Let set the records straight. In your opinion, what are the differences between task flows and user journeys? #ux #uxwriting #uxresearch
A task flow includes all the things you require the person to do in your UI to complete a task. i.e Download app > sign up > home screen > click on CTA > land on product page > choose product > check out. A user journey includes all the things that the person *actually* does to complete a task i.e Does Google search about issue > finds top 10 apps to solve problem > goes to App Store > reads reviews > downloads yours > carries on with life > 2 weeks later they need your app > realise they have to sign up > feels annoyed that they have to sign up when they're just trying to see what's up > etc.
Hmm, even as a lowly, emerging UX bootcamper, the distinction is clear — a task flow maps what is needed in UI, whereas the user journey maps the the human thinking side. The jargon, I've found, can be confusing at first nonetheless!
As I tend to think Larry Marine invented some of the task flow/analysis stuff, Larry? :)
I'm intrigued as to how this even needed to be set straight. Perhaps it's because the titles UX Designer and UI Designer are wrongfully being used interchangeably in our industry, causing confusion among new practitioners who believe they are doing one job when in fact are doing another? In any case, there is a difference. Task flows should represent interaction design as it pertains to views, features, etc. Essentially, how people complete various tasks. Journey maps* should represent behaviors of people before, during, and after using a product. Essentially, how they interact with the product as a whole. In fact, there might be many task flows that are part of any given point of engagement on a journey map. *As an aside, I prefer “journey maps” over “user journeys,” preferring to minimize use of the word “user.”
A user journey will include several task flows
Task flows are the different minor tasks set needed for the user to complete a main objective. The user journey is the correlation between those tasks and the moments along the day where the user does them.
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Very little. In my experience, there are so many different ways to write these and make them richer / more suitable for the particular context, that the labels are almost immaterial. I'm sure that can be frustrating in some situations, but I enjoy the freedom to be able to provide something that is more suited to the situation at hand.
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3yA task flow will often be used to describe the screens for a particular task. Whereas a user journey can flow from end-to-end of a digital experience, not just a single task. In my experience, everyone using the same language has been an issue. UX teams need a taxonomy for internal use, hahaha.