What is the conceptual model?

Once we understand our user's mental model, we can capture it in a conceptual model. The conceptual model is a representation of the mental model using elements, relationships, and conditions. Our design and final system will be the tangible result of this conceptual model.

When you design a new user interface, you are doing so based on a conceptual model. The closer our conceptual model is to the mental model of the user, the easier it will be for the user to understand the system. As each user has his own mental model, it is not possible to match all the users' needs, but we will use different techniques to understand and create successful experiences for our target users.

For example, a mechanic has a very different mental model about a taxi than the one a passenger has. While a mechanic sees a set of parts that form transport:

A passenger sees it as a service that allows him to move from one place to a destination, paying according to the distance or the time of the displacement: