When User Research Leads Design Astray

Abstract

User research in all its forms—from early ethnographic studies to late stage usability validation studies— undoubtedly can add value to any product design and development process. At its best, user research is tightly integrated with the design process, and designers and other team members eagerly seek out research findings to guide design decisions. At its worst, user research can hinder rather than help the efforts of the larger product design and development team—answering the wrong questions, providing misleading information, and focusing attention on issues that are not critical to product success. This can lead to friction between researchers and designers and other members of the product development team. This panel addresses the challenges of integrating user research into the product development process in a way that truly adds value, while suggesting ways to avoid common pitfalls that can result in user research leading designers astray.