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    • Phase 1Observation
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    • Phase 2Creation
      • 6 Thinking Hats
      • 6-3-5 Brainwriting
      • Bodystorming
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      • Card Sorting
      • Challenge Assumptions
      • Click Dummy
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      • Crazy Eights
      • Dark Horse Prototype
      • Emotional Journey Map
      • Empathy Map
      • Focus Groups
      • How Might We
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      • Innovation Board
      • Jobs-to-be-done (JTBD)
      • Journey Mapping
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mind Mapping
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      • Personas
      • Poster Session
      • Product Love Letters
      • SCAMPER
      • Stakeholder Map
      • Storyboards
      • Surveys
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Testing
      • Value Proposition
      • Wizard of Oz
      • World Café
    • Phase 3Implementation
      • A/B Testing
      • Business Model Canvas (BMC)
      • Could, Should, Must
      • Innovation Board
      • Low-Fidelity Prototyping
      • Mobile Diaries
      • Product Love Letters
      • Storyboards
      • SWOT Analysis
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
    • Phase 4Validation
      • A/B Testing
      • Concept Testing Plan
      • Contextual Inquiry Plan
      • Hypothesis Testing
      • Innovation Board
      • KPI Tracking
      • SCAMPER
      • Surveys
      • User Interviews
      • User Stories
      • User Testing
    • About us
  • UXSD Team
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  1. UX Toolkit
  2. Methods
  3. Observation
beginnerobservation
ObservationReal insights from users in their natural environment.
30 - 180 min1+ Participantssoloreviewanalogue
+3
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Summary
Going to the users and taking a close look at their routines and regular environment can provide insights into hurdles and obstacles they are facing but not necessarily are aware of. This is a very intimate exercise in which you are required to stay in the background and not distract your participants from doing their tasks. It is important to let them feel as unwatched as possible.
Step-by-step
  1. Ask for a (written) recording permission. Since you might be recording sensitive material from their working environment.
  2. Remind your test candidates to work just like everyday. Remember to stay in the background.
  3. Take note of all performed tasks, problems, successes, and failures. It is important to observe the little details that are too subtle or maybe also too obvious to be recognized by the test candidates themselves.
  4. If you want to ask questions, try not to ask them in a way that interrupts their workflows. Instead, wait for a good moment (e.g. a break) to ask your questions.
  5. Review and interpret your notes afterwards. It makes sense to go through your documentation together with your test candidate and try to understand the background or context. Share these with your team and discuss your findings.
What you need
  • Camera
  • Pens
  • Paper
External resources
  • Research Methods: Observations (Sociology Theory & Methods)
    by tutor2u
Do you have a question?
These methods might seem simple, but applying them in a real project is another story. We’re there to help. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us at the User Experience Strategy & Design team.
Ask Away!
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SCAMPERcreation
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Mind Mappingobservation
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Empathy Mapobservation
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Poster Sessionobservation
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Present ideas, concepts, and insights in a visually appealing way.

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