Mental Model Template

A mental model is a user's intuitive understanding of a system, shaped by past experiences, observations, and logic. It provides a visual representation of their beliefs and guides their interactions. While mental models are based on research rather than concrete facts, they offer valuable insights into user thinking. By leveraging this understanding, companies and teams can design solutions that align with customer needs and make informed business and design decisions.

Mental models are rooted in the psychological concept that people apply knowledge from past experiences to their everyday tasks, enabling a deeper comprehension of user behavior and preferences.

Create your own mental model

Creating a mental model with your team is a breeze using FigJam's Mental Model Template. Just follow these steps:

1. Open the template and save time by customizing the pre-made structure.
2. Enhance your mental model with sticky notes, shapes, and arrows to create a comprehensive map.
3. Utilize the infinite whiteboard to prototype and discuss ideas, leveraging chat, video, and comment features for seamless collaboration.
4. Enable real-time access for your teammates, allowing them to contribute and collaborate from any device, anytime.

The benefits of mental modeling

• Enhanced Understanding

  Mental modeling provides a deeper understanding of how users perceive and interact with a system, allowing designers and teams to align their solutions with user needs and expectations.

• Improved Decision-Making

  By uncovering user thought processes and behavior patterns, mental models empower teams to make informed decisions about design, functionality, and user experience, leading to more effective and impactful solutions.

• User-Centric Design

  Mental models place the focus on the users' perspective, enabling teams to design solutions that resonate with their target audience, resulting in products and services that are intuitive, engaging, and satisfying to use.

• Collaboration and Communication

  Mental models serve as a common language for interdisciplinary teams, facilitating effective communication and collaboration by providing a shared understanding of user expectations, challenges, and goals. This promotes alignment, synergy, and more efficient teamwork.

Types of mental models

Types of mental models vary depending on the context and purpose. Here are a few examples to consider:

1. Classical Conditioning

   This mental model focuses on unconscious learning through association. It explores how stimuli evoke learned reflexes or responses, whether they occur naturally or are deliberately created.

2. Hyperbolic Discounting

   Also known as present bias, this model examines how individuals prioritize immediate rewards over larger rewards in the future. Sales and marketing teams often leverage this bias to encourage immediate customer purchases.

3. Commitment and Consistency Bias

   This model revolves around people's desire to maintain consistency in their actions and beliefs. Once individuals make a commitment or decision, they tend to align their subsequent behavior with their prior choices, striving for consistency with their values and self-image.

It's worth noting that there are numerous other mental models available, each with its unique insights and applications. The selection of relevant mental models depends on the specific needs and goals of your team or situation.

Mental models are powerful tools in the design process, enabling teams to align with user expectations and create exceptional products. Let's explore an example of how a design team leverages the Mental Model Template to craft a user-centric food delivery app.

1. User Understanding:

   • Develop user personas to understand target audience preferences and behaviors.
   • Utilize the Mental Model Template to capture user expectations.

2. Identifying User Expectations:

   • Pose relevant questions such as order placement, restaurant search, payment methods, and order details.
   • Document user wants and needs on sticky notes within the Mental Model Template.

3. Feature Generation:

   • Based on user expectations, brainstorm and list features that address their needs.
   • Features like search bars, payment tracking, order history, and push notifications are represented by different colored sticky notes.

4. Visualizing User Needs:

   • The Mental Model Template becomes a consolidated reference for the team, mapping user needs and expectations.
   • Validate design decisions against the mental model, ensuring alignment with user perspectives.

5. Designing an Exceptional Experience:

   • The mental model guides the team in creating a seamless product experience.
   • Features are prioritized and refined, aiming to meet user needs and exceed expectations.

By utilizing the Mental Model Template, the design team aligns their efforts with user mental models, delivering an app that fulfills user expectations and enhances their food delivery experience.