Research Planning

Research is how we replace assumptions with evidence. This skill structures what you need to learn before committing to a design direction.

When to Use

• The design brief identifies unknowns about users, context, or behaviour
• The team is making decisions based on assumptions rather than evidence
• A design is being created for a new audience or unfamiliar context
• Stakeholders disagree about user needs

Process

Step 1: Identify Knowledge Gaps

Review the design brief and list:

• What do we know about the people who will use this? (Evidence-backed)
• What do we assume? (Believed but unverified)
• What do we not know? (Acknowledged gaps)