ROLE
Strategic Design
UI/UX Design
METHODS
User Research
Affinity Mapping
Opportunity Areas
Top Findings
Prototyping
User Testing
DELIVERABLES
Recommendations for action
Validated design principles
PROJECT TEAM
Individual project
(Master’s Thesis)
Starting Point
With the Internet of Things expanding more and more, privacy of individuals is at risk. An increasing amount of personal data will be collected. For users to adopt new technologies, they need to trust the provider with the protection of their data. The aim of this research was to develop guidelines that would help designers to design privacy-friendly IoT services.
How do user experience designers need to design privacy to create trustworthy IoT services?
Approach
User interviews were conducted with twelve participants to determine the pain points and needs regarding privacy and trust towards app providers. In addition, privacy researchers from technical, economic, social and human computer interaction fields were interviewed in order to identify the various responsibilities and challenges for the parties involvedand verifiable practices are also relevant aspects that distinguish a trustworthy user experience. Lastly, the guidelines were contextualised within their technical and legal constraints in ensuring privacy. The findings informed the design of a mock-up that included privacy relevant interactions. This mock-up was then tested with twenty-two more users in design iterations.
Result
The insights from the testing shaped the seven Privacy Principles. The results illustrate that a privacy-friendly user experience needs foremost transparency, information, control for the user and a balance between user-centeredness and privacy aspects. Moreover, a clear communication, a privacy-by-default approach and verifiable practices are also relevant aspects that distinguish a trustworthy user experience. Lastly, the guidelines were contextualised within their technical and legal constraints.
