??Mapping research methods to product design goals With so many different research methods that you can use during the design process, it can be hard to know what methods to choose for your particular task at hand. User Interviews team nicely categorized user research methods into four main decision types: Vision, Strategy, Definition, and Evaluation. 1?? Vision Vision acts as a North Start for your product design—it establishes a direction for your future product. To enable vision decisions, you should choose methods that give you clarity on users’ needs, wants, and beliefs. Focus: Understand user perspectives, explore new opportunities, and inform high-level product direction. Methods: User Interviews, Ethnography (Observations), Focus Groups, Diary Studies, Competitive Analysis. 2?? Strategy Strategy decisions determine the steps you need to take to achieve your vision. To enable strategic decisions, choose methods that give you detailed insights into users’ big-picture beliefs. Focus: Formulate detailed plans on how to achieve the product vision grounded in deep user insights. Methods: Continuous Discovery Interviews, Focus Groups, Competitive Analysis, Card Sorting, Surveys, Analytics, Ethnography (Observations), Co-design, and Tree Testing. 3?? Definition Definition decisions determine whether or not you pursue a specific design direction.?To enable these decisions, you should choose methods that allow you to get early feedback on potential design directions. Focus: Refine design choices and validate early concepts, features, and user interactions. Methods: User Interviews, Focus Groups, Usability Testing, Preference Testing, A/B Testing, Card Sorting, Click Testing, Surveys, Co-design, and Tree Testing. 4?? Evaluation Evaluation decisions concern planning iterations of your product. To enable evaluation decisions, you should choose methods that allow you to continuously identify problems that customers may encounter during interaction with your product. Focus: Asses the effectiveness of the existing product and its features to inform iterative improvements. Methods: A/B Testing, Click Testing, Analytics, and Surveys. ?? Guides ?? How to Choose a User Research Method (by User Interviews) https://lnkd.in/dTv5idRc ?? Which UX Research Method to Use (by Lena Borodina) https://lnkd.in/dpYnJRpD #ux #uxresearch #research #design #uidesign #uxdesign
Echoing others here, I especially appreciate the mixed methods approach in the "vision" stage -- appropriate investment at this stage goes such a long way toward a smooth downstream product cycle and helps avoid instances of needing to backtrack!
I particularly appreciate the focus on using user interviews and ethnographic observations for understanding user perspectives early on. It’s a reminder that user-centered research should be an ongoing, iterative process to inform every step of product development. Thanks for sharing this guide!
Thank you for the UXR Field Guide s/o!
Spot-on breakdown! But here's the reality: no single method will ever capture the full user experience. True UX insights come from layering methods across these categories to reveal both surface-level and deeper behavioral patterns.?
Nick Babich, mapping out your research methods sounds like a solid strategy. Which approach grabs you the most?
Thanks for sharing this Useful tips…
Thanks for useful information
Nick Babich, thank you for sharing such valuable insights on research methods in product design! ??
Lead UI/UX Designer
3 个月Imagine you're on an island and want to reach another one there’s no one path. Similarly, in product design, each project is unique, and sticking to a single process won’t always get you where you need to go. Start by understanding both business goals and user needs, then adapt your approach based on what’s required for that specific project. Be flexible and willing to experiment, always keeping the destination in mind. This way, you'll create products that meet goals and stand out, just like finding the best route to another island.