Making toast storyboard

Part of the Planning tools for Interaction category, this is a storyboard I made for the instructions on how to make toast.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Mood boards

Here is a mood board I made for the specified user persona.

Johnny Smith
John is a 75-year-old retired carpenter who still enjoys hikes in national parks and ridding his Harley-Davidson. He looks forward to the local club raffle and a catch up with the boys on a Thursday evening. He also enjoys playing bingo, listening to local radio and watching old western movies with his wife Jill. As he gets older and has to visit the hospital more often, he prefers quick and efficient healthcare with simple, bold instructions and hospital signs. He aims to enjoy the rest of his life traveling a little and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.

• · Location: Hobart
• · Toaster Usage: Unfortunately Johnny has never used a fancy new electric toaster
• · Computer/Internet Usage: PC, Occasionally browses the Internet with the help of his grandchildren.
• · Computer Skill: Novice user. Finds things too complicated on the computer to use. Has an email but doesn’t know how to use it properly.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Interactive Design

The Interactive Association (http://www.ixda.org/) defines interactive design as “the structure and behaviors of interactive products and services, and user interactions with those products and services.”
It can be said that good interaction design effectively communicates with the user, allowing both the design and user to interact smoothly.

These are some examples of interactive design:
http://www.infinityart.ro/
http://www.creaktif.com/
http://www.themixhead.com/
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/#/new/phaeton/universe/

Informational/Instructional Design

“Instructional design can be defined as the process of using knowledge to help develop instructional strategies that meet certain outcomes.” (http://instructionaldesign.com.au/)

Instructional design is all about the learners’/users’ need for learning, and different approaches to instruction may be used to better help the user understand.

“The aim of instructional design is to make the instructions effective, efficient, appealing and cost effective.” (http://instructionaldesign.com.au/)

Information Design can be defined as the process in which chaos is given order – where raw data is organised and put together to present information that can be understood.

“Information design is the visual method of explaining and interpreting complex information and data to help the user achieve a particular objective.” – Saul Carliner, 2002.

There are numerous examples of informational/instructional design around us today, some more obvious then others.

(http://suburbanatrophy.com/?p=176)

This example of information design shows the amount of greenhouse gases released. It is an example of information design as it shows how the raw data collected can be collaborated in a way that allows the user to the easier understand the information. 

(http://www.hemmy.net/2008/02/08/baby-warning-instructions/)

This  is an example of instructional design. It is direct and efficient, allowing the user to understand the information/instruction pretty quickly without having to analyse the instructions.

(http://www.tradebit.com/tagworld.php/printer/1007-Documents-eBooks-eBooks)

Instruction manuals are one of the most common information designs used today. It can be classified as print media information design. This example teaches the user how to assemble and install a printer with clear written instructions.

How to make toast – Flowchart

The flowchart for the instructions on how to make toast that we had to complete in class.

(click on the image for complete flowchart)

How to make toast.

Here are step by step instructions to making toast.

1. Place toaster on a hard stable surface.
2. Make sure power outlet is off.
3. Plug toaster into power outlet.
4. Turn on the power outlet and toaster.
5. Set toaster to desired degree.
6. Take one or two slices of bread and place into toaster.
7. Push the lever down.
8. Wait until toast is ready.
9. Is the bread brown enough?
10. Allow toast to cool.
11. Test toast, is it cool enough to touch?
12. Remove toast from toaster carefully.
13. Spread with your favourite spread and enjoy!

Web 2.0

What is it?

There are many definitions for what web 2.0 is exactly. It can mean ‘using the web as a platform’ (http://www.paulgraham.com/web20.html), or used simply to describe the web-based applications available in the modern world.
A quote from my first Interactive Design I lecture describes Web 2.0 as “a new generation of websites [which] harvest the participation, creativity, and collaboration of their users’.

Some popular examples of web 2.0

Facebook http://www.facebook.com
A social networking site where users can create an account to keep in touch with family and friends. They can also blog, do quizzes and post up photos. This is a very good example of web 2.0 as it allows users to control the information being presented and they can interact with others around the world.

Flickr http://www.flickr.com
A photo sharing website where users can post their photos online to share with the rest of the virtual world. This is an example of web 2.0 as it allows users to create albums, and select the photos they want to make public.

Youtube http://www.youtube.com
Youtube is a website that has become increasingly popular in the last few years. It allows users to create an account, customise their profile page and upload videos amongst other things.

Resources / Credits

Here is where I will post all the websites or books I obtained information from. I will update this post with the websites/books.

“30 Examples of Visual Information Design |.” Suburban Atrophy. Web. 19 Mar. 2010. http://suburbanatrophy.com/?p=176.

 Instructional Design, Instructional Designer,What Is Instructional Design, First Principles of Instruction, What Do Instructional Designers Do? Web. 18 Mar. 2010. http://instructionaldesign.com.au.

Interaction Design Association – Homepage | IxDA. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. <http://www.ixda.org/&gt;.

 “Web 2.0.” Paul Graham. Web. 16 Mar. 2010. http://www.paulgraham.com/web20.html.

About this blog

This blog will be used to help me establish an “online” presence. Topics I will blog about include Web 2.0, Interactive Design, Information/Instructional Design, as well as exercises I have completed in class that show the planning tools used for interaction.