Evaluative Research Method

#UserCenteredDesignMethods #Methods

In addition to the 4 methods that served as the base for the Bicycle User Experience concept, this blog will be translating more human centered design methods to the context of street design for everyday biking. These blog posts are initial explorations.

The ninth new method we'll explore is Evaluative Research.

Evaluative research methods in the design fields are centered on testing with real users of the product that is in development (Hanington & Martin, 2012). A common method for doing this is User Testing (also called "Usability Testing" or "Product Testing"). We recommend the introduction of this method in the context of urban mobility in our free short course. The increasingly popular concept of Tactical Urbanism embodies the iteration and feedback that characterize evaluative research.

What: Testing of street design prototypes by everyday people in approximate conditions of real world use.

Why: Evaluate street design options early in the design process based on user data, allowing for iteration before expensive (and often permanent) implementation.

End Goal: An iterative street design process that is responsive to people’s practical needs and preferences. The chosen design is "field tested".

(Translated to the context of street design for everyday biking from traditional methods: Evaluative Research and User Testing; Inspired by Tactical Urbanism.)

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Want to learn about more people-centered methods? Enroll in our User Centered Design Methods Training or our online course User Experience for Inclusive Cycling in Cities.