How To: Mental Model Diagramming 101

Article Idea:

suggested by Scott Weisbrod on 2006/01/31

Mental models are a basic visualization of how customers think about their goals and tasks as explored during customer interviews. Sometimes their called conceptual models or task analysis diagrams; whatever you want to call them, their value is clear. Mental models give us a clear depiction of what the users expectations of site are and we can use that depiction to highlight gaps in content and functionality as well as outline opportunities to innovate.

This article would outline a methodology for creating mental models as well as review a simple approach for diagramming them in Visio.

Cheers,
Scott

Scott Weisbrod
Senior Information Architect
scottw@criticalmass.com
Tel: 1-888-262-3006×2239

C R I T I C A L M A S S
www.criticalmass.com

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Matt Queen

129 Reputation points

Posted 2006/02/08 @ 19:50PM with

I read this in a section titled “Highest-rated suggestions.” I thought that is was an invitation to write this article. So I clicked on the link “Submit your story now” under “Write for Us.” To my shock, my post appeared in the suggestions section! (Along with yours). After reading a bit about the new review process, I see that the site inadvertently lead me to step on Scott’s toes. Of course you can’t delete posts, so I’ll just request my post be deleted. Feel free to email me to compare notes before your article draft if you’d like. Sorry for the confusion.

Matt Queen
queen@synergia.com