7 things to keep in mind while doing design research
1/ Learn how to swim in an area before deep diving in it
Scuba diving for someone who doesn’t know how to swim can be a harrowing experience. Go broad first and then deep. Start with the basics.
2/ Secondary research is like a bowl of spaghetti
You can’t take a bite of one without getting 3 other in your mouth. One thing will lead to another and before you know it, you’ll be really full. Know when to stop reading and start thinking.
3/ Research teams need to be a well oiled machine
Choose the field team wisely, not everyone in your team will be suited for field research. A small, agile team that compliments each others strengths is more useful than a large team.
4/ Small talk is the foreplay of interviews
While interacting with people, you will have to spend 80% time doing small talk, gaining trust and establishing context to be able to spend 20% focusing on what you really want to know.
5/ A user might tell you to jump into a well, it doesn’t mean you should
Users are really important, but you can’t hang onto every word they say. Research is equal parts reading between the lines and trusting your instinct. No one can teach you where to draw the line.
6/ Research = an ultra active Instagram account
If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen. Badly documented research is often worse than no research at all. Figure out what you plan to document and how you plan to do it in advance.
7/ The research pie is only useful if someone consumes it
Empathy needs to extend to the people who are consuming the research as well. Findings needs to be easy to access, understand and recall. It can only spark change when it inspires people.