Foundational Research
Early Stage Products
1 - 2 Months
Discovery Research
Scope Definition
Competitors' Insights
Foundational research focuses on understanding the problem space and the user experience before design solutions are created.
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Foundational research is critical at the early stages of a new project or when expanding into new product areas, providing a solid base for design decisions. This research is exploratory and iterative, and uses a mix of methodologies to gain a well-rounded understanding of the scope of the problem. It normally consists of qualitative approaches such as user interviews, workshops, market research and competitor analysis, and aims to uncover design and business opportunities.
Value
— What will this research bring?
Market Insights
Trend Analysis
Design Opportunities
Competitor Analysis
Who is it for?
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Early stage products — organisations that are starting to develop a product and need insights from the market, the competition, and the users in their segment
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Product expansion — organisations planning to expand their product offerings and in need of market and product clarity
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Uncovering new needs — Organisations that need to dive deeper into the market to uncover new needs, trends and opportunities for growth
How I work
1 / Understanding the problem / opportunity
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Introductory onboarding call / briefing
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Stakeholder meeting / workshop
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Understanding product goals, strategy and roadmap
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Gathering existing needs
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Identifying competitors
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Agreement on deliverables and reporting
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Timeline definition
2 / Preparing the research
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Analysing previous research
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Research plan
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Recruiting participants (if needed)
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Interview / workshop guides
3 / Conducting the research
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Competitor analysis
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Market and trend analysis
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Interviews / focus groups / card sorting / task analysis
4 / Delivering the research
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Opportunities for growth
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Market and competitors' insights
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Trend highlights
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Key user segment needs