Tools to help you think, design, and act

Our research yields rich, tangible clues to and insights into the emotional, behavioral, and attitudinal dimensions of a given user experience. In order to ensure that the project insights are effectively absorbed and acted upon, we use a variety of tools (sometimes known as "deliverables") adapted to the needs of each project.

An Abundance of Shared Findings

  • Insights Workshop: At the end of a project, we come to you and hold an interactive session in which we share a set of rich, experiential insights with supporting visuals, insight cards, and reports. The goal of the workshop is to share core understanding and transfer foundational knowledge that will support short and long-term concept-generation and innovation efforts.
  • Data Review: After fieldwork and prior to our analysis phase, we run an interactive session in which stakeholders get immersed in the data and begin to explore initial themes.
  • Analysis Session: Data reviews can be paired with collaborative analysis sessions. These sessions explore emergent themes and early findings. They set paths and parameters for the final phases of the project.
  • Project Server (using EthnoHub, our software-as-a-service): Online project room for both researchers and clients. Shared repository for field data, session debriefs, documenting emergent themes, and developing the analysis. Perfect for distributed teams and to keep key stakeholders involved. Also used to manage and monitor participant diaries (text and/or visual).

Elements of the Insights Workshop

  • Presentation: in slide format with visuals to illustrate key themes, findings and implications.
  • Insight Cards: meant to spark design thinking and activities, these cards pair insights with visuals. Insight cards serve as design inspiration tools, highlighting the connection between users and activities, objects and interactions that are central to their experience.
  • Experience Framework: A descriptive and evaluative framework that captures and communicates the key insights that emerge from the research. The framework typically includes conceptual models, often in visual form. The framework acts as a lens to focus innovation efforts.
  • Opportunity Maps: Identification of under-supported areas of the user experience and of related opportunities for change. They show how to improve an existing solution, how to better meet a user need or desire. They can signal paths for the creation of new products and services. They help prioritize decision-making in design, marketing, and branding efforts.
  • Participant Profiles: Rich descriptions of people participating in the study, each described along key dimensions. Profiles support design thinking, and can be a basis for developing personas and scenarios.
  • Video Highlights: We select highlights of participant sessions to illustrate and concretize project findings.