Chris A. Wronski

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Improving Digital SLR Usability

This project is an example of using a more formal usability approach to create guiding principles that better a product, in this case, the Nikon D200 digital SLR. The Nikon D200 is a prosumer marketed DSLR that bridges the gap between hobbyist camera and professional workhorse. The camera assumes a knowledgeable user from the get go and does not offer any presets or automatic modes. At this point, the D200 has lost its appeal and general technological advancements have made its price point unrealistic. Could it regain its footing in the market by being more usable?

Paper Prototyping

The redesign began with identifying a series of flows that break established heuristic violations and represent the camera well as a whole. These flows were presented to research participants via a paper prototype. Paper prototyping was used because of its ability to separate participants from the physicalities of the camera and instead direct their attention to the placement, visual language, and iconography to identify functions and how they work. It also allowed for participants to make suggestions and implement them into a low-fidelity prototype right on the spot to test the merit of their ideas.

Only participants that already had personal experience with digital SLR cameras were initially tested as there was no reason to believe the camera’s market segment was invalid. The participants consisted of a professional photographer using Canon cameras, a new SLR user shooting with an entry-level Nikon, and a photography student who owns a Canon SLR. The goals of the exercise became: to identify people’s instinctive methods of interaction with the camera, and to evaluate the efficacy of the camera’s metaphors and iconography.

Interface Taxonomy

Once a preliminary amount of research had been gathered, I focused on deconstructing the parts that lead to fail points and tension during the paper prototyping sessions. It was clear that some analysis was needed to address the grouping of functions and controls on the camera body.

Contextual Research

A quick dive into how current camera owners use the Nikon D200 or similar digital SLRs validated the ineffectiveness of many of the camera's iconography and positioning of controls. More importantly, it allowed me to notice subtle ways that users attempt to stretch certain camera features that weren't designed to function in that manner. It also exposed general needs that weren't met by the product in its current form. Based on this knowledge, I established the following principles:

Controls are placed in ways relevant to their use.
The camera provides freedom for developing custom optimizations.
Specific deep level attributes are accessible faster, without having to use menu navigation.
Constant communication reveals awareness of the camera state, even during the most minute changes of status.

Developing Solutions

With the initial research and the newly established design principles in mind, concepts revolving around eliminating user tension points were developed.

Testing the Outcomes

To test if the design changes were viable, a physical testing model was created in order to conduct a usability and human factors evaluation for the new camera. Once complete, the same flows that were used for opportunity searching were repeated using the new camera layout.

Participants understood the value of the playlist metaphor for the personal menu.
The “expand” button allowed participants to reduce task flow time almost 5X.
Top display feedback confirmed and educated participants about selections on the body.
Always seeing photograph settings eliminated uncertainty and provided a more reasonable level of awareness to information important to photographers.

No changes to layout were necessary after the usability test. However, it was clear that iconography still acted as a barrier for understanding amongst participants. Four icons were refreshed based on these insights. Once complete, the revised camera could be called a successful solution to some of the most fundamental usability issues preventing positive experiences from being facilitated on a camera in this market segment.