The Core Model helps in designing websites and digital products that align with user needs and business goals, focusing on the core piece of information or functionality that fulfills the user's task and achieves business objectives.
The Core Model brings strategy down to a concrete and tangible level, allowing for a more focused exploration of user tasks and business goals, and helping to align stakeholders and teams by redefining the problem or brief.
Deep dives
The Core Model: A Tool for Designing Effective Digital Products
The Core Model, developed by Arahaloo, is a tool that helps in designing websites and digital products that align with both user needs and business goals. The model focuses on identifying the core piece of information or functionality that fulfills the user's task and achieves the business objectives. By starting with the answer or hypothesis of what the user is seeking, the model helps in understanding the context around that answer, including user tasks and the customer journey. The model emphasizes the balance between user experience and strategy, and it can be applied to various digital products, irrespective of the medium or channel.
Bringing Strategy Down to Earth with the Core Model
The Core Model, as a tool, aims to bring strategy down to a concrete and tangible level. It enables designers and consultants to synthesize insights from research, including user needs and business objectives. By defining the core piece of information or functionality, the model allows for a more focused exploration of user tasks and business goals, making discussions and collaboration more effective. The model highlights the importance of tying user tasks and business objectives together, ensuring that a strategy isn't customer-centric only or solely focused on business outcomes. It can also be used to redefine the problem or brief, helping to align stakeholders and teams.
Scaling the Core Model for Complex Systems
While traditionally associated with core web pages, the Core Model can scale to complex systems and processes. It is not limited to a specific channel or medium, but rather focuses on providing an answer or solution to user tasks in various contexts. The model allows for the selection of appropriate channels or formats after defining the answer. It can also be used in content modeling, as it helps identify the necessary components or elements to solve user tasks. The model's ability to bring clarity and concreteness to complex projects makes it a valuable tool for collaboration and aligning diverse teams in the design and development process.
Are Halland has worked in digital product development, strategy, design, and communication for over a quarter of a century. During that time, he created the core model, a tool for designing websites and products that align business goals and user needs. He has now written a book about the core model, which is due to be published later this year. In this conversation, he explains what the core model is and how it can help us create more effective digital products.