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There might be 2 fundamental forms of design research:
1) What IS?
2) What IF?
You need both, in interplay.
But don't mix them up.
1) What IS?
2) What IF?
You need both, in interplay.
But don't mix them up.
WHAT IS
We can find out what people are doing at the moment.
We can gain ever deeper understanding of the world as it is.
We can get lots of valuable clues about possible opportunities and pains, dreams and risks.
We can find out what people are doing at the moment.
We can gain ever deeper understanding of the world as it is.
We can get lots of valuable clues about possible opportunities and pains, dreams and risks.
WHAT IF
None of our WHAT IS research can predict the future.
When we launch a thing into the world, we’re hoping to change the world. We want to perturb the system.
We hope the result is a better future ... but we can't be certain of anything except unintended consequences.
None of our WHAT IS research can predict the future.
When we launch a thing into the world, we’re hoping to change the world. We want to perturb the system.
We hope the result is a better future ... but we can't be certain of anything except unintended consequences.
WHAT IS can be somewhat static and stable.
WHAT IF is a moving target – adaptive and iterative, with feedback loops.
Use each appropriately, but don't mistake one for the other.
Lots of research methods can be used in both ways, but we learn different things depending.
WHAT IF is a moving target – adaptive and iterative, with feedback loops.
Use each appropriately, but don't mistake one for the other.
Lots of research methods can be used in both ways, but we learn different things depending.
