[IxDA Discuss] Design research

[Jeffrey D. Gimzek]

On May 9, 2007, at 10:53 AM, Jeff Howard wrote:

> Not every project requires full blown ethnographic research, but I
> think some outside perspective is always valuable. Could I get by
> without it? Probably. Then again, it's easy to assume you know a
> domain better than you really do. User research really shines when it
> uncovers the unknown unknowns--what Boorstin called a Negative
> Discovery. Even when research only confirms what you already know, it
> puts you on more even footing with the client--to Dave Cronin's
> point, to defend design rationale.


I'd have to concur with Jeff here, especially about the "Negative  
Discovery" aspect.

It is very hard to know what you don't know you don't know (as even  
Don Rumsfield admits).

I have rarely been through a research phase that didnt reveal to me  
and my team some sort of off the chart idea or aspect that we had  
completely overlooked.

That being said, however, I do see Dan's point, and live through it  
quite often.

In smaller freelance projects, often there is NO research budget, and  
so I fly by the seat of my [very experienced] pants.

Usually this means that I rely on my own user oriented preferences -  
as I am, of course, a long term digital media user.

to quickly draw my own conclusion:

Research may not always be required or necessary, but it is never  
useless, and always helps improve the end product in some way.

jd





--

Jeffrey D. Gimzek
Digital Experience Creative

www.jdgimzek.com
thundercougarfalconbird.blogspot.com