unrelated industries or fields. By using search terms like "cross-industry inspiration" or "analogous inspiration examples", designers can find articles, case studies, and other resources that provide examples of how the method has been applied in different contexts.
These are just a few examples of the many resources and tools that are available to help designers apply the Analogous Inspiration method. As with any design tool or method, it's important to choose the ones that work best for your specific needs and context.
Good luck!
Monika
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Innovate faster: how design sprints transform service and product design
Design Sprints are a popular methodology in service and product design that enable teams to rapidly prototype and test new ideas. Originally developed by Google Ventures, a Design Sprint is a five-day process that brings together cross-functional teams to solve complex problems and generate innovative solutions. Design Sprints are often used in service and product design to accelerate the development of new products and services or improve existing ones.
In service design, a Design Sprint typically involves a team of designers, developers, marketers, and other stakeholders working together to identify pain points in a service and generate ideas for how to improve it. The team will often use techniques such as user research, journey mapping, and prototyping to develop a deeper understanding of the user experience and create solutions that address user needs. Service design Design Sprints are often used to redesign or create new services, such as online banking or transportation systems.
In product design, a Design Sprint can be used to rapidly prototype and test new product ideas. The team will typically start by identifying a specific problem or opportunity that the product will address and then use techniques such as user research, ideation, and prototyping to develop a minimum viable product (MVP) that can be tested with users. The Design Sprint process is often iterative, with the team testing and refining the MVP over multiple sprints until it is ready for launch.
Regardless of whether it is used in service or product design, a Design Sprint typically follows a similar five-day structure.
Day 1 / is focused on understanding the problem and defining the scope of the project.
Day 2 / is about ideation and generating a wide range of potential solutions.
Day 3 / is dedicated to prototyping, with the team creating a physical or digital prototype of the solution.
Day 4 / is focused on user testing, with the team testing the prototype with users to gather feedback and insights.
Day 5 / is about synthesizing the results and identifying next steps.
Design Sprints are a powerful tool for service and product design that enable teams to rapidly prototype and test new ideas. By bringing together cross-functional teams and following a structured process, Design Sprints can help organizations to develop innovative solutions that address user needs and create value for their customers.
Here are some good examples of Design Sprints and some links to tools that can help you run your own Design Sprint:
Google Design Sprint: one of the most well-known examples of a Design Sprint. It's a five-day process that helps teams to solve problems and test new ideas quickly. The Google Ventures website provides a detailed overview of the process, as well as a list of resources and tools that you can use to run your own Design Sprint:
AJ&Smart Design Sprint: AJ&Smart is a design agency that specializes in Design Sprints. They have a great YouTube channel where they share their own Design Sprint process, as well as tips and tricks for running successful Design Sprints. You can also find their Design Sprint template and other resources on their website:
https://ajsmart.com/design-sprint/
Design Sprint Kit: a free tool that provides templates and resources for running your own Design Sprint. It includes a step-by-step guide, a Design Sprint canvas, and a list of tools that you can use to facilitate the process:
https://www.designsprintkit.com/
Miro: a collaborative online whiteboard platform that can be used to facilitate Design Sprints. It includes templates for running Design Sprints, as well as tools for ideation, prototyping, and testing:
https://miro.com/templates/design-sprint/
Sprintbase: a tool that provides a step-by-step guide and templates for running your own Design Sprint. It also includes a collaboration platform for teams to work together and share their ideas:
These above are just a few examples of the many resources and tools that are available to help you run your own Design Sprint. Each of these tools has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to choose the one that works best for your team and your specific needs.
Good luck!
Monika
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If you found this article helpful and informative, please consider supporting me by buying me a coffee! Your support helps me to continue creating valuable content and improving the user experience for people around the world.
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