Task-oriented design is a design process that focuses on user task completion instead of designing with specific devices or features in mind.
Users don’t interact with a product with only one device; not all devices suit certain tasks. For example, a user would use a hand-held device instead of a laptop for driving directions. When planning a vacation, a user might interact with a laptop instead. Then, users might want to send those directions to their phones once they begin their trip.
A task-oriented framework considers all the devices a user interacts with, even when using the same product. Good designs optimize specific tasks for each device interface. Consider all devices as part of the same experience, aimed at helping users complete tasks.
Designers often create layouts for each device that fit how the device is most commonly used. A mobile design might not include a function available on a desktop or vice versa.
Task-Oriented Design and Ubiquitous Computing
As the number of computing devices increases, users rely less on a single computer. Additionally, the number of tasks handled by computing devices has also increased. For a seamless experience, devices may send the next stage in a task to another device to be completed. Good task-oriented UX design finds where tasks or phases of tasks belong in a larger digital ecosystem. You can use task analysis along with user research methods such as contextual inquiries for understanding this ecosystem.
Learn More About Task-Oriented Design
Take our course: Mobile UX Design: The Beginner's Guide.
To know more about Task Analysis and a step-by-step process, see this article: Activity-Focused Design
Task-Oriented Design – the future of UX Design?
