This document discusses research-driven design and the importance of grounding design in empirical observation of users. It notes that research-driven design is based on gathering data about users' needs and experiences, analyzing the data, and using the conclusions to inform design decisions. The document emphasizes that user research helps validate design choices and ensure solutions meet users' actual needs rather than just their stated wants. It also cautions that while many resources for design research exist, the research should still be evaluated critically for scientific rigor.

1. Research-Driven Design
Jackson Fox | UX Designer | jacksonfox@gmail.com
DC Design Talks | 2/29/2008

2. What is research-driven
design?

3. Research is all about
observation
of the user...

4. ...so research-driven
design is grounded in
the user’s reality...

5. ...because we want to
give people what they
need, which isn’t always
what they want.

6. Research- Theory-Driven Data-Driven
Driven Design Design Design
Empirical Derived from Web
observation theory analytics

7. It’s all the same thing
really

9. Back in the
olden days...
(in the fifties actually)

10. Intuition
vs.
Research

11. Our theoretical heritage
> Cognitive Psychology
> Experimental Psychology

12. Welcome our new social
science overlords
> Sociology
> Social Psychology
> Anthropology
> even... Marketing

13. We observe the user...

14. > Usability Testing > Card Sorting
> User Observation > Analytics
> Contextual Inquiry > Focus Groups
> Interviews > Etc...
> Surveys

15. Then we analyze the data...
And we draw conclusions

16. AKA, the “Wheel of
Science”
Theory
Observation Hypothesis
Generalization

17. Good Times

18. More trouble than it’s worth

19. Research is only as
much effort as you
make it
In science we talk about “experimental
design” — choosing the right methods and
the right samples

20. Crushes the creative spirit

21. Research informs design,
it doesn’t replace it
We use user research to ground
our efforts in reality, and to
validate our choices

22. Not really scientific at all

23. Quantitative Qualitative
Counts and Qualities and
measures characteristics
Objective Subjective
Neither is more “scientific” than the other

24. What is “good” research?
> Randomization > Implementation
> Control > Analysis
> Reliability > Interpretation
> Validity

25. In fact, it’s all just
common sense

26. Actually, that’s not
always a bad thing
Just because the results are “common sense”
doesn’t mean that the effort is wasted

27. In fact, many times we
want the results to be
common sense

28. One last thing...

29. E-Z Design Research
TM

30. Someone else has done
a lot of work, and we
get use it

31. Design
Papers Books
Guidelines
Prioritizing Web
Usability.gov SURL Usability
NN/g, UIE, Etc... ACM SIG-CHI Designing Interfaces
But! Be critical of the research you see. Ask
yourself if it’s good science.

33. 1. Research-driven
design grounds us in
reality

34. 2. Don’t be afraid of the
touchy-feely stuff

35. 3. If something is worth
doing, it’s worth doing
right
...and design research is worth it!

36. Thanks!
Jackson Fox
UX Designer, Lulu.com
jacksonfox@gmail.com

37. DC Design Talks
February 29, 2008

38. Yay!