6.1 Uncovering the Initial Mental Model

discovering how people initially interpret your sketched interface from its visuals

When people see your system for the first time, they will immediately start forming a mental model from its visuals: what your system is for, what it lets them do, and how to operate it. This initial model influences how they use and explore the system. As they use the system over time, they will (hopefully) correct any misconceptions they had, and ‘fill in the blanks’ for the parts of the system they either did not fully understand or did not know about.

Materials

• your sketch

• a test user

Optional:

• video camera and tripod

• another person to take notes of what happens

This initial mental model is important. ...

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