In UX design, actors refer to the various entities or personas that interact with a system or product. These actors are typically categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary users, each playing a distinct role in shaping the user experience. Understanding actors is foundational to creating user-centered designs that cater to the specific needs, goals, and behaviors of all stakeholders involved.
Types of Actors in UX Design
1. Primary Actors:
These are the direct users of the system.
They interact with the product to achieve their goals, such as browsing, purchasing, or retrieving information.
Example: A customer shopping on an e-commerce site.
2. Secondary Actors:
These actors indirectly interact with the system by supporting or enabling the primary actors.
Example: Admins managing the backend of a website or APIs providing external services.
3. Tertiary Actors:
These are external stakeholders who are not directly engaged with the system but are impacted by its outcomes.
Example: Regulators monitoring compliance or advertisers promoting products on the platform.
4. System Actors:
Automated systems or bots interacting with the application on behalf of users.
Example: Chatbots responding to user queries or payment gateways processing transactions.
Mapping Actors to UX Scenarios
Actor mapping is an essential exercise in UX design to identify all interactions and dependencies. A simple schematic for actor mapping is as follows:
User (Primary) –> Interface (UX/UI) –> Backend System (Secondary)
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Advertisers (Tertiary) Payment Gateway (System)
This map allows designers to visualize all touchpoints and optimize experiences for each actor type.
Role of Actors in UX Design
1. Personalization:
By studying actors, designers can build tailored user personas to create personalized experiences.
2. Journey Mapping:
Mapping the interactions of actors reveals pain points and opportunities for improvement throughout the user journey.
3. Collaboration:
Identifying secondary and tertiary actors ensures that all stakeholders’ needs are integrated into the design process.
4. System Design:
Recognizing system actors ensures seamless integration of automated processes, improving efficiency and scalability.
Example of Actor-Driven Design
Imagine designing a food delivery app:
Primary Actors: Customers ordering food.
Secondary Actors: Delivery personnel using navigation tools.
Tertiary Actors: Restaurant owners monitoring orders.
System Actors: AI recommending dishes based on user preferences.
A user-centric design would address each actor’s needs, ensuring a cohesive and satisfying experience.
Conclusion
Actors are the backbone of UX design, representing every touchpoint of interaction within a system. By understanding and addressing the roles and needs of all actors, designers can craft experiences that are not only functional but also inclusive and impactful. A well-mapped ecosystem of actors guarantees that every stakeholder enjoys a meaningful and seamless journey.
The article above is rendered by integrating outputs of 1 HUMAN AGENT & 3 AI AGENTS, an amalgamation of HGI and AI to serve technology education globally.