Lab+9


 * Tutorial 9 Wiki Questions:**

1. According to this chapter, discuss the importance of the progression from qualitative, generative research to evaluative research as part of their design challenge as part of the Hear: Goals system process. (200 words).

IDEO places importance on qualitative research. In the early stages of research, qualitative methods are used to gather and test information about the world. Qualitative research methods are especially powerful for analyzing the relationships between people, places, objects, and institutions. For designers to understand the problems at hand, qualitative methods are used in sample sizes. For instance, to gain a better understanding of which problems need new solutions, designers need to listen to the people being designed for and speak to them in specific circumstances. This is essential so that designers can create better solutions that better people’s quality experience.

The next important step in the design challenge is evaluative research. Designers use this method to evaluate and learn about the responses people had to their proposed ideas and solutions. These responses prove to be very helpful so that designer’s can tailor and revise their solutions to better suit constituent needs.

2. Explain why inclusivity of constituents in the Design Challenge is so important, and why the handbook states that recruiting appropriate and inspirational participants is critical, including "extremes". What is their recommended proportion for constituents? (Note that IDEO uses the word "constituents" instead of "stakeholders".) (200 words)

Inclusivity of constituents in the Design Challenge is critical. Special attention to gender, ethnicity and class balance are important to research. By including constituents, designer's can better design for them in ways that will enhance the quality of their experience.

For research meant to inspire new opportunities, IDEO finds it useful to find people who represent “extremes.” Extreme participants help to unarticulate behaviors, desires, and needs of the rest of the population; however, they are easier to observe and identify because they feel the effects more powerfully than others. By including all types of people on the spectrum in the Design Challenge, the full range of behaviors, beliefs, and perspectives will be heard even with a small number of participants. This is important in the later phases, especially in constructing good frameworks and providing inspiration for brainstorming.