Mental models

How do seamless digital workflows happen? A special attention to mental models around people's processes may help if you're designing new software.

There are two types of models in software development:

• Functional
  • a diagram of how the system fulfils its purpose
• Structural
  • the relationship between objects or concepts in the system

In user-centred system design, Don Norman outlines these models:

• System image
• Design model
• User's model (Conceptual model)

Thinkmill's Schema-led design bridges the gap between the software's structural model and user's model.

OOUX's object mapping by Sophia V Prater helps bridge a similar gap and communicates design decisions early.

These approaches help designers decide what aspects of implementation details to hide and show for coherent UX.

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