As a UX convert (crossed over from anthropology), I am often surprised by how many products I purchase are so frustratingly close to getting the experience 'right'. Case in point. I recently purchased a mom-wagon (see below). It's great in so many ways. 8 out of 10 in terms of usefulness, quality, and meeting my needs as a working mom. But it just doesn't fold up the way I need it to. It folds very easily and neatly for storage. But I need to be able to pull it along like a travel suitcase when my kids aren't in it. Instead, it only "folds up neatly for storage." That's great for my condo but I need it to follow me and not piss people off on the way to work. I bought it with the express purpose of dragging onto the #Toronto #streetcar for the morning commute to work so I could rush back and pick up my two young kids one at a time along their separate daycare and school routes. The timing is tight. Work 8-4, rush back on #ttc, get both kids back in time for dinner, bath, reading, snuggles, deep-breaths-to-avoid-yelling-to-get-them-brush-their-teeth, and into bed for a solid night's rest. Rinse and repeat. The wagon is my technological solution to get this tight time-frame to work most efficiently for me. I brought it on the streetcar for the first time this morning and hopefully it will behave nicely on the way home during packed rush hour on a busy downtown car. In conclusion I love the wagon so far. It's great. Another mom saw it with my kids inside and compared it to a "hummer for kids". Point for mom-capital. But as with so many items moms and parents and caregivers and dads and and and ...need to make it through the work-week, it could have been oh-so-slightly better to meet my needs. Maybe my route home is too niche. #personas #journeys Any other parents have a similar and weird niche transportation need? #UXresearch #soclose #userneeds #momlife Moms at Work Athida Valdez Athena Herrmann Sarah Watson Helen Nowak
Athena Herrmann
7mo
I'm sure that they never considered the work-commute-kids scenario, instead focusing on the drive to the zoo, get out the wagon, pull kids around scenario. Missed opportunity for sure!
Lindsay A. Bell
7mo
I am JEALOUS of the mom wagon, but see the concern you raise! Many fold up that way.
Principal & Co-Founder, S&B Consulting. Strategic, insights-driven public- and not-for-profit sector executive and educator.
7moGreat example, and I had the same issue! Now I struggle with what to do with a scooter after drop off (it's too small for me to ride, though I'm tempted!)