[IxDA Discuss] Design research

[David Malouf]

On 5/9/07, Dan Saffer <dan at odannyboy.com> wrote:
> I'm not sure this is true. Vista: 3 years of user research. OS X:
> None. Just for one example.
>
> Research can improve our hunches, but it isn't a substitute for them.

Dan do you know there is ZERO research at Apple for OS X?
I severely doubt this. I know Apple is a big black box of secrecy, but
b/c it is a blackbox doesn't mean there isn't research going on.

Design research doesn't always mean user research. To me rapid
exploration and validation is an important form of design research
(vetting out hunches in a studio environment is crucial).

But taking on your point about hunches being valuable. I agree.
But that being said, internal teams in my mind need research just as
much as external teams. Why? b/c internal teams are often too heavily
influenced on hunches by those w/o empathy driving their opinions.
They are market driven information banks usually way too reactionary
to customer's manifest needs and have no concept of latent needs.

I think what I would rather say is that, don't be shy about your
hunches, but you should always validate them. Too many UX designers
today aren't taught about having strong opinions and going with them
and I think if anything that is a valuable lesson for them to learn.

-- dave


-- 
David Malouf
http://synapticburn.com/
http://ixda.org/
http://motorola.com/