1.10 - Research, plan and evaluate

Research in the design process

• Research informs the design brief and specification

• Primary research: surveys, interviews, observations, product analysis

• Secondary research: existing data, standards, market reports

• Research should be focused on the target user and context

Planning

• Gantt chart — visual timeline showing tasks, duration and overlap

• Critical path analysis — identifies the sequence of essential tasks

• Work schedules — detailed day-by-day plans

• Resource planning — materials, tools, time, personnel

Evaluation

• Testing against the design specification — is each criterion met?

• User trials — real users test the prototype

• Comparison with existing products

• Identifying improvements for the next iteration

• Evaluation should be objective and evidence-based, not just 'I think it looks good'

Testing methods

• Destructive vs non-destructive testing

• Quantitative (measurable) vs qualitative (descriptive)

• Alpha testing (in-house) then beta testing (public)

• Peer evaluation and expert review