OOUX - ORCA Process

The OOUX ORCA Process canvas offers a way to follow the steps outlined for an Object-Oriented UX workshop. The ORCA process is a fantastic way to detangle complex design problems and create intuitive user experiences.

What is Object-Oriented UX?

The OOUX methodology was created by Sophia V. Prater to help product designers and their partners work through tough projects. The OOUX ORCA process helps to identify all objects that exist within a project, determine which actions can be performed with them and their relationships to each other, and ultimately build a system map to show how all of the pieces work together. You can also use OOUX to align vision across team members and surface questions that might not otherwise have been asked.

How to use this template:

There are instructions written within the Miro template, but the basic outline goes like this:

• Use existing documentation and other resources to Identify all of the objects that live within your project. 


• Chose a handful of your most important core objects and map their relationships with each other 


• Determine what actions can be taken with these objects, and by whom.


• Identify important metadata that belongs to your core objects

• Document a list of your questions as you go!


Some things to remember:

• This is a process. It’s ok to iterate on the ORCA process as new things arise.

• Don’t fly solo. Bring in product, engineering, content strategy or any other teammate who can help.

• This is just a tool intended to help form a mental model for your working group. The steps you take after this process are up to you.

• The questions that are generated from this exercise are the most important part. If you get stuck, focus on one object or important point and dig in.

• You can’t mess this up. Remember, this is just a tool.