Experience-Level Observations Guide
This tool was developed to guide observations in theme parks, but it can be used anywhere when researching how design can create experiences. Try them in a restaurant, hospital, bus stop, or library to learn the effects of these environments and services. Use these prompts to spark new ways of sensing.
People
Observe these things about the people around you.
What are people wearing?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eBrandsu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eShoe typeu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBackpacksu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eWarm clothingu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eClothing that is coolingu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
What are people expressing?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eAnnoyedu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eConfusedu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eNervousu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
What are people sensing?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eHungryu003c/strongu003e: Devouring a mealu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eHotu003c/strongu003e: Using a portable fanu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eLoud Environmentsu003c/strongu003e: Hands over ears.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
How are people’s body positions?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eSlouchingu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eUprightu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
How are people moving?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eTiredu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eEnergeticu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
What are people doing?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003ePlaying a game on their phoneu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eEating an ice creamu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBoarding a busu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Who are people spending time with? How do they show the depth of these relationships?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eWith friends or familyu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eCaring for othersu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
What special moments are people commemorating?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eJust married!u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eCelebrating a special momentu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eFirst visitu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Design
Notice details of products, services, and systems.
What are physical and digital designs made of?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eBricku003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eSteelu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
What attitude does the design look and feel present?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eRetrou003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eModernu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eSuper futuristicu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eCreepy horroru003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
How does the design look?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eAgedu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eShiny and newu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
What style do sounds create?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eFuturisticu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eWild westu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eScratchy and degradedu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003ePopular musicu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
How well can people use the design?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eCertain people are confused by the designu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eIt is too large/small to operateu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
How well does the design match peoples’ preferences or needs?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eIt seems like a pointless or unneeded designu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
How well is the design maintained? What condition is it in?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eUnkemptu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Different Perspectives
Use these techniques to observe the environment in new ways. Experience differently to gain fresh insights.
How would someone shorter or taller than you experience this?
Is there a hidden experience that a device makes possible?
How would someone understand this if they were a first-timer?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eIf they did not know this character (Mickey, Chip and Dale, Captain Marvel)u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eIf they had never seen the movieu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Close your eyesrnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eListen deeplyu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eSmell fullyu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eTaste the ingredientsu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Memories
What kind of memory does this experience make?
How would it be different if you changed the conditions?rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eWeatheru003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eCrowdsu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eTime of dayu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e