Starting out should be easy enough, the user is our number one priority, so your first thought is to focus on them? But someone mentioned we should never forget the business, so maybe you should do that first.
Ok, so business, then the user…
So the business. If I go by the list of options at my disposal, I have to talk to stakeholders, conduct workshops, do a competitor analysis, analysis of the current business model, identify the business strategy, lock down the company vision etc.
Simple enough. Now looking at identifying the user and their needs. You’re going to show them how you can create empathy with the user and really get down to their fundamental needs. In order to achieve that, you’re going to have to go full native and immerse yourself in their world…
Wait! Before you can do that, you maybe you need to identify who you want to study.
Ok, so now I know who the ideal audience is… should you focus on first finding out if your current audience fits that categorisation or should you identify what needs to be done to reach the target audience.
No worries, you just lay down a list of the user research methodologies at your disposal. You’re pretty sure they will help you discover everything, no worries.
Your list of activities now have to include user interviews, ethnographic research, demographic data, group workshops, usability test… um… we should setup some more workshops… and card sorting exercises… we have to put together user stories, personas, journey maps and user flows…
Ok ok, simple, it seems like a lot to fit in, but what’s a few months when you’re getting to really know you’re user?