This method of design research is used to gain understanding of individual’s behaviours, habits, opinions and understanding of how a user interacts with other objects in a given environment. With this information we can identify their needs.The process consists of the researcher closely following an individual over a period of time whilst regularly noting their actions and asking frequent questions as to why the individual goes about tackling their tasks.
Pros –
- Helps confirm a choice or rule it out.
- Good form of primary research, find information out thats not already available.
- Researcher experiences the user, using the product in context.
Cons –
- Intrusion of users personal space.
- Disruption.
- One candidate might not provide enough information.
Examples:
- App developers might want to create an app aimed towards parents, so shadowing them could uncover other app opportunities.
- Design a mobile phone for use in an emerging economy. shadowing helps alert the need for a much louder device to handle the conditions on trains.
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