3 minute read
The Harvard Business Review design team wanted to re-think the navigation for their "Big Idea" content, and we wanted to bring in others in the organization to help us come up with some ideas. Result = a Design Studio!
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The Challenge
The "Big Idea" content stories (see an example here) launched in October 2016, and in early 2018 we wanted to re-think the navigational structure to improve the user experience. The original navigational structure proved troublesome and confusing to users, so I was tasked with leading a team of stakeholders and others with coming up with potential ideas. I decided on a 2-hour design studio. |
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The Team
I was the lead UX researcher/designer on the team, and was assisted by the associate-level UX researcher/designer, and I worked with the Agile coach for the development team to facilitate the session. |
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The Design Studio Session
I planned the session down to the minute, as time was precious for all involved. My plan included a sketching session as well as an affinitization exercise (the K-J Technique) for selection and prioritization. 
Attendees included two of the senior editors (one of whom was also the main stakeholder for the "Big Idea" project), interaction designers, visual designers, the editorial production director, the experimentation/analytics specialist, and others to sketch out potential ideas on poster paper.
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The Bottom Line
While the revised navigational structure (designed and researched by two of my colleagues) has not been implemented yet, the research has shown that it should drastically improve discoverability for the "Big Idea." Interested in seeing other "Big Idea" content stores on HBR.org? Here are a few samples: |