登录查看更多内容

What research methods will best showcase your industrial design portfolio?

由人工智能和领英社区提供技术支持

As an industrial designer, you know that your portfolio is more than just a collection of images and sketches. It's a showcase of your creative process, your problem-solving skills, and your user-centered approach. But how do you communicate that effectively to potential employers, clients, or collaborators? One way is to use research methods that highlight your design thinking, your user insights, and your impact. In this article, you'll learn about four research methods that will help you create a compelling industrial design portfolio.

此文章中的业界达人

由社区从 7 条内容中精选。了解更多

Hamit Kazanci

Industrial Designer | Design Researcher | Mentor & Lecturer
Alex Barney

Industrial Design Contractor | Charity Founder

1 User interviews

User interviews are an invaluable research method for industrial design, allowing you to gain insight into the needs, preferences, and pain points of your target users. Through user interviews, you can demonstrate your empathy for users, validate your assumptions, and iterate on solutions based on user input. When showcasing user interviews in your portfolio, make sure to include the goal and scope of the interview, the profile and number of participants, the interview questions and prompts, the key findings and insights, as well as the implications and recommendations for your design.

添加您的观点

Hamit Kazanci

Industrial Designer | Design Researcher | Mentor & Lecturer
举报内容
User interviews are common to observe in portfolios and seem to be very easy to conduct but doing a proper one is pretty hard to achieve due to strict rules that one must follow to obtain proper results. These rules include: - Avoid asking yes and no questions - Preventing luring the conversation to your expectation - Do not complete the interviewee's sentences - Provide comfort level to the interviewee ( Reminding that this is not an interrogation) - Make sure not to go off-topic (happens a lot!). and similar rules make it pretty hard to put into practice but that's where the key insight can be achieved rather than tipping the conversation in your favour. If you are seeking a design research-inclusive career then I would say it is a must!

已翻译

赞
Alex Barney

Industrial Design Contractor | Charity Founder
举报内容
User research methods are essential in industrial design to gain insights into user needs and preferences. By conducting user interviews, contextual inquiries, user testing, and case studies, designers can develop a deep understanding of the target audience. Including snippets of user research, market analysis, or materials testing in your portfolio demonstrates a comprehensive approach to design that is rooted in user-centric principles

已翻译

赞
Danielle Dantas

UX/UI Designer | Designer WoMakersCode
举报内容
It is important to highlight the methodology used to select interview participants, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive representation of the target audience. This will strengthen the credibility and relevance of the discoveries presented in your industrial design portfolio.

已翻译

赞

加载更多内容

2 Contextual inquiry

Contextual inquiry is a research method that involves observing and interacting with users in their natural environment, such as their home, workplace, or public space. This method can help you uncover how users actually use your product or service, any challenges or opportunities they face, and how they interact with other people or objects in their context. Showcasing contextual inquiry in your portfolio should include the purpose and setting of the inquiry, the role and consent of the participants, the observation and interaction methods and tools, the key findings and insights, and the design opportunities and constraints. Through contextual inquiry, you can demonstrate how you immerse yourself in the user's world, uncover hidden needs and behaviors, and generate design ideas based on real-life scenarios.

添加您的观点

Hamit Kazanci

Industrial Designer | Design Researcher | Mentor & Lecturer
举报内容
Contextual inquiries which are hard to conduct due to their requirements are usually the best way to gain a better understanding and insight that provides core points for designers to build upon. Seeing such techniques applied appropriately on portfolios simply shows the designer's commitment, determination and willingness of in-depth understanding of the subjects of design on my end.

已翻译

赞

3 User testing

User testing is a research method that involves evaluating design prototypes or products with real or potential users. It can help measure usability, desirability, and feasibility of design solutions, as well as identify any issues or improvements. When showcasing user testing in your portfolio, you should include the objective and criteria of the test, the prototype or product features and functionality, the profile and number of testers, the test tasks and scenarios, the key findings and insights, and the design iterations and improvements. User testing can demonstrate how to prototype and test design concepts, collect and analyze user data, and refine and optimize design outcomes based on user feedback.

添加您的观点

4 Case study

Case studies are an essential research method for documenting and presenting a specific design project or process in an organized and comprehensive manner. Through case studies, you can tell a captivating story about your design challenge, research approach, design solution, and design impact. Additionally, case studies are an ideal way to demonstrate your design thinking, skills, and value. To make a compelling case study for your portfolio, you should include the background and context of the project, the problem statement and design goals, the research methods and results, the design process and deliverables, the design evaluation and outcomes, as well as the design learnings and reflections.

添加您的观点

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

添加您的观点

Alex Barney

Industrial Design Contractor | Charity Founder
举报内容
When curating your industrial design portfolio, it is crucial to carefully select a diverse range of projects that showcase your skills across various product types and design challenges. Including projects that demonstrate versatility and innovation, you can effectively highlight your ability to tackle different design problems creatively. Incorporating 3D renderings or animations in your portfolio adds a dynamic visual element that can captivate viewers and provide a more immersive experience. Organising your projects logically and in a user-friendly manner by grouping them based on product type or design challenge enhances the overall coherence and impact of your portfolio, making it easier for potential clients

已翻译

赞

加载更多内容

Industrial Design

+ 关注

给文章评分

我们借助人工智能创建了此文章。您认为这篇文章怎么样？

很棒不太好

举报此文章

查看全部

What research methods will best showcase your industrial design portfolio?

1

2

3

4

5

1 User interviews

2 Contextual inquiry

3 User testing

4 Case study

5 Here’s what else to consider

Industrial Design

给文章评分

感谢您的反馈

更多Industrial Design相关文章

更多相关阅读内容

What research methods will best showcase your industrial design portfolio?

1

2

3

4

5

1 User interviews

2 Contextual inquiry

3 User testing

4 Case study

5 Here’s what else to consider

Industrial Design

给文章评分

感谢您的反馈

查看其他技能