One of the most complex challenges I had when I moved to designing for startups was adapting user research to the fast-paced environment.
User research is often crucial here: when you only have limited resources, you must create products your users want or need.
But getting access to users, not to mention testing and doing analysis can be a big challenge, especially with the amount of time you’re given. It can feel like the team is sprinting down a path as fast as possible, so you don’t get weeks to get user research done; you have days.
So, how can you make user research work in those environments? I figured out three methods to speed up the process through Data-Informed Design.
As it turns out, it often starts with ‘avoiding the spreadsheet.’
Avoid the (text) spreadsheet and focus on the 10,000 ft view
You may have been taught to compile your user testing results into a giant spreadsheet: I know I was.
This massive spreadsheet of data details each user’s response to questions and actions, allowing you to cross-reference user actions and eventually form a report.