In a world where technology is at the tip of our fingers, it is funny how most products still don't match users’ expectations. We are in a digital age that advances every second. Yet, many users don’t feel excited when they can’t find the perfect product that meets their needs.
This frustration is common in the world of product design, where creating something that looks good isn't enough. It has to work well too. That's where user research comes in. User research is a critical aspect of UX design that involves understanding users' needs, wants, and behaviors to create products that work well for them.
User research is a process that helps designers put themselves in the shoes of their target audience to create intuitive and effective solutions. By gathering feedback and insights directly from users, designers can refine their designs and make sure they are meeting their users' needs. Product design is a wide field, and at no point should you place one step above the other. This is why user research is important to the simplicity of products.
This article will guide you on the key principles of user research in product design, including user-centered design, empathy, and observation, inclusivity, and accessibility. We'll also explore the best practices for conducting user research and the importance of this process in creating successful products. Whether you're a professional product designer or a beginner, understanding these principles will help you create products that your users will love.
What is User Research?
User research is like a detective investigation that tech companies do to figure out what people want and need. Imagine you're a detective working for Google, Facebook, or Amazon. Your job is to find out what their customers (the people who use their products) want and how they use the products.
To do this, you might ask questions to people who use the product (like a survey), observe how people use the product (like a spy), or conduct interviews with people (like a journalist).
For example, let's say your job at Google is to figure out how people use Google Maps. You might ask people questions like "How often do you use Google Maps?" or "What features do you find helpful?" You might also observe people using Google Maps to see if they get lost or if they have trouble finding a specific location.
This information helps Google understand how people use their product and how they can make it better. It's like a detective trying to solve a mystery - by gathering clues and evidence, you can figure out what people want and need.
Importance of User Research in Product Design
User research is really important in UX design because it helps designers understand the people who will be using their product. This means they can create something that will work well for the people who use it and will be more likely to be successful.
When product designers do user research, they talk to real people who might use their product. They ask them questions about what they like, what they don't like, and what they might want to see in the product. They might also observe people using similar products to see how they interact with them.
By doing this research, designers can get a better sense of what people need and want in a product. They can then use this information to create something that will be more likely to meet those needs.
A company that has used user research to improve its products is Google. Google regularly conducts user research to understand how people use their search engine and other products. For example, in 2020, they did a study to understand how people were using Google Maps during the COVID-19 pandemic. They used this information to make changes to the app to make it easier for people to find information about things like restaurant hours and COVID-19 restrictions.
Apple also relies heavily on user research to inform the design of its products. In one study, Apple discovered that users struggled with the multi-tasking interface on the iPad, which led to the creation of a new interface in iOS 15 that makes it easier to switch between apps.
Lastly, Amazon uses user research to improve the design of its e-commerce platform. Amazon found that users were more likely to purchase if they could see customer reviews, which led to the prominent display of reviews on product pages, and it worked out well.
User research is critical to creating successful products that meet the needs of users. By understanding people's behaviors and preferences, designers can create products that are more useful, enjoyable, and successful.
Objectives of User Research
User research is like asking your friends what kind of pizza they like before throwing a party. You are making sure that you have the right toppings on the pizza so that everyone at the party will be happy.
In product design, user research is about asking the people who will use the product, or finding out what they want and need from it. It helps designers understand what features are important, what problems need to be solved, and how to make the product easier and more enjoyable to use.
The objectives of user research are to gather information about the users and their needs, preferences, and behaviors. This helps designers make informed decisions about the design of the product so that it meets the needs of the people who will be using it.
User Research Methods
There are different ways to do user research in product design, but we can break them down into two main types: quantitative research and qualitative research.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is about collecting data that can be measured and analyzed with numbers. This helps us understand things like how many people like a product or how many people find a product easy to use.
There are two common methods of quantitative research in user research:
Surveys: These are questionnaires for people to fill out to give their opinions about a product. We can ask people to rate a product on a scale from 1 to 10 or to choose from a list of options to describe how they feel about it. We can then collect all of the answers and analyze them to see what people think about the product.
A/B testing: This is when a product designer shows two versions of a product to different groups of people and sees which one they like better. For example, they might show one group of people a website with a blue background and another group a website with a green background. With that, they can measure which group spends more time on the website or which group clicks on more links to see which background color is more popular.
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is about talking to people and getting their opinions and thoughts.
Here are three methods of qualitative research:
Interviews: This is where a user researcher talks to a user one-on-one to ask questions and understand their thoughts, feelings, and experiences about a product or service. Think of it like a friendly chat, but the user researcher takes notes to learn more about what the user thinks.
Focus Groups: This is where a group of people (usually 6-10) come together to discuss a product or service. The user researcher asks questions and everyone shares their thoughts and opinions. It's like having a group conversation where everyone can give their input.
Usability Testing: This is where a user is asked to use a product or service while a researcher watches and takes notes. The researcher will ask the user to perform certain tasks and observe how easy or difficult it is for them to complete them. It's like testing out a new toy or game and seeing how well it works.
Ethnographic Research
This research involves observing people in their natural environments, like their homes or workplaces, to see how they use products and what their needs are.
For example, if you want to make a new kind of backpack, you might go to a school and watch how students use their backpacks. You might see that they struggle to fit all their books inside, or that the straps are uncomfortable. This information can help you make a better backpack to meet their needs.
So, ethnographic research is a way to observe people in their everyday lives to learn about their needs and behaviors.
Key Principles of User Research
In product design, studying people's behavior and preferences to create products that meet their needs is the first step to creating a product. Here are some key principles of user research:
A. User-Centered Design: This means that the design process should start with the users' needs and preferences in mind. Designers should understand their users' goals, motivations, and pain points and create products that address these issues.
B. Contextual Inquiry: This involves observing users in their natural environment to better understand their behavior and needs. Designers should talk to users and watch them interact with products to gain insights into how they use them.
C. Empathy and Observation: This principle involves putting yourself in the user's shoes to better understand their perspective. Designers should be able to empathize with their users and observe their behavior to understand how they use products.
D. Iterative Design: This involves creating prototypes and testing them with users to get feedback and make improvements. Product designers should be open to making changes based on user feedback to ensure that the product meets their needs.
E. Inclusivity and Accessibility: This principle involves making sure that products are designed for all users, regardless of their abilities. Designers should consider accessibility features and design products that are easy to use for everyone.
F. Data-Driven Decision Making: This involves using data and analytics to inform design decisions. Designers should gather and analyze data about user behavior to make informed decisions about the design of their products.
G. Collaboration and Communication: This principle involves working closely with other team members and stakeholders to ensure that the product meets everyone's needs. Product designers should communicate with developers, marketers, and other stakeholders to ensure that the product is designed to meet everyone's goals.
Best Practices for Conducting User Research
Here are the best practices for conducting user research in UX design:
A. Setting Goals and Objectives: Before you start researching, it's important to know what you want to learn. So, set clear goals and objectives for your research. This will help you stay focused and get the most out of your research.
B. Recruiting Participants: Next, you'll need to find people to participate in your research. Think about who your target users are and where you can find them. Then, reach out to them and invite them to participate.
C. Creating Discussion Guides and Protocols: To make sure you ask the right questions during your research, create a discussion guide or protocol. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you cover all the important topics.
D. Conducting and Recording Interviews and Tests: Now it's time to conduct your research. This might involve interviewing people, watching them use your product, or having them complete tasks. Make sure you record everything so you can go back to it later.
E. Analyzing and Synthesizing Data: Once you've collected all your data, it's time to analyze and synthesize it. This means looking for patterns and themes, and summarizing what you've learned.
F. Communicating Findings to Stakeholders: After you've analyzed your data, it's important to share your findings with others on your team. This will help everyone understand what you've learned and how it will impact the design of the product.
G. Iterating and Refining Designs Based on User Feedback: Finally, use what you've learned to improve your product. Make changes based on user feedback, and continue to iterate until you've created the best possible design.
Conclusion
The first step to creating a product is researching. When user research principles are not followed, product designers risk creating substandard products that fail to meet users' needs and expectations, resulting in poor product adoption, negative user feedback, and low sales.
This can damage their reputation when trying to secure future projects. For users, they may encounter products that are difficult to use, confusing, or frustrating. Users may be forced to spend more time and effort than necessary to accomplish tasks or abandon the product altogether, leading to a poor user experience.
Product designers should know the key principles of user research will help them understand what users want and need through qualitative and quantitative research. This can help them create better products that people will love. Designers need to keep up with the latest research and technology to stay ahead of the curve.
In the future, we can expect user research to become even more important as technology continues to evolve.
The development of new tools and methods will help designers better understand their users and create even better products. Learn the dynamics of user research when you enroll for our bootcamp to learn product design, and if you need an agile team that will give you 100% value for your project, try BUX!