How can you incorporate user research into ID design?

Incorporating user research in industrial design begins with setting clear objectives, guiding the design to meet user needs. Understanding users' problems and desired tasks, including time and resource use, is crucial. This is the most valuable assets that helps designers create functional, aesthetic, and user-driven solutions. A diverse and ample respondent pool deepens this understanding, shaping the design brief that directs the entire design process, ensuring products not only look good but also fulfill user expectations and solve their problems.

User study methods in product design are influenced by the novelty and uniqueness of the product. For products that are new or unique, the selection of research methods becomes crucial. Semi-structured interviews are particularly effective in this context, as they allow for flexibility in exploring user responses while still providing structure to the conversation. When dealing with entirely new innovations, it's essential to communicate the concept and benefits of the new product to users effectively. This can be achieved through various means such as physical or digital prototypes, images, or videos. These tools help users visualize and understand the innovation, providing valuable feedback for refining and developing the product.

Based on my experience, semi-structured interviews are highly effective in user research, providing in-depth information. Conducting this research jointly by an industrial designer and a product manager is beneficial. User studies often yield significant tacit knowledge, which is challenging to convey through written reports. When the product manager is actively involved in the research process, this deep understanding is communicated more effectively, enhancing the product development process.

Additionally, transitioning from the design of an experiment (DOE) to data analysis is a complex process, especially in industrial design within the hardware sector. This requires dedication and a well-developed proof-of-concept to demonstrate both functionality and usability. Undertaking DOE and design simultaneously is notably time-consuming compared to the relatively quicker tasks of planning and goal-setting. The latter often progresses swiftly as most inputs are derived from customer requirements. However, when it comes to applying these inputs in the actual design, manufacturing, and testing of the product, the complexity increases significantly. This phase will rigorously test and prove various criteria of your design capabilities.

User research is a valuable tool as it helps to understand the real problems users face. However, it can become counterproductive if it only generates a "wish list" without actionable insights. For industrial designers, user research becomes particularly useful when combined with strategic pricing, especially willingness-to-pay studies. This combination reveals what is important to users and what they are willing to pay for a product and its features. By understanding both user needs and their value perception, designers can create products that not only meet user requirements but also align with their budget expectations.

In hardware development, understanding the fundamental functionality of your design is crucial, as is identifying the most user-friendly features for your product. Creativity plays a vital role in this process, as it drives innovative solutions for new functions and effective ways to address customer problems.A skilled designer understands the importance of producing various design alternatives and then conducting Design of Experiments (DOE) to test these variations. This approach helps in identifying the design that best aligns with customer needs and preferences.