Delft circle _ Final design
We did three times of the user test.
The number of the all participants are 20.
The result was quite successful most of them could recognize that which the right direction is right.
The differences between the two map is subtle.
result from 3rd user test
This time around 7
participants were asked.
3 female (21, 25, 30)
4 male (25, 26, 26, 45)
The research questions are the same:
*Do the participants could recognize the differences between the two maps?
(If so,what kinds of the differences ?)
*Do the participants could understand the direction of the map?
(If so, what kinds of the aspects make them to think that?)
*What kinds of icon is the most clear and recognizable for the participants?
Results:
- All participants indicated that they recognize some differences between the two maps:
- 3 people saw that size arrangement of the circles are different
- 4 people noticed that different pictures are being faded, with 1 particular participant mentioned that in one map the museums are highlighted and in the other the shops are highlighted.
- 1 thinks that there's one circle missing in one of the maps
- 1 people said that the man next to the train station is suddenly much more attention demanding but couldn't explain why
- 5 out of 7 chose the direction from big to small as intended
- When asked why, most indicated that they thought its natural to go from big to small. Also the gap between the station and the smallest circle prevented them to go that way.
- One participant in particular was shown the P route, which should go left. She also chose left as the right direction, but she said that it seems to her that going clockwise is more fitting to the human nature.
- 2 people chose to follow from small to big
- When asked why, none could really explain. One said it seemd natural to 'go with the flow' to go from small and end up big.
Overal conclusion:
- The size differences are apparent to all, some clearly indicated that bigger circles gives the sense of importance.
- The difference in saturation/transparency are also noted. But not everyone realize what the meaning behind this difference is.
- The majority of the participants chose the right direction as intended, the gap between the station and the last picture is one crucial cue for them to not go to that direction. But 2 participants clearly went for the other direction, it seemed more natural to them, even though they did notice the size and transparancy difference.
result from 2nd user test
We tested our revised design to 8 participants. In 25th of March and 27 th of March.
- age/gender
: one female 21 years old, three female 26 years old, one female 29years old,
one male 26 years old, one male 30 years old, one male 31 years old, one male 37 years old
Result:
* Six out of eight people thought there were same.
- they mentioned they firstly focused on the picture that is familiar with them, so they could not realize there was a difference between them.
* Two out of eight people thought there was " difference" between K route and P route.
- they recognized that the picture's location in the circle wa
s difference.
*Seven people thought that the right direction to follow from the route was starting from the biggest picture icon.
- they mentioned that the station sign could be used as a cue to realize it and the gap between the last picture and the station icon made them to think th
at was end point.
* Only one person thought that she had to follow from the smallest icon, she thought the biggest icon ( the station/museum ) seemed like the destination.
* About the icon of the shopping spot they preferred second one( 5 people choose ). They thought the icon itself should be clear and simple. The other three liked shopping bag with blue color. They thought they can feel delft blue from those. Our previous icon was failed to attract people's attention.
result from 1st user test
We made the differences between the two more subtle, and got rid of the
map.
The direction is indicated by the spiral, a small size difference, and a change in gradient, and a slight overlap for the first and last stop with the train rails.
The choice for museums or shops is indicated by the first stop, and by a difference in transparency.
We did the test with 5 potential users (4 f, 1 m; age 45-65) from around Groningen.
We did not show the circles simultaneously, although that is what the assignment suggested, because the actual users would never see them at the same time, so it seemed irrelevant. Instead, we showed them right after each other for about 10 seconds. Some of them saw route P first, others route K.
After taking the posters away, we asked them to list the differences they had noticed.
Then, I showed them one of the posters, and asked them which direction they would follow, and if they would expect to visit mainly museums or shops, because the design should influence that decision, and why.
The test persons hardly noticed any differences between the two varieties: two of them saw no differences at all, two of them noticed the gap between the station and the last stop in route P (but not in route K!), and one of them (an artist) could list pretty much every single difference. So this part worked (but not for artists).
The direction on the circle was completely ignored. One of them chose "correctly": clockwise on route K for museums.
Other comments:
"Clockwise, always clockwise on a circle. Also, I want to see museums, and clockwise, a museum comes first." (route P)
"Counter-clockwise, I have a feeling I should go clockwise, but the pictures make it look more like a sightseeing tour in that direction, while the museums are on the left." (route P)
"Counter-clockwise, I have a feeling I should go clockwise, but the pictures make it look more like a sightseeing tour in that direction, while the museums are on the left." (route P)
"Counter-clockwise, the museum seems more clearly visible there." (route K(!!!))
Conclusion 2: the difference should be much, much greater. We tried to make it subtle, according to the assignment and feedback, but subtlety clearly doesn't work. Especially when people have in mind what they want to do, museums or shopping, they appear to ignore the direction of the circle, and pay more attention to the pictures. What they want to do should come first, that's how they decide on the direction.
They all liked the design of the circle, although we didn't pay a lot of attention to that when we made these versions.
