My daughter sees a handicapped parking space and asks: "Daddy, is this where wheelchairs are parked?" Her understanding was true based on her preconceived notions, but false in the design of the system. My daughter's preconceived notions:
Designated stroller parking in theme parks
Parked cars and parking spaces
People in wheelchairs
To build intuitive systems, examine how users relate things together. Understanding preconceived notions will help connect your designs to your users.
Past experiences create preconceived notions
Ask your users about their past experiences with product, people, places, and situations
Understand how their past experiences create preconceived notions what those are
Preconceived notions are taken into new experiences
Ask your users what assumptions and connections they make with your system and why
Understand how and why a preconceived notion is applied
Preconceived notions are true until changed
Ask your users if their assumptions were proven correct, wrong, or altered
Understand how their preconceived notions change
Summary
Account for your user's understanding of the world, reality, and preconceived notions when designing your system
Users make assumptions about your system based on their experience with other systems
Change your system as your users evolve
Preconceived notions are changeable
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