Designer's Desk

User Research – Start with Yourself

September 20, 2010

in design,innovate

With a new project, it’s easy to jump in without even a second of reflection. We’re moving fast, but the deadlines always seem to move faster. Before you run off to read or create the scenarios, before you write the survey questions or determine what’s important, take a moment to look around…at YOUR environment. A key piece of empathy, understanding and articulating any audience is first reflecting on how you fit in to the picture. Experience design guidance always cautions us to not design for ourselves, but don’t let that interfere with your own self-ethnography.

I have started a Self Ethnography set on flickr, to get started. Now, I can begin the job of thinking about my daily motivations and behaviors based on the things I find meaningful, thus have around me.

Since it’s easy to transfer words like ‘tasks and goals’ into something robotic, I’ve phrased my ethnographic questions this way:

- What activities do I incorporate into my day that either has personal or professional meaning?

- What kinds of symbolic references or belongings do I find useful or help me derive a connection to others?

- Are there conscious or unconscious motivations for the things that I have in my work space?

- In regard to my daily routine, what’s missing from the pictures?
(For example, being outside helps me think through problems, but you could only gain that insight with contextual observation.)

Thinking about who you are helps improves empathy and awareness. Studying who you are gets you in the practice of inventoried, people analysis. If you’re doing self-study, I’d love to see it!

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