Explanation: The discovery phase is a crucial stage in any UX design project, as it helps to understand the user needs, business goals, and technical constraints of the problem1. The discovery phase typically involves various research methods, such as interviews, surveys, observations, and analytics, to gather data and insights about the users and the context of use2. The outputs of the discovery phase are artifacts that synthesize and communicate the findings and insights from the research. Some of the practices that should be considered for planning out the strategy for an upcoming discovery phase are:
- Gather insight from end users: One of the main objectives of the discovery phase is to empathize with the end users and understand their goals, motivations, pain points, behaviors, and preferences. This can be done by conducting user research, such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, or usability tests, to collect qualitative and quantitative data from the target audience3. Gathering insight from end users helps to validate the assumptions and hypotheses about the problem and the solution, as well as to identify the user requirements and expectations for the design.
- Establish the research plan and timeline: Before conducting any user research, it is important to establish a clear and realistic research plan and timeline. The research plan should define the research objectives, questions, methods, participants, and deliverables. The research timeline should specify the duration, frequency, and sequence of the research activities, as well as the deadlines and milestones for the deliverables4. Establishing the research plan and timeline helps to ensure that the discovery phase is well-organized, efficient, and effective, as well as to communicate the expectations and responsibilities to the stakeholders and the team members.
- Understand the problem before moving to solutions: Another key practice for the discovery phase is to focus on understanding the problem before jumping to solutions. This means defining the problem statement, the scope, and the constraints of the project, as well as identifying the root causes, the symptoms, and the impacts of the problem. Understanding the problem before moving to solutions helps to avoid wasting time and resources on creating solutions that do not address the real needs and pain points of the users, or that are not feasible or viable for the business or the technology.
The other two options, considering platform-based before custom solutions and determining user acceptance criteria, are not practices that should be considered for planning out the strategy for an upcoming discovery phase. Considering platform-based before custom solutions is a practice that belongs to the design phase, not the discovery phase, as it involves choosing the best solution option based on the user research findings and the design principles5. Determining user acceptance criteria is a practice that belongs to the testing phase, not the discovery phase, as it involves defining the criteria that the solution must meet to be accepted by the users and the stakeholders6.
References: UX Discovery Process: A Complete Guide, UX Research Methods: How to Uncover Valuable Insight about your Users, User Research: What It Is and Why You Should Do It, How to Create a UX Research Plan, Platform-Based vs. Custom Solutions: Which One to Choose?, User Acceptance Testing (UAT): A Complete Guide
For Cloud Kicks' upcoming discovery phase, the three practices that should be considered are:
A. Understand the Problem Before Moving to Solutions: Establishing a clear understanding of theproblem and what the desired outcomes are before beginning the discovery phase is essential for successful project planning. This can be done by gathering data and insights from end users, conducting research, and understanding how the problem is currentlybeing addressed.
B. Gather Insight from End Users: Gathering insights from end users is a crucial step in the discovery phase. End users provide valuable feedback and insights into the problem and how a potential solution may work. This feedback can helpshape the overall project plan and help identify potential solutions.
C. Establish the Research Plan and Timeline: The research plan and timeline should be established before beginning the discovery phase. This should include a list of tasks to be completed, the resources needed, and a timeline for completion. This plan should be communicated to all stakeholders so everyone is aware of the project goals and timeline.
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