After defining our problem, it was time to dive into the research phase. This stage was crucial for understanding our target audience and ensuring that our project would meet their needs effectively. To guide us through this process, we drew on various research methods including those outlined in InVision’s article on design research (4 types of research methods all designers should know | Inside Design Blog 2018). These methods provided a solid framework for gathering the insights we needed.
First off, Flis created a brilliant survey which we were able to get in front of our target market – primary-aged children and their families in flood-prone areas. The survey helped us gather essential data about their experiences, concerns, and current levels of preparedness for floods.
With the survey results in hand, we narrowed down our user personas. These personas represented typical members of our target audience, helping us keep their needs and perspectives at the forefront of our design process. Creating detailed personas allowed us to better understand who we were designing for and what specific challenges they faced.
To gain even more insight, we developed empathy maps for our key personas. These maps helped us visualize what our users think, feel, say, and do in relation to flood preparedness. By stepping into their shoes, we could design solutions that truly resonate with them and address their real-world problems.
During this phase, I found Brené Brown’s talk on empathy incredibly helpful. In her video (RSA 2013), she explains how empathy drives connection and understanding. These principles were applied within our research, aiming to connect deeply with our audience and understand their experiences from an empathetic perspective. This approach ensured that our solutions were not only practical but also genuinely supportive and compassionate.
A massive resource during this phase was the lecture with our client, which essentially turned into a discovery meeting. We were able to ask many questions and delve deeper into the issues at hand. This interaction provided valuable context and clarified the client’s expectations and goals for the project. Their insights were instrumental in shaping our approach and ensuring that our solutions would be both practical and impactful.
This comprehensive research phase laid a strong foundation for our project, equipping us with the knowledge and empathy needed to develop effective and user-centered disaster preparedness strategies.
