Discover
Discover step list
Get to know the people you are designing for, understand their needs, and ground your work in real-world evidence.
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Choose your projects strategically
Which project, feature, or service offers the greatest measurable impact on our goals?
Use this tactic as the first step to select a project. To build momentum and demonstrate value, focus on initiatives that can deliver “quick wins” with tangible results.
Checklist
Identify initiatives.
Prioritize projects based on high public impact and visibility.
Workshop an impact/effort matrix to identify "quick wins.” Here are some helpful templates:
- Select projects with value and low investment.
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Set goals and expectations
What is the rationale for working on this project?
Use this tactic to establish a purpose. Before any design work begins, it is important to establish a shared understanding of the project's purpose.
Checklist
Define the problem statement with all stakeholders
- Problem Definition (ForGov Queensland)
Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals
- SMART Goals Fact Sheet - PDF (SAMHSA.gov)
Define key metrics to gauge success
- Testing and assessing success metrics (Digital.gov)
Plan the research
- Plan the research (DHS.gov)
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Choose and recruit participants
How do I find and involve the right people for our research?
Use this tactic as a guide to recruit research participants. This tactic is essential for identifying and recruiting people( with crucial perspectives and experiences.
Checklist
Define target participants (demographics, behaviors, needs).
- Building user personas (NN Group)
Develop a recruitment strategy (e.g., outreach, community engagement, compensation).
- Recruiting participants (DHS.gov)
- Recruiting participants (Digital.gov)
Recruit participants who represent diverse user groups.
Obtain informed consent from all participants.
- Informed Consent Requirements (NJ.gov)
- Getting informed consent for user research (GOV.uk)
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Understand your customers and users
What is the current experience of the people we are designing for?
Use this tactic to gather the evidence needed to understand people’s real needs.This tactic focuses on conducting foundational research to uncover user needs, motivations, and challenges.
Checklist
Conduct user research by interviewing people.
- Common Types of User Research (DHS.gov)
Develop a representation of the user.
- Understand your users (Digital.gov)
Develop an empathy map.
- Empathy Map templates (Miro)
Next up: Define
Gather your research and make sense of it.