ARTICLE SUMMARY: Design work is tough. It’s not easy to come up with creative solutions day in and day out. You need to change things up in order to stay out of that rut that you get into every once in a while.
A creative approach to user research problems involves thinking outside the box to gather insights about users’ needs, behaviors, and motivations. In other words you need to look at things differently.
“The creative approach to user research problems” by Lawton Pybus is a lesson on how to build a framework for generating, selecting, and refining novel ideas in UX work. His article explores
- Strategies for idea capture
- Group and individual brainstorming
- Taking ideas to maturity
Sometimes it helps to observe users in their natural environment to understand their workflows and challenges. Watching users without interacting with them can lead to gaining unbiased insights that were otherwise missed.
You can try conducting workshops where users can brainstorm and collaborate on solutions. You never know when involving users in the design process by having them sketch, prototype, and critique designs will shed light on unexpected problems or better yet, new solutions.
By employing these creative approaches, you can develop more user-centered solutions that truly address the needs and desires of your target audience. As Lawton says, “Mastering these brainstorming techniques can help you overcome logistical hurdles, develop insightful research questions, articulate compelling design recommendations, and consistently deliver innovative, thoroughly-vetted solutions. Regularly stretching these creative muscles will make you an indispensable member of any research team.”
This is an article well worth reading, let us know what you think in the comments.
