Can't Imagine User Research as the First Step

As UX designers, we are taught from day one that user research should always come first. Talk to your users, understand their needs and motivations, build empathy—these are the mantras we hear over and over. And there is no denying the value of user research in the design process.

However, I want to make the controversial argument that user research isn't always the right first step. In some cases, diving straight into design exploration can be equally or even more valuable. 

In this report, we will explore reasons why user research isn't necessarily the starting point in the UX/UI design process. By understanding these reasons, designers can make informed decisions about when to prioritize user research and when alternative approaches may be more suitable.

Especially in the early stages of a new product concept, users don't exist yet. You have an idea for something innovative and groundbreaking, but no sense of who might use it or how. In these situations, user research isn't really possible. If designing a product for a highly specialized profession or a geographically dispersed user group, it may be difficult to recruit an adequate number of participants for user research. The only way to start figuring out the user experience is through design exploration.

If the target audience is well-defined and the designers have a deep understanding of their needs, behaviors, and preferences, user research may not be the immediate starting point. For instance, if designing a product for a niche market with known user characteristics, designers can leverage their existing knowledge and expertise to create appropriate designs without conducting user research.

One significant factor that may influence the decision to delay user research is time constraints and project deadlines. In fast-paced projects with tight timelines, there may not be sufficient time to conduct extensive user research. In such cases, designers may need to rely on existing knowledge, industry standards, or past experiences to quickly generate design concepts and prototypes.

Not all user experience issues stem from a lack of user understanding. Some are the result of poor interaction or interface design. In these cases, prioritising research can cause the team to disproportionately focus on user needs when the real issues are around layout, flow, consistency, and other design elements. Tight feedback loops between design, prototyping, and testing often work better for resolving purely design-level problems.

In the initial stages of the design process, it can be beneficial to explore high-level concepts and generate ideas without being bound by user constraints. This exploration phase allows designers to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. Depending on the project, user research can be deferred until the concept exploration phase is completed, enabling designers to have a more open and creative mindset.

Another reason to postpone user research is limited resources, including budget and personnel. User research often requires significant investments to recruit participants, conduct interviews or surveys, and analyze data. Small-scale projects or projects with limited resources may need to prioritize other design activities before conducting user research.

While high-fidelity visuals should be user-tested, low-fidelity sketches and wireframes can also provide value. Testing rougher concepts allows you to get feedback on the overall flow and structure before investing heavily in visual design. And contrary to popular belief, users can react and provide useful feedback on fairly crude representations. Low-fidelity testing complements higher-fidelity and contextual user research.

It is crucial for designers to critically evaluate each project's requirements and constraints to determine the most appropriate starting point for the design process. By understanding these reasons, designers can prioritize alternative approaches when necessary, while still ensuring that user research is incorporated into the design process at an appropriate time. A balanced approach that combines user research with other design methods can help create successful and user-centered design solutions.

Overall, while user research may not always be the first step, it should still be recognized as a fundamental pillar of the UX/UI design process, ensuring that design decisions are grounded in user needs, preferences, and behaviors.