The beginning of this weeks lecture was centred around the importance of being interested about many things as a designer:
“First, there was no subject under the sun in which he could not easily get interested – from, say, Egyptian burial customs to modern art. Every facet of life had fascination for him…” — James Webb Young
Being curious as a designer is incredibly important. With a curious mindset, you are always open to learning new things and exploring different perspectives. This can lead to better understanding of the users you are designing for and their needs, resulting in more effective and innovative designs. A curious designer is never satisfied with the status quo, but constantly seeks out ways to improve and innovate.
What is UX Research and What Does a UX Researcher Do?
In User Experience (UX) design, design research is a crucial step that involves a systematic investigation of users and their requirements. The objective of this investigation is to gather valuable context and insights that can inform and enhance the design process.
The methods used in design research can vary widely, such as user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and observation. User interviews provide direct interaction with users, allowing for an in-depth understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Surveys provide quantitative data that can help identify patterns and trends among a larger user base. Usability testing allows designers to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of their designs by observing users as they interact with the product. Observations can provide real-world insights into how users interact with a system in their natural environment.
These research methods help UX designers understand user behaviours, needs, and motivations on a more profound level. The gathered data is then analysed thoroughly. This analysis can reveal valuable insights such as user pain points, preferences, and behaviours that may not have been apparent without research.
These insights are then used to guide the design process, ensuring that the final product is user-centric. This means the design will specifically aim to solve the problems users are facing, doing so in an intuitive and efficient way that enhances the user experience.
We can additionally divide UX research into two approaches:
<aside> ⭐ REFLECTION: Design research is something that I have always had a keen interest in. It always seemed the most logical approach to design for me. I always like there to be a certain degree of purpose in what I am designing, which I gain from thorough user research. Where user research is absent, it only leads to biased and potentially useless design outcomes. It is extremely important for designers to consider and interact with real users of the product to understand some of the essential needs in the final outcome.
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Needs Driven Design is a design approach that places the users' needs at the centre of the design process. It is about understanding and addressing the needs that users have when they use a product or service. These needs can range from functional needs, such as the need for a product to perform a specific task, to emotional needs, such as the need for a product to make the user feel a certain way.
In order to successfully implement a needs driven design approach, it is essential to conduct thorough user research. This research can help designers understand the users' needs, preferences, and pain points. This understanding then informs the design decisions, with the aim of creating a product or service that meets the users' needs in the best possible way.
It is also important to remember that needs driven design is an ongoing process. Users' needs can change over time, and the product or service should evolve to continue meeting those needs. This means regularly revisiting user research and being open to making changes based on what the research reveals.