Types of Observation

Observation is the first step of the IDEO design process. This is an attempt to understand the users through things such as behavior, pain points, and other experiences. Designers should be open to all creative opportunities. 

San Jose State University

Arizona State University

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

IDEO uses their design process to solve human centered problems with creative solutions that directly addresses user needs. Their design process is a never-ending cycle of improvements
- Observation
- Ideation
- Prototyping
- User feedback
- Iteration
- Implementation

IDEO Human-Centered Design Process

The contextual interview goes through multiple iterations of a 2 step pattern:
- Watch and learn.
- Stop and initiate discussion when the user does something you don’t immediately understand,  when you want to confirm an interpretation, or to allow the participant to validate or invalidate your understanding of the user’s mental model

Try to understand the underlying processes:
- Be aware of external resources being used.
- Ask about standard steps vs. extraneous or uncommon variations in their processes and the reasons behind them.
- Explain your interpretations of their tasks and workflow for the users to confirm or correct.

Contextual inquiry structure part 3: the contextual interview

Observation in IDEO

A simple prototype is created through the rapid prototyping phase of the process and receives feedback from the target users. This is highly important for user centered design. Without the user, it is just design.

User Feedback in IDEO

Using the feedback received in the last phase of the IDEO process, make changes to your original rapid prototype. This phase should be repeated more than once in order to produce the best design and the designers should return to the user feedback phase after each iteration. Once the design feels fine-tuned, it is time to move on to the next phase. 

Iteration in IDEO

Once the design has been finalized, it can be finally implemented into the product. After implementation, designers should again begin to observe users and restart the entire process once new points or ideas come to the forefront. Remember that the focus should always be on user needs. 

Implementation in IDEO

- IDEO Human-Centered Design Process
- Designing 

IDEO Human-Centered Design Process References

Ideation involves determining solutions to user problems that were discovered during the observation phase of the process. Designers should focus on the needs and desires of users in order to best address these points. 

Design Ideation in IDEO

Prototyping refers to a process in which a product or system is built. There are three types of prototyping: rapid, working, and finished prototype.

Prototyping in IDEO

User interview questions should elicit information about the user's experience with the environment, brand, etc. under study. They should be simple, neutral, and open-ended to avoid leading questions.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After