User Experience (UX)
Engage with UMSI students along the design cycle to provide meaningful, relevant, accessible, and desirable experiences for users via a variety of projects. Some examples of UX projects are field research and product ideation; evaluation of the usability and engagement of an existing website; creation of initial designs and mockups for a new idea; development and launch of a working prototype; and solving challenges with technology and accessibility
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SI 682: Advanced User Research in the Field
What is Advanced User Research in the Field?
In SI 682: Advanced User Research in the Field, master's-level students collect data from the field related to a specific user need articulated by the client, providing creative and compelling solutions supported by extensive user research.
Deliverables
Written report with recommendations supported by user research
Presentation (at UMSI's Exposition)
Client Eligibility
Who can participate?
Potential clients should meet the following criteria:
Are currently early in the product lifecycle / developing a new idea
Remote or local client opportunities; if local, ideal to have offices, clients, customers, or users within a 75-mile radius of Ann Arbor
Able to provide access to users of potential product/service to students as needed
Able to facilitate direct interaction between students and clients / users
Project Examples
What kinds of projects are appropriate for the course?
Potential projects should meet the following criteria:
Related to a product in the early stages of its life-cycle
What are some examples of successful projects?
Conducting research to determine what processes are already in place for family history collection, and interviewing medical providers to determine what additional features could improve these processes.
Conducting research to determine what sort of rating and data presentation system would be effective for conveying the findings of accessibility evaluation reports.
Conducting research to support the development of a voice-activated application to support physicians as they save and access patient information.
Conducting research to assist with adapting an application that connects small business with each other and other resources as it transitions to a new market.
What do the students do during the project?
How many projects are selected for this course?
Winter 2021: 7 projects selected
Winter 2020: 7 projects selected
Winter 2019: 11 projects selected
* Due to variability in the number of enrolled students each year, these numbers are subject to change and can be used as a rough estimate.
Timeline
SI 682 occurs in the Winter semester (January–April)
June–December
Client submits project idea
Client Engagement Team (CET) reviews project idea and requests full project proposal
CET works with client to scope and refine proposal
January
Faculty choose proposals to present to students
Students choose their project
January–February
Students begin project
April
Students finish project and provide deliverable(s) to client
Participate
How do I become a client?
Potential clients should complete this brief form with their contact information and a short summary of their project idea. Our Client Engagement Team will review your submission and reach out to you within 3 business days with next steps.
What if I don't have a project right now, but I'm interested in future opportunities or want to learn more?
If you don't have a specific project in mind for the upcoming semester, but would like to stay informed about future opportunities to work with students through our client-based courses or other programs, complete this registration form to be added to our mailing list.
Former Clients
Who's participated in the past?
What do they have to say?
"The students were extraordinarily passionate, insightful, and focused on driving recommendations for a revamp of one of our systems. We couldn't be more thankful for the work they've done—our product management and design teams are immediately utilizing their research in our product development efforts. Our users will be engaging directly with the system they recommended, once we launch our revision."
Jack Grinblatt, Powerley
"Some of the students' recommendations were items we thought were true beforehand, but didn't have the data to prove; other items were new to us, things we hadn't even considered. Their work forced us to take a new perspective, separated from the emotions of being "creators"—they provided us with some concrete direction that we're now in the process of implementing on our software program."
Lynn McCain, InheRET, Inc.
"This project was a success, and the immediate impacts will probably be in different areas than I originally anticipated. The students created a proof of concept that will be useful to several different stakeholders."
Stephanie Rosen, University of Michigan Library