Experience maps provide a visual representation of a user’s journey with a product or service. They help in understanding the user’s needs, motivations, and pain points, thus aiding in the design of better experiences. Building an experience map involves five key steps.

Firstly, identify the journey to be mapped. It could be a customer’s interaction with a product, a user’s experience with a service, or even an employee’s day at work.

Secondly, carry out user research to gather data about the journey. This could involve interviews, surveys, or observation. This data will help in understanding the user’s emotions, motivations, and pain points throughout the journey.

Thirdly, organise the data into a journey framework. This involves identifying the key stages of the journey and mapping the user’s emotions, motivations, and pain points at each stage.

Fourthly, visualise the journey using a design tool. This could be a simple sketch or a detailed infographic. The visualisation should clearly depict the journey stages, user emotions, motivations, and pain points.

Lastly, share and use the experience map. It should be used to inform design decisions and improve the user experience. It should also be shared with stakeholders to foster empathy and understanding of the user’s journey.

Building an experience map is a collaborative process that requires input from various stakeholders. It is a powerful tool that can lead to the creation of more user-centred products and services.

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