UX case study conclusions
When delivering any finding, not only a UX case study, the introduction and the body carry the primary information. The conclusion of your UX case study should then repeat this information, in a much shorter form, while making connections and drawing implications for the reader. This holds whether your study focuses on a product or a service and whether it’s a UX design, content design, or UX writing case study.ย
Repeat, repeat, repeat
When making the draft of the conclusion, it is important to leave enough space for repetition, as the important information from the body has to be repeated and arranged in such a way to present the information in a shortened form. It should also follow a logical or chronological order. Of course, this is not always possible as some case studies may focus on determining the success rate of different factors, not a single one.
The need for repetition is easily explained by means of the Serial-position effect. Namely, the effect explains how people tend to remember introductory and concluding remarks much better than they do the mid-position information. Repeating your primary information in the conclusion ensures a better retention rate and serves the purpose of refreshing the knowledge of the previous concepts discussed.
Addressing the issues first
Yet another part of the conclusion should have a critical approach to the findings: what were the problems during the research? Possible noise? Any delays? All these questions should be answered as (youโve guessed it), writing a case study conclusion is not that different from concluding a piece of academic writing.
Present the short form of the results of your UX case study
The short form of the results youโve explained in your body should be present and should summarize your findings. While you may feel tempted to present conclusions and future implications right away, make sure you understand that this part is for summary only. There is time later on for everything else you would like to say, however eager you may be right away.
Since this is one of the crucial points in the case study presentation, you should be careful with the wording and the outlay of the information that you present to the reader. In case if you cannot express yourself clearly enough, if writing is not one of your stronger sides or if you are not far from shouting, “help me write my thesis!”, consider hiring a professional to do the job for you. You can easily delegate the task to another person and free up some time and energy for other aspects of the project.
Present the impact that the product had on the consumer
Yet another part of a successful conclusion of a UX case study that is often overlooked is the impact of the product or service on the consumer. This part goes beyond simply stating the satisfaction rates and debugging reports and assumes how your product or service may influence the consumersโ habits.
A successful product does not simply take care of usersโ needs, but rather goes above and beyond and assumes future needs and habits. Every product or service your users use shapes their user experience and sets expectations for future products. Being able to assume these early on and implement them in current or future products is paramount for making an evergreen business. After all, who knew we needed Retina displays until Apple officially announced them.
Reflect on conclusions that could be made
Since all we talk about here is the conclusion, it should be stated that the conclusions here are patterns that you could observe in user reporting, behavior studies, and others. Here, the patterns you may have observed are put in a wider context. They should follow more cultural notions and try to align the findings to current cultural streams. This can help you better understand where the patterns come from and what developments can be expected in the future.
Show the implications for future UX developments
Simply observing the patterns above is not enough, of course. They have to be worked on and remodeled to showcase future developments and market streams that could be utilized. HTCโs first-ever 3D camera in a phone paved the way for many other multi-camera phones, which do not even have 3D photos as an option. However, noticing that the โmore is betterโ pattern can be rescaled on different levels, however partial they may seem, was a great business move.
The ability to recognize the market’s FUTURE needs also gives you a kind of foresight into what you may expect to find in the market a year or so from now. Utilizing this ability can make or break even the best companies, so being cautious with the moves you make should ensure you do not take on too much risk. After all, not all companies are tech giants who can spare billions for failed research.
Concluding remarks
When writing a conclusion to your UX case study, the most important thing to do is make sure the final words you leave your audience with resonate strongly with them and present you with an opportunity to make your findings valid outside the presentation context. Likewise, making the connections between your findings and a wider social and cultural context can open up many interesting questions and findings you may have to address, so make sure that your concussion answers anticipated questions as well.
Authorโs bio. Jessica Fender is a professional content creator, copywriter, and editorial manager on Technicallywriting. Her experience in digital marketing and professional development has enabled her to write better articles, essays, and case studies on these topics. Jessica enjoys reading personal development lit and listening to podcasts.
Keep learning
- Listen to From case study writing to writing robots with Jan Haaland (podcast episode)
- Check out the article The ultimate UX portfolio resource: 70 best practice examples
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