Conceptual Model

Slide 10 of 32

Conceptual Model

A reasonably accurate and consistent representation of the target system.
Design Goal –

Devise the conceptual model that reflects a user’s mental model

Diagram showing how the conceptual, user and system model interact. The Designerâ€™s conceptual model directly influences the System Image or the systems, documentation, and interface, and which bi-directionally influences the Userâ€™s mental model of the task and the system, which bi-directionally influences the designer.

Slide Comments:

The Designer creates a conceptual model of a system, which gets implemented in the system interface and documentation. These collective create a system image (how a system present itself to a user). A user develops a mental model of the system through interactions with the system.

A designer’s goal is get try and match the conceptual model to the user’s mental model of the task. In this way the system can feel like a natural extension of tool to accomplish the task.