Design research is big these days, and if you've gotten into it, you know that it's more than just a buzzword—solid design research requires hard work and rigorous methodology. At the same time, because of the dynamic nature of the design discipline, it evades a handbook, making it all that much harder. Lucky for us, we know an expert: Steve Portigal, the principal of Portigal Consulting, is here to help. In his piece for our Hack2Work Special, entitled "5 Keys to Successful Design Research," he sheds some light on design research essentials. An excerpt:
3. Plan what you're going to do in the field Don't just wing it. Terry Gross prepares for her interviews, and you should too. Put together an outline of all the topics you might possibly cover. List all the photographs you want to get (i.e., close-up of the participant, master shot of their environment, the outside of their dwelling, participant with a relevant product, you in the field, etc.). Identify all the tasks you want to have demonstrated. Prepare a set of props to get reactions to. And figure out how the session should flow so you'll have enough time to cover what you're interested in.
>> Read the rest of Steve's piece here >> Check out more more shortcuts & advice from Hack2Work: Essential Tips for the Design Professional
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.