About the project
More process info on the project blog here.
This is Zoe (Churan) Yin's Master Project of Master of Design for Services, DJCAD, University of Dundee, which explores Multiple Online Identity Management. The project is supported by IMPrints (Public Responses to Identity Management Practices and Technologies), a three-year research project funded by Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPRSC).
The challenge
People build multiple online identities when browsing the web, shopping online and using social media. We often use different e.mail addresses, passwords and nicknames. Whilst being online has great benefits, it can also cause great frustration with forgotten passwords, status updates shared with the wrong people and parcels delivered to work instead of home.
Understanding users' values, behaviors and needs in this complex social and technological context is crucial for generating a new service to help users better manage their identities online.
Understanding users' values, behaviors and needs in this complex social and technological context is crucial for generating a new service to help users better manage their identities online.
The approach
Zoe started by researching the wider context of identity management and relationships among different stakeholders. She focused on working with end users and the IMPrints team to understand people's motivations and needs through various research methods and tools such as identity management diaries, street interviews with interactive exercises, experience workshops, online identity mapping exercises and storyboard co-design workshops.
Based on all the meaningful data and insights Zoe collected, she generated the new service through quick and iterative prototyping and testing.
Based on all the meaningful data and insights Zoe collected, she generated the new service through quick and iterative prototyping and testing.
The result
Zoe has designed a whole service system to enable people to create, check, track and use their online profiles in an easy to understand way. The concept for her service and the prototype of the interface design are based on technology and security protocols that are already in use. The service enables users to separate and control their different work and leisure personas on various sites and applications from facebook to e.mail to web browsers.
Zoe will present a paper on Design as a Facilitation Tool at the Tsinghua International Design Management Conference in Shenzen in December 2013. She will continue her project research and finish her thesis in China at Shanghai Jiao Tong University after graduating from University of Dundee in August.
Zoe will present a paper on Design as a Facilitation Tool at the Tsinghua International Design Management Conference in Shenzen in December 2013. She will continue her project research and finish her thesis in China at Shanghai Jiao Tong University after graduating from University of Dundee in August.