Finding Simple,Seat Map Design for Everyone
Jason BaylySenior UX Architect, Eventbrite
#uxaustralia @jasb
The Davenport Theatre, New York NYImage courtesy of davenporttheatre.com
CC Image courtesy of Interior_Photos on Flickr
CC Image courtesy of Sudheer G on Flickr
• Website localized in 14 countries, events listed in 187 countries
• $1B in gross ticket sales annually, 1M tickets sold each week
Eventbrite is an online marketplace for live experiences.
• Founded in 2006, late stage start-up
• 450 employees worldwide, offices in 5 countries
What is reserved seating?
Reserved seating is a type of an event where each attendee is guaranteed a specific seat.
Up until recently Eventbrite only catered to general admission events.
What is a reserved seating event?
Country Music ConcertCMA Theater, Nashville TN
Seats: 800
Talent ShowThe Davenport Theater, New York NY
Seats: 182
Religious ConcertNew Hope Oahu Church, Honolulu HI
Seats: 1,000
Art Auction FundraiserThe Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria VA
Seats: 925
Spin Class FundraiserSoul Cycle Gym, San Francisco CA
Seats: 54
California Philharmonic Orchestra ConcertSanta Anita Race Track, Arcadia CA
Seats: 5,600
Benefits of reserved seating
AttendeesCan choose where they sit, feel in controlLess stress on the day, no lining up, a seat is guaranteed
OrganizersGreater flexibility
Increased revenue through tiered pricing
Smoother entry management
Eventbrite
Little self service competition
Extend our reach and relevancy
Larger capacities, sell more tickets
What is simplicity?
Simplicity is when something is neither hard to understand or to do.
As UX designers we struggle to find the delicate balance between the simplicity of use and the complexity of usefulness.
Design should be collaborative
A problem shared and ideated on is a problem solved.
Principles to guide your way
Progressive complexity - When we hit complexity, reveal it progressively
Easy error recovery and system forgiveability – What ever happens its never the end of the world
Guide me to completion - Support and nurture me, the system is my Sherpa
Communal creation & sharing – Share the love that is reusable templates, assets & stencils
Seat map creation is a last resort – templates are the key to greater simplicity
Aid spatial comprehension of the venue - the seat map is my guide
Content over chrome (UI) – Don’t let the UI get in the way of my ticket/seat needs
Restricted complication – Try to avoid complication at all costs
The design and UI should BE Eventbrite - Light, bright & airy – always on brand
Find ways to minimize input (with template seat maps, smart defaults & intuitive tools)Delight is in the details - The experience is the sum of all the moving parts
Error prevention and affordance before messaging - Errors should be preventable
Afford greater task focus through the use of contextual controls and feedback
Designing seat maps can be simple
Methods and techniques used along the way.
All good design starts with a conversation
1
Walk a day in the shoes of your user and get out of the office.
Thoughtful reduction and refinement
2
Sometimes, the only way to figure out what is really important is to get rid of everything that isn’t.
Organise, sequence and reveal the detail as needed
3
Start shallow and then go deep as needed. The deep end of the pool can be scary at first.
Way finding affordances keep things moving. Feedback is critical to success.
Perception matters, simple should look simple
4
If the UI is pretty people will want to touch it, simplicity draws people in.
Predictable interactions are the key to success.
Acknowledge the complex, the difficult, the tedious
5
The user is your honored guest, make the system do all the hard work.
The first time is always hardest, support the on-boarding experience with extra care.
Time is a commodity and a measure of complexity
6
The end to end experience
The 10 laws of simplicity…1. Reduce2. Organise3. Time4. Learn5. Difference6. Context7. Emotion8. Trust9. Failure10.The one
Dr John [email protected]
Thanks for listening!
Finding simple, seat map design for everyoneUX Australia Conference
2014
Jason BaylySenior UX Architect
[email protected]@jasb
eventbrite.com.au/reservedseatingvimeo.com/87748221
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