“I grabbed a cup of instant from the hospitality table on the second morning of orientation. It was piping hot and I was in a hurry, so I stuck an ice cube in, but then a friend hailed me and began chatting; by the time we parted, I was holding a cup of watery lukewarm coffee.” –Anonymous (F, 18-24 year-old student from Virginia)
As we learn more about coffee drinking behaviors — the practices around buying and consuming coffee — the better we can tailor the design of a so-called “betacup.”
Krista Sanders, an original member of our team from Overlap’09, has the following reflections on user-centered design and our approach to coming up with a practical solution to the “paper cup problem”:
- Behavior influences design. Identifying current behavioral patterns provides a solid launch point from which we can design improvements to the existing workflow or process.
- Relevance increases adoption. By understanding a user’s basic tasks and goals, we are more likely to create potential solutions that not only adhere to, but also enhance the overall experience.
- The Convenience Monster MUST be appeased. Centering the design process around even the simplest of user expectations is one of the most important requirements for achieving a successful design.
