How to Create Conceptual

Models to Improve User

Interfaces
Conceptual models are graphical representations of users’ mental models. They help designers grasp
user perceptions and interactions, allowing them to create friendly interfaces that improve the overall
experience. They are also important to explain to the design team, developers and stakeholders how
users engage with the product or service.

You can use different forms of visual representation, such as flowcharts, diagrams, wireframes, or
prototypes, to depict conceptual models. Mastering the skill of swiftly and effortlessly sketching these
models streamlines the UI design process and contributes to developing more user-friendly and intuitive
applications.

Use this step-by-step guide to incorporate conceptual models into your workflow, to communicate
ideas more precisely and create a more efficient design process.

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 Enhance Interaction Design through
Conceptual Models: Best Practices

User research should inform conceptual models:

Rely on insights and observations from user research
rather than personal assumptions or preferences.

A
Focus on the problem domain to select objects:
A

Prioritize the problem domain rather than any specific

solution to select objects. This allows for greater
flexibility and adaptability when designing interfaces.

Identify objects and attributes through the stories of

use: Take advantage of use cases and real-life scenarios
rather than hypothetical situations. This provides
relevance and accuracy in the conceptual model.

A Use names discovered through research:To ensure

clarity in communication, base the names of your
A
objects and attributes on the terminology employed by
users during research.

AA
A
A

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How to Create Conceptual Models: A Guide
1. Identify Tasks: Determine the tasks users must complete and use language they can understand,
avoiding technical jargon or unfamiliar ideas. For instance, when designing a conceptual model for
a recipe app, consider tasks like “finding recipes,” “saving favorite recipes,” and “creating a shopping
list.”

2. Identify Objects: Identify the tangible objects or ideas related to those tasks. For instance, within
a recipe app, relevant objects could consist of ingredients, kitchen tools, and cooking techniques.

3. Assign Actions and Attributes to Objects: Allocate actions and attributes to objects according
to user interactions. For instance, in a recipe app, you could assign attributes like cooking duration,
portion size, and nutritional details to each recipe.

4. Use Consistent Terminology: Use clear, concise and standardized language across your product to
ensure understanding. For instance, if you employ the phrase “book an appointment” on one screen
of your mobile app, refrain from changing it to “book a meeting” on another screen.

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Interaction Design Foundation. Also, if you remix, transform, or build upon this template, you must distribute it under the same CC BY-SA license.
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