Make Me Want Your App!Designing Mobile Applications for

(Reluctant) Business Users

Jonathan Ozeran@jozeran

Design Principles

Design Tools

Design in the Enterprise

Attracting Cheerleaders

Transform with Design

Final Thoughts

Agenda

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something.”

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something.”

- Steve Jobs (Wired, February 1996)

Design Principles

Source: Wells Riley (http://startupsthisishowdesignworks.com)

Source: Wikipedia

“Question everything generally thought to be obvious.”

- Dieter Rams

Design Tools

Source: dribbble.com/NicholasSwansonSource: dribbble.com/joshhemsleySource: Keynotopia.comSource: Keynotopia.com

UI / UX is a much larger topic...

But help and inspiration is out there:

Brainstorming & Layout: Sketching, drawing, diagramming, wire-framing, etc Interactivity: Keynote, iOS Storyboards, InVision Software: Photoshop, Illustrator, Balsamiq, OmniGraffle Inspiration: Dribbble, Behance, iOSpirations Iconography / Stencils: Keynotopia, Glyphish

Dribbble

Design Tools (Cont’d)

So you’ve designed the ‘baddest app in the enterprise’ and added a “realistic, physical dimension to your application’ per the HIG*?

Warning: don’t let design overpower usability!

Because if it does... The organization may lose faith in mobile apps Design takes a back seat in future apps / iterations Web / desktop / “mainframe” apps are simply ported Native gives way to hybrid (or cross-platform tools),

requiring more concessions & sacrifices

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesonflickr

* Apple’s iOS Human Interface Guidelines: https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/MobileHIG/Introduction/Introduction.html

Design in the Enterprise

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/empics

It’s a battle. Actually, it’s a war zone.

The average approach to apps is not pretty. In fact, it’s ugly.

Taking existing desktop apps and ‘applying lipstick’ is the status quo, still. Today.

And with your help, this can change!

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner

Source: http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usacehq

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usacehq

Design in the Enterprise (Cont’d)

Just a few contexts to imagine:

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maysbusinessschool/

Source: http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/

Inspections Career Fairs Construction Environmental Surveillance Health & Safety Warehouse Industrial Commerce Banking Airlines Robotics Tourism Agriculture

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usacehq

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usacehq

Design in the Enterprise (Cont’d)

Just a few contexts to imagine:

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maysbusinessschool/

In the enterprise, mobility can be found in many more conversations.

Design in the Enterprise (Cont’d)

But each approach is unique, frequently inconsistent and includes:

Fear Excitement Intimidation Questions Hesitations Concern Second-Guessing

And that’s just in terms of leadership!

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgrabek

Design in the Enterprise (Cont’d)

What about the recipients of these new mobile technologies, processes and approaches?

Not everyone shares your enthusiasm.

“I’m going to continue doing my job how I’ve been doing it” “Why do I need a mobile app?” “I’ll be taking time away from family

just to do things how you want them done” “It’s going to slow me down” “I don’t want to have to learn

something new”

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/madaboutshanghai

Design in the Enterprise (Cont’d)

And here’s where you come in...

It’s your responsibility to: Learn and connect with your users Understand the mindset of your users Design for repeat & long-term use Simplify and improve lives Identify ways to iterate designs Communicate and share as often as

possible Analyze, refine, simplify Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nw10photography

Design in the Enterprise (Cont’d)

What else?

Other Considerations

Ease of use especially for repetitive tasks (e.g. button placement)

Account for context (e.g. indoor / outdoor use)

Apply a good amount of visual feedback

Gracefully handle errors and network connectivity issues

Cater to user’s fingers for tap areas

Seamless orientation switching (iPad)

Assumptions

The mobile platform(s) selected makes sense for your users

You have confidence in your design and can build a great app

There are a number of trusted pilot users for your app and many more beyond initial release

The app accomplishes primary objectives

Attracting Cheerleaders

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cseeman

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronmacphotos

Attracting Cheerleaders (Cont’d)

Communicate Frequently

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37277160@N06

Offer Rewards

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjonbro

Excite & Motivate

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/noiseburst

Imagery + Emotion + Context + MotivationSource: http://www.slideshare.net/whitneyq/power-of-story-ux-hong-kong

Arm yourself with great case studies, stories and genuine user excitement

Attracting Cheerleaders (Cont’d)

But whatever you do, make sure you avoid the “Angry Birds” problem.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanpalmero Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/naokomc

Transform with DesignAim for transformative apps:

Empower the workforce

Entice users to say: “I won’t miss the old way”

Consider a suite of enterprise apps vs. a single app

Find ways to give users time back in their day

Surprise with hidden utility

Keep focused; strive for shortest finger path

Attempt to apply the ‘single tap metaphor’ whenever possible Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka

Transform with DesignPsychology

Understand your users through persona mappings

Allow for discovery of tricks and nuances they can share

Develop user journey maps (physical, emotional)

Involve them in the process where helpful

Be Responsive & Proactive

Review their ideas, concerns, enhancements, bugs, love letters

Encourage sketching sessions to map out new ideas

Keep watch to ensure users don’t fall back into old habits

Find other ways to ease their pain outside of mobile apps (e.g. Twilio)

Source: http://www.slideshare.net/Forsythe_Technology/mobile-devices-in-the-workplace-5-key-security-risks-11988063

Sources: http://www.slideshare.net/fling/designing-mobile-experiences

Community

Everyone in this room is lucky.

Lucky to be in this industry.

In this space.

In 2012.

So share whatever you can with your community, support each other and celebrate together!

Final Thoughts

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigma

Security. Safety. Privacy.

Don’t take them for granted. If you fail here, your best designs are wasted and irrelevant.

Designing Mobile Applications for (Reluctant) Business Users

Jonathan Ozeran

jonathan@recsolu.com

@jozeran