Bridging User Research and Interface Design Through Information-Driven Conceptual Modeling

Abstract

The significance of user research in usability analysis, and the role it plays in a properly-executed design process, is a well-studied aspect of human-computer interaction. Yet user research does not directly translate to the organization and architectural knowledge necessary for design. A conceptual model of information alignment and access, oriented toward modeling information flows and knowledge architecture, connects the needs identified in user research to the structure and visualization of the design. I conducted information architecture and website redesign efforts for both a small-scale university research group and a distributed STEM outreach organization. By comparing these efforts, I identify how conceptual models change in response to organization size, user needs, hierarchy, and knowledge scope. I reassert the significance of conceptual models for bridging user research to design, and identify how changes in the model signify changes in the design.