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Design Research: Prototyping

overview

Prototypes are an important part of design research. Giving research participants something tangible to react to is critical for gathering good feedback on design directions. In the early stages of the design process, prototypes can be be lower fidelity artifacts, such as sketches, storyboards, or concept videos. As the design direction is solidified, higher fidelity wire-frames and interactive prototypes should be used to better assess the intending user experience of the concept.

Participants

Design team

Duration

Varies by project

Result

Evaluation of current ideas and design directions

Output

Sketches, videos, storyboards, wireframes, clickable prototypes

Examples

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Design Research: Notetaking

overview

Note-taking is a key activity during design research. It is important to designate a notetaker for every interview or interaction with users/stakeholders/customers to ensure that all information is captured and that the moderator can focus on the conversation. Take special note of things that are surprising or confirming of initial hypotheses, as well as any comments on current pain points or examples of existing products/services/procedures that are currently working well.

Participants

Design team

Duration

Varies by project

Result

Hand-written or digital notes

Output

Initial insights, interview transcripts, frameworks, emerging themes

Templates 

Examples

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Design Research: Shadowing

overview

Technique in which the researcher acts as an observer only, seeking to understand a user’s natural behavior without interruption or inquiry.

• Researchers prepare an observation guide that outlines the session objectives

• The researcher shadows the user throughout their workflow

• Observations are recorded as they are made, paying attention to the unexpected and unarticulated steps in the user’s process

• The observational data is collected and synthesized by the research team

Participants

Design team, 8-12 users

Duration

Varies by project

Result

Understanding of a user’s workflow and environment

Output

Quotes, audio, video, pictures

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Design Research: Interviews

overview

Guided interviews allow researchers to ask probing questions and explore themes and tangents leading to interesting research and design directions.

•  Researchers prepare a discussion guide to lead interviews with users and stakeholders

• The discussion guide provides a road map

• The researcher is free to explore new ideas that surface during the interview

• Researchers ask open-ended and “why” questions to understand the underlying reasons for the user’s behaviors and mental models

Participants

Design team, 8-12 users

Duration

1 hour sessions

Result

Deep understanding of the user’s mental models

Output

Quotes, audio, video, pictures

Discussion Guide Examples

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Design Research: Contextual Inquiry

overview

Unobtrusive observation of participants in context to discover unarticulated needs and underlying patterns.

• Understand the current workflow in context and expand the scope of knowledge through observation and inquiry

• The primary method is observation with room to ask probing questions where appropriate

• Observation in context ensures that the researcher’s data reflects reality and leads to appropriate design decisions

Participants

Design team, 8-12 users

Duration

1 hour sessions

Result

Understanding of the user’s workflow in context

Output

Field notes, pictures

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Design Research: Self-Reporting

overview

Participants respond to prompts about their feelings, attitudes, beliefs over the course of several days without researcher interference.

• A self-reporting study can be designed in the form of a questionnaire, survey, poll, or other collection method

• Participants record their responses to the questions or tasks without the researchers direct instruction

• Participants are often asked to self-report at intervals during their experience and over several days

• Researchers analyze and synthesize reports

• Responses give insight into activities researchers cannot observe in person, and thoughts that users may not voice

Participants

Design team, users

Duration

Varies by project

Result

Insight into the users’ experiences over time

Output

Images, quotes, logs, diaries

Examples
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Design Research: Co-Creation Activities

 

overview

Hands-on co-creation activities can help to unearth users’ unarticulated needs and further surface mental models, helping to lead to more desirable human-centered design directions.

Participants

Design team, Stakeholders, Users

Duration

1 – 4 hours

Result

Uncover user insights and opportunities from hands-on activities

Output

Sketches, mockups, insights, ideas

Templates 

Examples