What are Conceptual Models?

Think about how it feels when you discover a product that's incredibly easy to use. It seems to anticipate your every move, making interactions seamless and intuitive. And you're likely to keep coming back to use it again.

At Arounda, creating products like this is our top priority. Check out our work: whether it's a financial product, a healthcare project, or a SaaS solution, we're always focused on making user-friendly products. Using conceptual models is key to achieving this. In this article, we'll share our experience in helping boost customer loyalty.

What are the Conceptual Models

Conceptual models are abstract, psychological representations of how to carry out tasks. They are mental maps that people use subconsciously to systematize processes. 

In design, these models highlight key concepts, variables, relationships, and assumptions, guiding the creation of user-friendly systems. By aligning interfaces with users' existing mental frameworks, designers make new products more intuitive and easier to use.

What Does a Conceptual Model Consist of?

With extensive experience in product redesign, especially in UI/UX design, we create detailed conceptual models. To help you understand these models better, we'll break down their components using a login page as an example of a conceptual model. It will illustrate the three main components: entities, relationships, and constraints.

Entities

Entities are the primary components that users interact with or manipulate within the system. In the context of a login page, the entities include: 

• Username Field: Where users enter their username.
• Password Field: Where users enter their password.
• Login Button: To submit the login form.
• Forgot Password Link: To help users recover their password.

Relationships

Relationships define how the entities interact or relate to each other within the system. In the case of the login page:

• The username and password fields must be correctly filled for the login to be successful.
• When the user clicks the login button, the system checks the entered username and password against the database for authentication.
• Clicking the "Forgot Password" link redirects the user to the password recovery process to regain access to their account.

These relationships establish the rules and logic governing how the entities (such as fields and buttons) function together to achieve specific tasks or processes.

Constraints

Constraints are limitations that apply to entities or relationships, defining the boundaries and conditions within which the system operates. They ensure the security, usability, and integrity of the system by enforcing rules that govern user interactions and system behaviors. For the login page, it might be:

• Password Requirements. Constraints may include rules such as minimum character length, including special characters, or the requirement for a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters.
• Account Lockout. After multiple failed login attempts, the system may impose a constraint on the account, causing it to be temporarily locked for security reasons.
• Security Measures. The "Forgot Password" process may include constraints such as answering security questions or providing a recovery email to verify the user's identity before allowing password reset.

Why Use Conceptual Models?

What are conceptual models used for? Conceptual models are valuable tools in research for several reasons:

• They help researchers clearly express their ideas, assumptions, and perspectives.
• These models highlight gaps, inconsistencies, or contradictions in existing knowledge, aiding in better understanding.
• They ensure that research objectives, questions, and methods are consistent with the underlying concepts and theories, providing a logical basis for interpretation and discussion.
• Conceptual models make comparing, integrating, and synthesizing information from different studies or sources easier.
• By integrating diverse information, these models help generate new insights, hypotheses, and recommendations.

What are the Types of Conceptual Models

To fully understand "what are conceptual models,"  you should explore their three main types. This exploration clarifies your inquiry and aids in choosing the right one for various situations.

• Mental Models. These are people's ideas and expectations based on their experiences. When encountering a new system, users try to fit it into their existing knowledge framework. This mental model shapes how they understand and anticipate the system to function.
• Represented Models. Created by designers, represented models visually depict how the system works. These can include flowcharts, sketches, and examples. They are tools to help users understand the system's functionality and how to interact with it effectively.
• System Image. This is the perception users form about the system based on its appearance and behavior. Ideally, the system image aligns with users' mental models and the designers' represented models, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience.

How to Evaluate 

Here at Arounda, we always analyze the effectiveness of our chosen working methods. This ensures that we are not wasting the team's time but adding value. It is important to add that evaluating conceptual models is subjective and context-specific, emphasizing the importance of feedback and continual improvement.

When working with conceptual models, it's important to consider these metrics:

• Clarity. Ensure the model is clear and easy to understand. Minimize ambiguities and use precise definitions to help stakeholders and users grasp its concepts effectively.
• Coherence. Check for logical consistency within the model. Ensure that defined components and relationships make sense and align with established theories or empirical evidence where applicable.
• Comprehensiveness. Assess the model's scope and coverage. It should encompass all relevant aspects of the problem or system it aims to represent without omitting crucial factors or interactions.
• Credibility. Evaluate the model's credibility by examining the sources and methods used in its development. Are the assumptions realistic and supported by evidence or expert consensus? Transparent construction enhances credibility.
• Creativity. Consider the originality and innovation of the model. Does it offer new insights or approaches to understanding the problem or system? Creative models may introduce novel perspectives or solutions.

Also, the evaluation process should be iterative. It helps refine models, making them stronger and more applicable to real-world situations. To evaluate models effectively, we recommend using the following methods:

• Peer Review. Seek feedback from experts in the field to critique the model. Peer review offers diverse perspectives and identifies strengths and weaknesses that developers may overlook.
• Comparison. Compare the conceptual model with existing models or frameworks that address similar problems or systems. Highlighting similarities and differences can uncover unique contributions or areas that need enhancement.
• Application. Test the model by applying it to real-world cases or datasets. This empirical validation helps evaluate its practical usefulness, validity across different contexts, and potential limitations under various conditions.

Summary

At Arounda, we've learned that paying attention to details and deeply engaging with projects is challenging but consistently effective. 

Using conceptual models and other methods helps us achieve impressive outcomes. For example, for MintySwap, a user-centered design approach doubled their community size. And for Myso, our enhancements boosted user satisfaction rates to 85%.

We hope that our conceptual modeling examples will inspire you to develop an intuitive, human-centered design. If you're prepared to enhance your business and seek a partner to create a product encouraging customers to become ambassadors, contact us.