Design Research

By Maria Irum
Topic: Case Study and Field Study
What are Case Studies in Design
Research
 In design research, case studies are a powerful method to
deeply explore specific instances, products, projects, or
systems to draw insights that can inform future design
decisions. Case studies help designers understand real-world
applications, successes, failures, and contexts.
• A case study is an in-depth, contextual investigation of a
particular design project, product, service, or system.
• It explores how and why the design worked (or didn't), and
what lessons can be learned.
Selecting Relevant Case Studies

Choosing the right case studies is critical for meaningful findings. Here's how:
Selection Criteria
• Relevance to Research Questions:
• Pick cases that directly relate to your design research focus (e.g.,
accessibility design, sustainable materials, UI/UX innovation).
• Diversity and Variety:
• Sometimes it’s beneficial to study different types of cases — successful,
average, and failed projects — to get a full picture.
• Context Similarity:
• Choose cases operating in similar contexts (cultural, geographical,
economic) if you want direct applicability.
•Availability of Data:
•Select cases where you can access sufficient information —
documentation, user feedback, designer interviews, etc.

•Innovativeness or Uniqueness:
•Cases that are groundbreaking or approached the problem
differently can offer richer insights.
Types of Case Study Selection

• Single Case Study:

• Deep dive into one case for detailed understanding.
• Multiple Case Studies:
• Compare and contrast across several cases to find broader
patterns.
• Critical Case Study:
• Study a particularly extreme or unique case to gain powerful
insights
Analyzing Case Study Findings
Once data is gathered, analysis turns raw information into actionable insights.

Steps in Analysis
• Organize the Data:
• Sort interviews, observations, and documents into categories (themes,
stages, challenges).
• Identify Key Themes and Patterns:
• Look for recurring ideas, decisions, problems, and solutions across the
data.
• Use Analytical Frameworks:
• Apply design-specific lenses (like user-centered design principles,
sustainability frameworks, usability heuristics) to guide analysis.
•Compare Expected vs. Actual Outcomes:
•Assess how the final design matched the original goals and
what deviations occurred.

•Develop Insightful Narratives:

•Tell a coherent story that not only explains what happened
but also why it happened that way.

•Cross-Case Analysis (if multiple cases):

•Compare findings across cases to find patterns, differences,
and general principles.
Techniques Used
• Thematic Analysis:
• Coding and categorizing data into major themes.
• SWOT Analysis:
• Analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in
the design.
• Root Cause Analysis:
• Tracing back problems to their core causes.
• Visual Mapping:
• Using flowcharts, journey maps, or timelines to visualize
processes and decision points.
Field Study and User Research in Design
Research
 In design research, field studies and user research are
critical to grounding design solutions in real-world
user behaviors, contexts, and needs. These methods
help designers move beyond assumptions and base their
work on actual user experiences.
1. Conducting Field Studies for Design

• A field study is a research method where designers

observe and interact with users in their natural
environments — homes, workplaces, public spaces, etc.

• The goal is to understand users in context, capturing real

behaviors, challenges, and emotions that might not
emerge in lab settings.
 Steps to Conduct a Field Study
Step Description
What do you want to learn? (e.g., How users
Define Objectives
interact with public kiosks)
Choose environments where the activity
Identify the Setting
naturally occurs.
Find users who genuinely represent the target
Select Participants
audience.
Get permissions, schedule visits, and prepare
Plan Logistics recording tools (notebooks, audio recorders,
cameras).

Observe and/or interview users without

Data Collection
interfering too much. Take detailed notes.

Organize findings, look for patterns, and

Data Analysis
generate insights relevant to design.
Key Features of Field Studies

• Conducted on-site (not in artificial lab conditions).

• Focuses on contextual behaviors (how environment
impacts usage).
• Often exploratory and open-ended.
• Involves direct observation, sometimes combined with
interviews.
2. Observational Research Techniques

Observation is a core technique during field

studies. There are different ways to observe
users depending on the research goal.
Types of Observational Research
Technique Description
Watching users without participating. Taking
Direct Observation
notes on actions, expressions, context.
Researcher actively participates while
Participant Observation observing (e.g., using a system alongside
users).
Following users closely as they move
Shadowing through tasks or spaces to see their
workflow.
Discreet observation without interacting with
Fly-on-the-Wall Observation participants, minimizing researcher's
influence.
Observation combined with interviewing;
Contextual Inquiry users explain what they're doing as they
work.
Tips for Effective Observations

• Be Unobtrusive: Minimize your influence so behavior

stays natural.
• Record Small Details: Environment, facial expressions,
pauses, frustrations, body language.
• Use Field Notes and Sketches: Capture layouts, flows,
and user interactions visually if possible.
• Stay Neutral: Avoid making judgments during
observation.
3. Understanding User Needs Through Research

User research focuses on discovering what users want, need,

expect, and experience — essential for human-centered design.
How User Research Helps Understand Needs
• Identify Pain Points: What problems do users face currently?
• Reveal Unspoken Needs: Needs users might not verbalize but
are shown through behavior.
• Understand Goals and Motivations: What users are trying to
achieve.
• Capture Emotional Responses: How users feel about tasks,
products, or experiences.
Methods to Understand User’s Needs

Method How It Helps

Directly ask users about their experiences,
Interviews
frustrations, and desires.
Gather broader data on user preferences and
Surveys/Questionnaires
behaviors.
Summarize findings into fictional yet realistic
Persona Development
user profiles.
Visually map what users say, do, think, and
Empathy Mapping
feel to understand their experience.
Break down user tasks step-by-step to see
Task Analysis
where improvements are needed.
Plot a user’s experience over time to find
Journey Mapping
critical moments of delight or frustration.
Thankyou