• The 4 Phases
  • All Methods
    • Phase 1Observation
      • 5 Whys
      • 6 Thinking Hats
      • AEIOU Framework
      • Card Sorting
      • Collage
      • Competitive Analysis
      • Content Audit
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Crazy Eights
      • Eisenhower Matrix
      • Empathy Map
      • Field Study
      • Focus Groups
      • Future Trends
      • How Might We
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD)
      • Journey Mapping
      • Knowns and Unknowns Framework
      • Lessons Learned
      • Mental Models
      • Mind Mapping
      • Moodboards
      • Mystery Shopping
      • Netnography
      • Observation
      • Personas
      • Poems
      • Poster Session
      • Product Love Letters
      • Stakeholder Map
      • Surveys
      • World Café
      • Worst Possible Ideas
    • Phase 2Creation
      • 6 Thinking Hats
      • 6-3-5 Brainwriting
      • Bodystorming
      • Brainstorming
      • Business Model Canvas (BMC)
      • Card Sorting
      • Challenge Assumptions
      • Click Dummy
      • Collage
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Crazy Eights
      • Dark Horse Prototype
      • Eisenhower Matrix
      • Emotional Journey Map
      • Empathy Map
      • Field Study
      • Focus Groups
      • How Might We
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Innovation Board
      • Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD)
      • Journey Mapping
      • Knowns and Unknowns Framework
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mental Models
      • Mind Mapping
      • Mobile Diaries
      • Moodboards
      • One-Minute-Pitch
      • Personas
      • Pluralistic Walkthrough
      • Poster Session
      • Product Love Letters
      • Remote Usability Test
      • SCAMPER
      • Service Blueprints
      • Stakeholder Map
      • Storyboards
      • Surveys
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Testing
      • Value Proposition
      • Walt Disney Method
      • Wizard of Oz
      • World Café
      • Worst Possible Ideas
      • Wow-How-Now Matrix
    • Phase 3Implementation
      • A/B Testing
      • Business Model Canvas (BMC)
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Eye Tracking
      • Golden Circle
      • High-Fidelity Prototype
      • Innovation Board
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mobile Diaries
      • One-Minute-Pitch
      • Pluralistic Walkthrough
      • Product Love Letters
      • Remote Usability Test
      • Service Blueprints
      • Storyboards
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
    • Phase 4Validation
      • A/B Testing
      • Competitive Analysis
      • Concept Testing Plan
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Eye Tracking
      • HEART Framework
      • High-Fidelity Prototype
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Innovation Board
      • KPI Tracking
      • One-Minute-Pitch
      • Pluralistic Walkthrough
      • Remote Usability Test
      • SCAMPER
      • Search-Log Analysis
      • Service Blueprints
      • Social Media Monitoring
      • Surveys
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
      • User Testing
  • Workshop Bundles
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  1. UX Toolkit
  2. Methods
  3. AEIOU Framework
beginnerobservation
AEIOU FrameworkGive your observations and field research structure by getting to know the problem's environment.
45 – 80 min1+ Participantsworkshopsolocreative
+5
Open in FigJamOpen in Miro
Summary
The AEIOU (activities, environments, interactions, objects & users) method gives an overview of the user's requirements and the context of usage. Users can even draw or picture their environment and activities.
Step-by-step
  1. Collect research insights about the target group. It could be helpful if the test persons visually represent their own environment, as well as their activities.
  2. Organize all information within the 5 AEIOU categories.
    1. Activities: What are the users doing? What is their task?
    2. Environment: Where do they spend their time? How does their environment look like? What else is happening in their environment?
    3. Interactions: How do they interact with their environment? What are the interfaces?
    4. Objects: Who uses which device or object? Which devices and objects are being used? In which environment are the objects and devices being used?
    5. Users: What are the user's characteristics? Who are they? What’s their role? Who or what are they influenced by?
  3. Evaluate the findings. Note down which of the categories are related to each other, influence each other, or interact with each other.
What you need
  • AEIOU worksheet
  • Paper
  • Pen
External resources
  • AEIOU Observation Framework
    by The Design Exchange
Do you have a question?
These methods might seem simple, but applying them in a real project is another story. We’re there to help. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at the User Experience Strategy & Design team.
Ask Away!
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