> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.kevinrichard.ch/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Mental Models For Designers
- URL: https://www.kevinrichard.ch/mental-models-for-designers/
- Published: 2020-06-26T14:12:23.000Z
- Updated: 2020-09-30T13:05:36.000Z
- Description: How to use them to better understand users' expectations.
- Author: Kevin Richard
- Tags: Podcast, UX, Design

## How to use them to better understand users' expectations.

Hi everyone, Kevin here.

I recently had a great conversation with [Daniele Catalanotto](https://twitter.com/danielec?ref=kevinrichard.ch) about what are mental models and how to use them in a simplified way in our design process.

[🎙 See listening options here!](https://anchor.fm/design-critical-thinking?ref=kevinrichard.ch)

This conversation is part of a series of Podcasts for ***Design & Critical Thinking*** with Daniele (hold in French). **Daniele** is a Service Designer in Switzerland and is the founder of the [**Swiss Innovation Academy**](https://store.swissinnovation.academy/?ref=kevinrichard.ch) and the *[*Service Design Magazine*](https://service-design.co/?ref=kevinrichard.ch).*

For those of you who don't speak French –or just don't want to listen to us thinking out loud– here's the summary of this conversation in English. Also, find below a video version, available on YouTube with automatic-translation subtitles.

[🌟 Subscribe on YouTube to be notified when new episodes are out!](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Kee-xzhjnjAlRy0pfcxwA?ref=kevinrichard.ch)

---

## What are “mental models”?

Mental models are an explanation of how a person sees the world and how it works. The way I believe something works has a huge impact on how I interact with it.

## What is a simplified mental model for designers?

I use a simplified type of mental model in order to, for example, understand what’s the mental model for a certain task is. I ask employees: *“If you had to explain your work by choosing another profession that is similar to yours which one would it be? Would you be a doctor? A teacher? A firefighter?”*

If a user sees himself as a firefighter in specific circumstances, this will helps create solutions and services that fit that specific mental model in the right context.

## Context and time-specific mental models

Mental models are specific in context and time. A manager can use a mental model of the firefighter when it comes to handling clients, but can then switch to the mental model of the *“mom”* when it comes to handling team members.

---

## Explore and be critical

If you want an in-depth view of the power of mental models you can check out the [book](https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/mental-models/?ref=kevinrichard.ch) by **Indy Young**. Also on her website, you’ll find tons of [great resources](https://indiyoung.com/pubs-apps/?ref=kevinrichard.ch) on the subject.

[Mental model | WikiwandA mental model is an explanation of someone’s thought process about how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person’s intuitive perception about his or her own acts and their consequences. Mental models …![](https://assets.wikiwand.com/img/wikiwand_icon_apple.png)Wikiwand![](https://assets.wikiwand.com/img/wikiwand_icon.png)](https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Mental%5Fmodel?ref=kevinrichard.ch)

[Mental Models and User Experience DesignWhat users believe they know about a UI strongly impacts how they use it. Mismatched mental models are common, especially with designs that try something new.![](https://media.nngroup.com/static/img/favicon.ico)Nielsen Norman GroupBruce Tognazzini![](https://media.nngroup.com/media/articles/opengraph_images/Slide13articlesmental-models.png)](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/mental-models/?ref=kevinrichard.ch)

[Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior: Indi Young: 9781933820064: Amazon.com: BooksMental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior \[Indi Young\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human BehaviorIndi Young![](https://fls-na.amazon.com/1/batch/1/OP/ATVPDKIKX0DER:144-7046306-6208911:NS9N578T13WT8TVSY9BK$uedata=s:%2FMental-Models-Aligning-Strategy-Behavior%2Fdp%2F1933820063%2Fuedata%2Fnvp%2Funsticky%2F144-7046306-6208911%2FNoPageType%2Fntpoffrw%3Fstaticb%26id%3DNS9N578T13WT8TVSY9BK%26pty%3DDetail%26spty%3DGlance%26pti%3DB079XP8RZG:1000)](https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Models-Aligning-Strategy-Behavior/dp/1933820063?ref=kevinrichard.ch)