UX upfront: pre-design research for product success

Usability testing is often the first thing people think of when asked about UX research. But testing a completed product, design, or prototype for usability issues can only occur after some design work has been completed, and there are many types of research activities that can contribute to a design’s success before it even begins.

Pre-design research to ensure product success

It is convenient to think of design research occurring across three phases of product development — pre-design, pre-development, and post-development. In any stage of product development, all research activities should be motivated by a specific research goal. While research goals can be easier to define in later product stages, upfront work is also goal-driven, although the goals are often more broadly defined. Specific research goals will probably focus on defining or refining a problem statement, identifying and understanding a target market, and specifying the scope of initial product releases. Ultimately, research goals at this stage of product development center around fundamental questions of what to build and who to build it for.

Here are some common goals for research occurring near the start of the product lifecycle

Define problem — what problem does your product solve, for who, and why is it not…