User Research Guide for Cooperative Projects

Purpose of User Research

User research is a critical process for understanding user needs, behaviours, and pain points. By integrating research at multiple stages of design and development, organisations can:

1. Gain deep insights into user experiences and expectations
2. Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement
3. Validate or challenge assumptions about user needs
4. Inform design decisions with authentic user feedback
5. Ensure solutions truly meet user requirements

Flexible Research Activities

Adapt these research activities to suit your project's specific context:

1. Co-Design Group
   • We've found that recruiting a representative group between 4 to 8 people works well for us. Through our experience, this size allows for diverse perspectives while keeping the group manageable.
   • Host collaborative workshops that genuinely encourage participants to share their insights and shape key processes
   • Pro tip: For example, doing interviews with young people is quite different from working with organisations
2. User Interviews
   • Conduct one-to-one interviews during the discovery phase
   • While having a script is important, our experience shows that the most valuable insights often come from being flexible
   • Don't be afraid to go off-script! Sometimes the most profound insights emerge from unexpected questions or conversational tangents
   • We've learned that active listening and genuine curiosity are more important than strictly following a predetermined set of questions
3. User Testing
   • Can be conducted across different project phases:
     • During research/discovery
     • During design
     • After development
     • Across multiple project stages
   • Conduct testing in a way that provides meaningful insights
   • Iterate and refine feedback: It's crucial to keep refining the process continuously. Don't wait for all interviews to conclude before making changes. If you notice something important during initial interviews, be prepared to adapt your approach immediately

Ethical Research Principles

Recruitment Approach

1. Start by clearly understanding your users. Ensure you have a solid understanding of who you're designing for before beginning any testing
2. Collaborate with stakeholders to identify potential participants
3. Ensure that your approach is encouraging diverse group participation
4. Use clear, consistent communication strategies

Ethical Considerations

Always prioritise participant privacy. Key considerations include:

• Ensure you are collecting consent forms from all participants
• Provide clear, transparent information about the research process
• Sometimes compensation may be necessary. When offering compensation, carefully consider what is appropriate for the participants' time and contribution
• If you plan to use testimonials or share insights for PR purposes:
  • Ensure all materials are anonymised
  • Obtain brief approval from participants before sharing anything with their name or identifiable information

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User Research Guide for Cooperative Projects

Data Management

Research Documentation

• Synthesise information based on common themes
• Group feedback according to specific features or functionalities being tested
• Use digital tools for efficient note-taking and documentation (we primarily use Notion)
• It's always easier to book things through booking links like Calendly
• Create recommendation tables that highlight key insights across different feedback groups
• Translate user feedback into clear, actionable insights

Iterative Approach

• Treat this guide as a living document
• Continuously adapt based on your experiences
• Share learnings with your team and network
• Remain flexible and open to new research methodologies

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