As a UX designer, it can be very easy to get caught up in designing things that are clever for the sake of being clever or that are designed to impress other UX designers rather than the end-user. But the truth is that UX designers don’t — or at least shouldn’t — work in a vacuum. That’s where the field of user research comes in.
In fact, user research should be a critical part of any project. It’s essential to engage with people who will be using your product and understand what their needs and wants are. It’s easy to conceptualise design ideas that you think people want, but until they’re tested in front of a real audience, it’s near-impossible to determine whether they actually have the desired effect.
What is user research?
Perhaps the most important reason for user research is that it allows UX designers to make design decisions based on real-world knowledge and data rather than simply making assumptions about the end-user. In turn, this gives new insights into the problem you’re trying to solve and creates a better understanding of who your customers are and what they want. Ultimately, it leads to a better product overall.
What are the benefits of user research?
There are a number of different benefits to user research. From a business perspective, one of the most compelling arguments is that it saves time and money in the long run. If you have real-world data and feedback, you can design accordingly — rather than creating a product based on a hunch and then having to reverse-engineer it.
User research shows clients who their customers are as opposed to who they think they are. Once they’ve built out this research, it can also be referenced as a benchmark for future projects and products while also informing approaches to marketing into the future.
User researchers and the questions they ask
So, what is a user researcher? Well, they’re a specialist who works in the field of user research in order to obtain the best possible data. Depending on the nature of the project and its completion stage, this can encompass everything from developing user experience research questions to large-scale, hi-tech testing with the general public. Eye tracking, heat mapping and first click tests are all common methods at this point, though the scope is broader still.
With that said, there are still a few fundamental questions that are always worth asking throughout the process. Some examples include:
Where do you start using this?
What do you think this does?
What are your first impressions?
How do you think someone would use this?
Where do you think someone would use this?
Discover more about user research with Bapple
User research is an investment in the overall betterment of your approach to UX design. So if you’re looking to discover more about the process and how we can help, why not get in touch with Bapple today? As a Sydney-based agency, we’re able to assist you with a variety of creative services.
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