Questions:
- Why do you go to the laundromat?
- What do you do while you wait for your clothes to wash and dry?
- On average, how many times do you go to the laundromat a month and how much do you spend?
- Do you feel like laundromats have adequate security to make sure customers’ clothes aren’t stolen or destroyed?
- Besides being able to clean your clothes, is there anything you like about going to the laundromat?
- Is there anything you don’t like about going to the laundromat?
- Do you watch your clothes while they are washing and drying?
- Is there a particular day or time you go to the laundromat and why?
- Have you ever had a personal experience having your clothes stolen, destroyed, or taken out of the machine by somebody else in the laundromat?
- Would you be interested in a technology that secures washing machines?
Interviewee 1-5: All interviews were conducted via survey.
Interviewee 1 – Elle
- Emotions – Does not like laundromats.
- Values – Cleanliness and free drying.
- What is the user trying to do? – Maximize their time by running other errands while their clothes are washing.
- Current solutions – Going to the laundromat on early weekday mornings so there are less people in the facility and less chance of clothes being stolen.
- Deficiencies of current solutions – Going back to the laundromat to move clothes from washer to dryer.
- Typical source of advice/knowledge – Goes to the laundromat 2-3 times a year and spends approximately $15.
- Other pertinent information – Feels like laundromats have adequate security to make sure customers’ clothes aren’t stolen or destroyed. Does not watch clothes while they are washing/drying but has had a personal experience having their clothes stolen, destroyed, or taken out of the machine by somebody else in the laundromat. Selected 5 on a scale from 1 being not interested at all to 5 being most interested in a technology that secures washing machines.
Interviewee 2 – Stephanie
- Emotions – Indifferent but appreciates the convenience.
- Values – The convenience of access to multiple machines.
- What is the user trying to do? – Wash several loads of clothes.
- Current solutions – Tries not to let laundry pile up to avoid going to the laundromat.
- Deficiencies of current solutions – Usually cannot find the time during the week to do laundry and dirty clothes inevitably pile up. Washing a load one by one would take too much time.
- Typical source of advice/knowledge – Goes to the laundromat once a month and spends approximately $40.
- Other pertinent information – Does not feel like laundromats have adequate security to make sure customers’ clothes aren’t stolen or destroyed. Watches clothes while they are washing most of the time, but has had a personal experience having their clothes stolen, destroyed, or taken out of the machine by somebody else in the laundromat. Selected 3 on a scale from 1 being not interested at all to 5 being most interested in a technology that secures washing machines.
Interviewee 3 – Liza
- Emotions – “Hate laundromats and wish I didn’t have to use one.”
- Values – Clean laundry machines and facilities.
- What is the user trying to do? – Wash their clothes without leftover pet hair in the washing machine and dry their clothes without having them smell burnt and covered in lint.
- Current solutions – Goes to laundromats in the nicer parts of town.
- Deficiencies of current solutions – Those laundromats are further away.
- Typical source of advice/knowledge – Goes to the laundromat once a month and spends approximately $7.50.
- Other pertinent information – Does not feel like laundromats have adequate security to make sure customers’ clothes aren’t stolen or destroyed. Does not watch clothes while they are washing, but has had a personal experience having their clothes stolen, destroyed, or taken out of the machine by somebody else in the laundromat. Selected 5 on a scale from 1 being not interested at all to 5 being most interested in a technology that secures washing machines.
Interviewee 4 – Tayte
- Emotions – Feels uncomfortable in laundromats due to men.
- Values – Privacy and safety.
- What is the user trying to do? – Wash clothes without compromising safety.
- Current solutions – Goes home while clothes are washing and drying.
- Deficiencies of current solutions – Clothes can be stolen, destroyed, or taken out of the machine by somebody else.
- Typical source of advice/knowledge – Goes to the laundromat once a month and spends approximately $20.
- Other pertinent information – Does not feel like laundromats have adequate security to make sure customers’ clothes aren’t stolen or destroyed. Does not watch clothes while they are washing. Has not had a personal experience having their clothes stolen, destroyed, or taken out of the machine by somebody else in the laundromat. Selected 5 on a scale from 1 being not interested at all to 5 being most interested in a technology that secures washing machines.
Interviewee 5 – Mathieu
- Emotions – Does not like going to the laundromat.
- Values – Not paying to wash clothes.
- What is the user trying to do? – Wash their clothes.
- Current solutions – Washes clothes together to minimize cost.
- Deficiencies of current solutions – Cannot use bleach.
- Typical source of advice/knowledge – Goes to the laundromat four times a month and spends $3.50 each time.
- Other pertinent information – Does not feel like laundromats have adequate security to make sure customers’ clothes aren’t stolen or destroyed. Does not watch clothes while they are washing. Has not had a personal experience having their clothes stolen, destroyed, or taken out of the machine by somebody else in the laundromat. Selected 5 on a scale from 1 being not interested at all to 5 being most interested in a technology that secures washing machines.
Analysis: Analyze your notes, think about observations you have made, and group them into patterns.
- The users I interviewed do not like having to use laundromats. They prefer the choice of having a washer and dryer in the home and choosing to use a laundromat if they have multiple loads they would like to wash at once.
Reflection: Reflect on the patterns you identified. What is the user trying to do?
- The user wants to wash their clothes in a clean facility around as least people as possible and does not want to worry about their clothes being stolen or destroyed.