How user journeys/scenarios can inform decisions large and small

We’ve all had the experience of being lost in the weeds when developing and designing products. One way to combat this sidetracking is by establishing user scenarios  from the outset in the form of visual user journeys and scenarios diagrams. Scenarios can help us stay focused on the big picture vision, story and flow rather than getting bogged down in the minutia of screen interface design. Without having a macro level view it’s easy to get lost in the detailed design and end up with disparate and disconnected lower level workflows that roll up into a wonky and dis-jointed interaction model.

Most of us think and communicate visually whether we realize it or not. Visual scenario diagrams help audiences process and understand concepts easily and build a vision for a new concept or application. Or, conversely, they can establish whether the vision we had is one that will truly benefit our users.

This tool can assist

• C level executives vet ideas for new products

• large and diversified stakeholder groups define and agree to a collective vision

• teams visualize a strategic direction sufficiently to approach key stakeholders for project funding

This session will focus on defining what effective visual scenario diagrams look like and demonstrating the usefulness of this process applied to the two use cases mentioned above.