UCD Sprint: A Fast Process to Involve Users in the Design Practices of Software Companies

Abstract

Several studies have shown that involving users in design processes is a key factor in understanding user needs and essential for designing computer systems capable of providing valuable user experiences. However, many practitioners do not emphasize user needs sufficiently and neglect user involvement in software design and development. The UCD Sprint is a recently proposed, step-by-step, cost-effective process that focuses on involving users in design activities. This article reports a mixed-method study in which, for the first time, practitioners working in companies used the UCD Sprint; the study’s main objective was to investigate the impact of the UCD Sprint on practitioners’ design practices. The results show that, among the various activities associated with this process, those that involved users were particularly appreciated by practitioners. Thus, the UCD Sprint can enhance the innovativeness of company design practices; it enables practitioners to obtain sufficient information to create systems that fit users’ needs.

Keywords:

• User-centred design
• user involvement
• empirical study
• user experience
• software design

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Virpi Roto and the other founders of the UCD Sprint. The version of the UCD Sprint presented in this article has been adapted from their original version. The authors also acknowledge the companies that allowed their employees to participate in the study.

Author contributions

Author 1, Author 2, Author 4 and Author 5 conceptualized the idea of studying the UCD Sprint in practice in IT companies and designed the study. Author 1 restructured the UCD Sprint process and reorganized the course accordingly. Author 1 prepared the didactic material and led all the classes; the other authors participated in the course as observers and guided students’ teamwork. Author 2 conducted the interviews (in Italian) with the assistance of Author 1 and Author 3. Author 2 and Author 3 analyzed the data collected through Parts 1 and 3 of the study; Author 1 and Author 4 analyzed the data collected through Part 2. All authors discussed the collected data and contributed to the writing and revision of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 https://www.figma.com/

2 https://balsamiq.com/

3 https://www.figma.com/

4 https://www.figma.com/

Additional information

Funding

This research is partially supported by the Apulia Region, P.O. FESR 2014 - 2020, Regional Regulation 17/2014, Title II Chapter 2 - notice "PIA small enterprises,” Project TITANUX - "CreaTing hIgh qualiTy ANd secure systems that emphasize UX,” proposing enterprise Eusoft Srl, Code Z85MUK8. The support of the University of Bari, Italy, through a grant for visiting professors given to Prof. Marta Larusdottir is also acknowledged; Marta worked for a total of three months at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Bari during the period November 2021–June 2022.

Notes on contributors

Marta K. Larusdottir

Marta K. Larusdottir is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science at Reykjavik University. Marta has researched user-centred design (UCD) activities, especially the integration of UCD activities into agile processes in the software industry. Recently, Marta has suggested new methods for extending the usage of UCD activities in software design.

Rosa Lanzilotti

Rosa Lanzilotti is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Bari. She promotes usability and UX practices in companies and public institutions. She coordinated projects aimed at developing eGLU-Box PA, a web platform used by Italian institution staffs to perform usability evaluation of their websites.

Antonio Piccinno

Antonio Piccinno is an Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science of the University of Bari. His research interests focus on Human-Centered Design (HCD) and End-User Development (EUD). He promotes the Interplay between Human-Computer Interaction and Software Engineering and, more recently, Secure Software Analysis and Design.

Ioana Visescu

Ioana Visescu is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at Reykjavik University under the supervision of Dr. Marta Larusdottir. With a background in business and technology and interest in user experience, her research focuses on design sprints and design methodologies and their applications in academia and practice.

Maria Francesca Costabile

Maria Francesca Costabile is Professor at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Bari. She was a pioneer of HCI in Italy, with a focus on HCD and usability, and promoted the ACM SIGCHI Italian Chapter in 1995. In 2018, she received the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Service Award.