1. Empathic Design/Contextual Inquiry Report Discussion
Knowing how the design process works is different from actually being able to practice it
(IDEO). The purpose of this assignment is to apply empathic design and contextual inquiry
techniques discussed in class and in the readings. Choose a product or a product category
(different from the one chosen for your team project) and find an observation venue that
will tell you something interesting about people’s needs when using products in the
selected category. If possible, pick a place where you can see mainstream needs, extreme
needs, cultural attitudes, and/or analogous behavior. Use your judgment to choose any of
the observation and contextual inquiry methods discussed in class and in the
readings.There is no formatting requirement for this assignment. Recommended
Structure:Make notes about who you observed, where you observed them, and how people
used the products and interacted in the situation.Offer three interpretations of what you
saw and heard. What did people think, feel, and desire while interacting with the product?
Don’t stay at the observational level—peel back the layers. Go deep. You may take photos or
shoot some video footage to document your discoveries.Based on your observations and
interpretations, describe at least one novel unmet customer need in that product category.
