12 methods
Methods
Techniques and approaches used in the projects, some with step-by-step guides.
Co-design
Co-design is a collaborative, participatory method where diverse stakeholders (e.g., end-users with lived experience), work together as equal partners to share experience and insights, sharing…
Critical User Forums
Workshops, forums and design session involving direct interaction between design teams and a mixed group of users with severe disabilities. Typical forums consist of roughly 4 - 7 people with…
Cultural Probes
The cultural probes are tailored packages of maps, postcards, cameras (they are increasingly replaced by smart phones) and other items given to users in local or remote test sites for their…
Focus Groups
Focus groups are used to gather raw data from people to identify user needs in the concept development phase. They can also be used for clarifying particular issues during a design phase and as an…
Individual interviews
One-to-one interviews provide information about individual actions and motivations that cannot be obtained in group discussions. An individual interview is a conversation between a researcher and a…
Mapping
Mapping is a method using (often visual) diagrams (e.g. concept mapping, mind mapping) to organise, structure, and understand complex information, often starting with a central idea and branching…
Mockups and Rapid Prototyping
This is a way of making realistic models/mock-ups/rigs/prototypes of product concepts quickly so that can be tested by the team, clients, and users. Rapid prototyping provides a convincing and…
Observation
Observation is a common method used by design researchers, through by watching and recording behaviours, sites/events, or phenomena in their natural or controlled settings, providing insights into…
Personas
Personas are user profiles based on research; they provide a synthetic, schematic description of users as the potential recipients of new design concepts. Personas are based on raw data collected…
Role Playing
To experience difficulties or problems faced by certain user groups, developers may role play those users. Also known as simulation, empathic research or empathetic experience, this form of…
Scenarios
Scenarios can be used to describe current or future use contexts. Scenarios illustrate stories that put the people who use or will use products and services in different contexts. Typically…
Workshops
Workshops are flexible collaborative sessions (can be organised in person or online), often between 2 hours to 2 days, using various tools (e.g., visual materials, worksheets, miro boards) to engage…