Usage-Centered Design
11-15 November 2002 | Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Taught by Larry Constantine and Lucy Lockwood,
co-authors of the award-winning book, Software for Use;
pioneers of usage-centered design, essential use case modeling;
and collaborative usability inspections;
two of the best teachers and consultants in the business.

“Lucy and Larry are very well-prepared."

"Supporting materials and examples are outstanding.”

"Everything about this course was excellent."

"One of the best presentations I've attended. Bravo!"

• Hands-on application with integrated case study and team exercises!
• Covers the latest in proven techniques!
• Presentations, demonstrations, discussions, Q&A, review and feedback

New and expanded material:

• Rapid modeling and design with index cards and sticky notes.
• Usage-centered design techniques for agile methods like Extreme Programming.
• Best practices in e-Commerce and Web-based applications design.
• Self-teaching interfaces based on instructive interaction.
• Rapid prototyping with canonical abstract components.
• Usage-centered design with UML and the unified processes.
• Dealing with marketing, management, and creative input.

Limited class size and a proven and carefully planned mix of lectures, applied practice, critical reviews, and discussions maximize the return on your training investment.

Nearly 200 pages of bound notes, browseable CD-ROM, plus a copy of the award-winning book Software for Use.

Register early for discounts up to $500! Class size is strictly limited. Get details now.

The latest revised and expanded edition in our highly successful series, this seminar will give you what you need to start practicing usage-centered design in your own software and Web design work. Based on the award-winning book Software for Use (Addison-Wesley, 1999), the seminar not only covers all the fundamentals of usage-centered design but also incorporates new developments and advanced material.

Usage-centered design is a model-driven approach to user interface design based on the how and why of user interaction. Simple but powerful models help designers to build a highly focused understanding of the needs of users and to design simpler, more usable interfaces to meet those needs. User role models help designers focus on relevant aspects of the roles users play in relation to software. Task models based on essential use cases represent the intentions of users in their attempts to accomplish tasks. Content and navigation models enable rapid design of user interface architecture without premature attention to details of appearance and behavior.

Usage-centered design has been successfully applied to an impressive array of real-world problems ranging from small productivity applets to a large-scale visual development environment for automation programming, from e-business sites to Web-based distance learning applications. It is in use by companies large and small around the world.

For: software and Web applications designers and developers, information architects, systems analysts, software engineers, user interface and interaction designers, project leads, and development managers.

You will learn:

• How to focus on the most relevant aspects of user behavior.
• How to achieve more innovative and original product user interfaces.
• How and when to take modeling shortcuts under tight deadlines.
• How to write task models that focus on the essentials of user intentions and system responsibilities.
• How to apply usage-centered design to e-business and Web-based applications.
• How to involve users as effective collaborators in design and development.
• How to design self-instructive interfaces that support new users as well as advanced ones.
• How to design and conduct collaborative usability inspections.

Topic Outline

Users, Usage, and Usability

• Usability problems: sources and solutions.
• Overview of usage-centered design as a model-driven process.
• Concurrent modeling techniques.
• Understanding elements of usability and design objectives.
• Applying usability rules and principles to design decision making.
• Understanding users through interviews, observation, and collaboration.
• Representing users with roles, personas, and profiles.
• Modeling user roles in relation to sites and systems
• Advanced role modeling:
• structured roles, role-support matrix, and other techniques.

The Structure of Work and Interaction

• Understanding work through task models:
• scenarios, use cases, and task cases.
• Modeling tasks with essential use cases: intentions and responsibilities.
• Modeling task structure: affinity, specializations, inclusions, and extensions.
• Variations in use case narrative style.
• Advanced task modeling: structured task cases, pre-and post-conditions, business rules.

Abstract Prototyping and Design

• Abstract prototyping: content inventories, schematics, low-fidelity prototypes, and canonical prototypes.
• Planning interface and site architecture with content navigation maps.
• Developing canonical prototypes.
• Model-driven visual and interaction design.
• Organizing layout and visual components.
• Communicating through the user interface

Advanced Design Concepts and Techniques

• Innovative interfaces through creative engineering.
• Supporting progressive usage: novice, intermediate, and expert patterns.
• Designing help and documentation for usability.
• Using instructive interaction for self-teaching interfaces.
• Fitting designs to the operational context.
• Usage-centered design for e-business and Web applications.

Design and Development Process

• Preparing and conducting collaborative usability inspections.
• Collaborative modeling with Joint Essential Modeling.
• Usage-centered design in the larger context.
• Using marketing, management, and creative input.
• Usage-centered design with UML and the Unified Process.
• Object modeling for usage-centered designs.
• Other systematic strategies: OVID and Goal-Directed design.
• Adapting to accelerated and large-scale development; “light-weight” processes.

Course materials include:

• Nearly 200 pages of notes, copies of visuals, papers, forms, and other material.
• A CD-ROM with the complete presentation and additional material.
• A copy of the Jolt Award-winning book, Software for Use.

Register with payment or purchase order by 11 October 2002 and save $500!
Register 5 or more people together on a single pre-paid contract and save $700 each over the regular rate. (Academic professionals and students are eligible for an additional $250 discount per participant off the applicable rate.)

Usage-Centered Design: Five-Day Intensive - 11-15 November 2002
Early registration (by 11 October 2002): $2450
Regular (after 11 October 2002): $2950
Corporate (5 or more together on prepaid contract, any time): $2250

Payment, cancellations, and substitutions. All registrations must be fully paid no later than 5 business days before the start of the seminar. At any time up to the start of the seminar, another participant may be substituted for a paid and registered attendee. Up to 15 business days prior to the start of each seminar, cancellations will be accepted and charged 25% of the applicable registration fee. Cancellations less than 15 business days in advance will be charged the full applicable registration fee.

Participants have loved the setting we picked, a place as conducive to intensive learning as it is to fun and conversation.

The Sheraton Harborside Hotel and Conference Center (tel: +1 877-248-3794, +1 603-431-2300; fax: +1 603-431-7805; email: info@sheratonportsmouth.com) is an ideal setting for learning and relaxation. Nestled on the edge of the harbor in the very heart of the city, everything is right there within easy walking distance--historic sites, fine restaurants, specialty shops, and theaters.

Portsmouth, called one of the nation's most enlightened cities by the Utne Reader, is a scenic New England seaport full of vitality and justly known for its culture and its culinary establishments. With 85 restaurants to offer, it has earned its reputation as the "City of Restaurants." More information on the area is available in the City Guide , from the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce and at Seacoast Online.

Register before 11 October 2002 to get the special seminar rate of $139 per night, single or double occupancy. To get this reduced rate, be sure to mention Constantine & Lockwood when you call the hotel (+1 603 431 2300) or fax (+1 603 433 5649) for reservations.

Portsmouth is served by three busy airports. Just one hour north of Boston's Logan International Airport, 45 minutes from the Manchester (NH) Airport, and 50 minutes from the Portland (ME) International Jetport, Portsmouth is easily reached by car or shuttle. Convenient and economical van service by Hampton Shuttle (+1 800 22LOGAN, fax: +1 603 659 9894) runs directly to and from the Harborside and both Logan and Manchester airports. Or rent a car. Limousine service is available from both Logan and Manchester airports through Coastal Transportation Services (+1 800 992 0518).