Creating Amazing Experiences: Let’s Get Inspired! LSCon 2018

 Nick Floro from Sealworks Interactive Studio told us how we can create amazing experiences so learners can feel they’re a part of it. 

Nick’s favorite way to do this is to let them make mistakes.

Learners also like a way to search because it gives them some control/power in what they are doing.

As an example of a very bad learning experience, Nick showed us a picture of the instructions that were included on how to fix a toilet. (Replace the float.) However, a video can provide a good secondary experience. It might make you WANT to read the text.

Help learners find the content and explore it. Ask yourself: 

• Can they share it?
• Is your content easy to update?

Use refreshers to re-engage the client/customer.

You must understand your audience.

Remember, “training” is not the only option.

Test your ideas. Talk to the learners. Do these more than once.

“You can’t just launch and let it go anymore.”

Sketch. Get feedback. Design. Get feedback. Make changes. Get feedback. Iterate. Get feedback. Launch. Get feedback. Evolve. Get feedback. It’s a loop.

Here are 10 ways to improve the experience:

#1 – Design for the user (not the maker). Start with no pre-conceived ideas. Make it easy for them to get through the challenge.

#2 – Listen to the users. Document what they’re saying. Use conferencing and record. Collaborate on a document. Get real-time feedback. There’s a good tool called paper.dropbox.com that creates an outline and it’s easier to use than Google Docs.

The users are stuck in the middle:

#3 – Advocate for the user by presenting it to management to get buy-in. Analyze patterns. Share with the team. You can use Wufoo to create report visualizations.

#4 – Think broadly about each type of user.

#5 – LESS IS MORE. Simplify.

#6 – Design for kids.

#7 – Take cues from everywhere.

Look at the real world and how you can apply those concepts. (Like the toilet example.)

#8 – Design More

Stakeholders want to know, but put the brakes on. Use wireframing to create concept examples. Understand all the content first. Then use the worst case first.

#9 – Collaborate (Nick recommended a $2 app called Lineasketch.)

#10 – Feedback and Test

Here’s an interesting idea to give to stakeholders: Mess up something and give it to them on purpose.

Create a discussion. Have a collaboration session.

Present > Get feedback > Evolve

A good UI (user interface) allows the user to focus on what they are doing. Combine a good UI with UX (user experience).

Start collecting examples of great ideas. Find things that improve and inspire your design. Use this matrix:

What did you

- see - hear - feel - learn

RECOMMENDED SITES (Get out of your comfort zone!)

•          Abookapart.com – Book briefs.
•          Muz.li (a Chrome plugin for design inspiration)
•          Invisionapp.com to help you design better
•          Fastcodesign.com
•          Sidebar.io curates 5 designs per day
•          w3schools.com provides free online web tutorials

NICK'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

“Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve S. Krug

“Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas” by Jake Knapp