Understanding the value of early user research, applying it to the real world and synthesising it for better design of digital products

1. Value, application,
synthesis
Understanding the value of early user research,
applying it to the real world and synthesising it for
better design of digital products
Tout Le Monde UX
Montreal, 11 April 2013
Neil Clavin

2. In the last decade user centred research has become
incorporated into the design of digital products

3. Designers, developers & product managers aim to
build the best possible experiences for their users

4. Some clients, project managers, bosses say It takes to
long, it costs to much, it doesn’t help
A lot of times,
people don’t know
what they want until
you show it to them.

5. You want to work faster, confidently on the right
problem, with evidence to justify design decisions
coming up with the right
question, the one that casts a
familiar challenge in a new
light, is an art and science in
itself. It demands that the
questioner be able to look at
an existing reality from multiple
viewpoints, including, perhaps
most importantly, that of the
"naïve outsider."

6. Understand value of early design research, real world
application and how to synthesis research for design

7. Value
Application
Synthesis

8. Value
Application
Synthesis

9. Employ user-centred design research from the start of
a project to preserve time/money and quality

10. 80 % of a product's cost is determined at the design
phase..

11. ..design research ensures we are focusing on the
correct design problem - ‘a more beautiful question’

12. Usability testing at the end of a project is to late to
solve fundamental issues if user needs are overlooked

13. Value
Application
Synthesis

14. Application of design research for real world projects
for digital products, services & spaces

15. Experience benchmark existing products / services to
define best practice and differentiation opportunities

16. Diary study reveals triggers for use, gaps and
frustrations over a prolonged period

17. Contextual interviews with users reveal how they use
and adapt products and services in the real world

18. Co-design with users reveals latent needs for products
and services

19. Title

20. Value
Application
Synthesis

21. Synthesise research into actionable insights which
suggest design opportunities and solvable problems

22. Cluster findings from research to reveal actionable
insights

23. Use actionable insights to generate ‘experience
targets’ for design brief for concept and build phases

24. Involve users as you prototype your designs against
targets of design brief

25. Value
Application
Synthesis

27. User research adds value by
asking the right question
early in the design process.
Its application defines the
problem space but must be
carefully synthesised into
actionable insights which
lead to design opportunities.

28. Thanks!
www.neilclavin.com
hello@neilclavin.com