IB Grade 8 Product Design | Unit 2: User Research & Problem Definition by Prakhar Chauhan | Learn Smarter
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Unit 2: User Research & Problem Definition

Unit 2: User Research & Problem Definition

The unit explores the critical processes of user research and problem definition, focusing on methods like interviews and surveys, persona creation, and journey mapping. It emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs through ethical practices, effective interviews, and measurement metrics to ensure designs address real issues. Clear problem statements and SMART success criteria provide pathways for impactful design outcomes.

39 sections

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Sections

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  1. 1
    Conducting Effective Interviews And Surveys

    This section explores the dual methodologies of interviews and surveys to...

  2. 1.1
    Research Planning And Ethics

    This section lays out the foundational elements of effective research...

  3. 1.1.1
    Defining Clear Objectives

    This section outlines the importance of setting clear objectives in user...

  4. 1.1.2
    Ethical Considerations

    This section emphasizes the importance of ethical practices in user...

  5. 1.2
    Interview Methodologies

    This section covers various interview methodologies used in user research,...

  6. 1.2.1
    Structured Interviews

    Structured interviews involve predefined questions asked in a consistent...

  7. 1.2.2
    Semi‑structured Interviews

    Semi-structured interviews combine predefined questions with the flexibility...

  8. 1.2.3
    Unstructured Interviews

    Unstructured interviews are open-ended discussions that provide rich,...

  9. 1.2.4
    Crafting Effective Questions

    This section emphasizes the importance of structuring effective questions in...

  10. 1.2.5
    Interview Logistics

    This section outlines the logistical considerations for conducting user...

  11. 1.2.6
    Analyzing Interview Data

    This section outlines the key methodologies for analyzing interview data,...

  12. 1.3
    Designing Comprehensive Surveys

    This section delves into the creation of effective surveys for user...

  13. 1.3.1
    Question Design Principles

    This section covers essential principles for designing effective survey...

  14. 1.3.2
    Common Question Types

    This section outlines different types of survey questions used in user...

  15. 1.3.3
    Sampling And Bias Mitigation

    This section discusses key strategies for sampling in surveys and methods to...

  16. 1.3.4
    Survey Administration

    This section focuses on the practical aspects of survey administration,...

  17. 1.3.5
    Data Cleaning And Analysis

    This section addresses the critical processes of data cleaning and analysis,...

  18. 2
    Developing Personas And Mapping User Journeys

    This section covers the creation of personas and mapping user journeys to...

  19. 2.1
    Advanced Persona Creation

    Advanced persona creation transforms user data into detailed representations...

  20. 2.1.1
    Elements Of A Robust Persona

    This section outlines the key components necessary to create effective user...

  21. 2.1.2
    Empathy Mapping Workshop

    The empathy mapping workshop provides a structured method to synthesize user...

  22. 2.1.3
    Persona Example

    This section presents an example of a user persona, illustrating how to...

  23. 2.2
    User Journey And Service Blueprinting

    This section discusses the importance of mapping user journeys and creating...

  24. 2.2.1
    Emotional Journey Curves

    Emotional Journey Curves help analyze user emotions throughout their...

  25. 2.2.2
    Service Blueprint Components

    Service blueprinting involves mapping user actions, frontstage, backstage...

  26. 2.2.3
    Creating A Detailed Journey Map

    This section focuses on the process of creating detailed user journey maps...

  27. 2.2.4
    Example Snippet 1

    This section illustrates an example of user actions within a mobile app...

  28. 3
    Writing A Clear And Focused Problem Statement

    This section teaches how to formulate clear and effective problem statements...

  29. 3.1
    From Symptoms To Root Cause

    This section introduces the 5 Whys technique for identifying root causes of...

  30. 3.2
    Crafting The Statement

    This section focuses on creating clear and effective problem statements by...

  31. 3.3
    Refinement And Validation

    This section focuses on refining and validating problem statements through...

  32. 4
    Establishing Measurable Success Criteria

    This section covers how to define measurable success criteria essential for...

  33. 4.1
    Smart Goals Revisited

    This section focuses on the importance of SMART goals in defining measurable...

  34. 4.2
    Defining Kpis And Okrs

    This section defines and distinguishes Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and...

  35. 4.3
    Setting Baselines And Data Collection Plans

    This section emphasizes the importance of establishing baselines for...

  36. 4.4
    Advanced Success Criteria Examples

    This section outlines the importance of establishing measurable success...

  37. 5

    This section reinforces the importance of thorough user research and precise...

  38. 6

    This section presents essential terminology relevant to user research and...

  39. 7
    Activities And Exercises

    This section outlines various interactive activities and exercises to...

What we have learnt

  • User research encompasses both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand user needs.
  • Creating personas and journey maps fosters empathy and guides design towards solving user issues.
  • Well-defined problem statements and measurable success criteria are essential for effective product development.

Key Concepts

-- User Research
The process of gathering data directly from users to inform design decisions, involving both qualitative and quantitative methods.
-- Ethical Considerations
Guidelines ensuring user confidentiality, informed consent, and voluntary participation in research activities.
-- Persona
A fictional character representing a user type, created based on user research to help designers empathize with target audiences.
-- Journey Mapping
A visual representation of the user experience that identifies touchpoints and emotional responses throughout the user’s interaction with a product.
-- SMART Goals
A framework for setting clear, measurable, and achievable goals to gauge the success of a project.
-- 5 Whys
A root-cause analysis technique that involves asking 'Why?' repeatedly to drill down into the underlying reasons for a problem.

Additional Learning Materials

Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.