Class 1. Intro to Design Research

We will focus on Generative, Qualitative, Ethnographic Research (rather than Evaluative, Quantitative or Market Research).

Research in the REAL WORLD

+ On people’s terms: CONTEXT
+ Working in a budget: TIME
+ We are not ETHNOGRAPHERS,
+ We are APPLIED RESEARCHERS working in a
SPECIFIC CONTEXT with LIMITED TIME & BUDGET
+ We have to become experts, FAST


Quick & Dirty Research


+ Friends and Family Interviews
+ Store Visits
+ Photo Scans
+ Play w/ Stuff
+ Obstacle Course

What Quick & Dirty Research?
+ Help us understand a CATEGORY
+ Help us know what we DON’T KNOW
+ Help us understand WHO TO TALK TO
+ Help us PLAN RESEARCH
Why?
+ Fieldwork is expensive and resource intensive


ASSIGNMENT #1
For next week, you will work as a team of 3 and build an “obstacle course” of a
tool, run 3 users through it, record it, and present 3 major insights from your
work.
• Pick a tool that is easy and accessible, but requires some amount of human
interface (coffee maker, alarm clock, cell phone, etc). Get 3 to 4 of these for
the research.
• Design an obstacle course of specific activities that all of your users will do.
• Each of you will run one person through the obstacle course as the
“moderator” with your own discussion guide. Each course should last
between 15-20 minutes.
• Have someone on your team record the research
• As a group, present the top 3 insights from the research
• Be prepared to talk through the process, your methods, and your thoughts