itsual Design Research
Overview
Design research reduces uncertainty about people and experiences. It complements product research by focusing on how design choices affect understanding, emotion, and usability.
When to Use
- Exploring new experience territories
- Evaluating design concepts and prototypes
- Understanding mental models and language
- Informing design systems and patterns
Core Practices
- Tie research questions to design decisions
- Choose methods fit for purpose (interviews, diary, usability, diary, card sort, etc.)
- Sample participants who represent the target experience
- Synthesize into insights and design implications
- Socialize findings in usable artifacts (journey maps, principles, opportunity areas)
Principles
- Research is only valuable if it changes design decisions
- Mix generative and evaluative research across the lifecycle
- Stay close to primary data — quotes, recordings, observations
- Ethical practice and consent are non-negotiable
Verification
- Research questions map to decisions
- Insights are evidenced and actionable for design
- Findings reach the people who need them in time