Summary: Discovery is challenging; it can be hard to know what to research, how to do discovery as a team, and how to get buy-in. Follow these 7 tips for smoother discovery efforts.
Discovery is one of the most challenging parts of the design process because it’s filled with unknowns. The problem you want to solve is perhaps undefined, and many unknowns exist about who the users are and what they need. Team members may disagree on what they should explore. Additionally, there may be pressure to skip discovery and make a quick decision on what to build.
I’ll share 7 tips for running discovery efforts that ensure its success, build team morale, and ensure time is used wisely.
1. Secure Buy-in Before You Start
Before starting a discovery effort, team members and important stakeholders should understand what discovery is and why we do it . Without buy-in, discoveries can be cut short, not performed collaboratively or properly, or key stakeholders may not support the discovery outcome.