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Research guidelines you won't find in a textbook

by Bryan McClain, December 3, 2011 | Comments

The most important concepts, like: 'Don't answer questions' rather gather information

We meet a lot of people who do user research, but don’t have a research background or extensive training in research. Sometimes they are UX designers or graphic artists at a company that doesn’t have researchers. Sometimes they are people in small startups who are looking for some indication of the right direction to take. Sometimes they are just people ...

Getting Good Intel: How User Research Can Go Wrong

by Bryan McClain, November 21, 2011 | Comments

By: Demetrius Madrigal and Bryan McClain

As we’ve discussed in previous articles, the belief that some research is better than none is not accurate. This month we’ll explore this belief and its possible consequences in depth. In much the same way governments use intelligence in making military or diplomatic decisions, user research provides the information that product designers and stakeholders need to make decisions. If a ...

Research Recruiters, Your Best Friends

by Bryan McClain, September 13, 2011 | Comments

By Demetrius Madrigal and Bryan McClain

Research is all about people, so it’s important to find the right people when you’re conducting user research. Whenever you’re trying to get accurate data about a product through a study such as a focus group, usability test, or expert interview, it is essential that your participants represent the larger population. To ensure that they do, you need to locate ...

The challenge of targeting late adopters

by Bryan McClain, August 16, 2011 | Comments

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Late adopters are more likely to tell you what they think you want to hear, rather than the truth

We’ve met with several startups recently that are targeting market segments in which there is a lot of room for growth. Some of these are representative of segments that are showing rapid adoption of more advanced technologies like smartphones and tablets. But some are targeting traditionally late adopters of technology such as older adults. It might appear that technology is ...

Do’s and Don’ts for Focus Groups

by Bryan McClain, July 5, 2011 | Comments

	By Demetrius Madrigal and Bryan McClain Focus groups have gotten a bad rap over the years as UX research has shifted away from this very traditional method of market research. But focus groups can be quite useful for UX research if we approach them properly. This month, we’ll talk about ways you can get the most out of focus groups and apply the method properly to ...
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The Myth of the One-Way Mirror

by Bryan McClain, June 9, 2011 | Comments

By Demetrius Madrigal and Bryan McClain

Since the early 1970s, professions such as user experience, market research, advertising, and law enforcement have been using rooms that have one-way mirrors—like the one shown in Figure 1—to enable direct observation of research participants—and suspects. For both user experience and market research, the main impetus for using a lab with a one-way mirror is being able to invite designers, ...

Guidelines for product usability testing

by Bryan McClain, May 23, 2011 | Comments

	This is not just a test - it's primetime When engaging in any form of product usability test, there are certain very important guidelines to keep in mind. One guideline that user researchers commonly overlook is testing with a version or mockup that is free of glitches, bugs, or known errors. In essence, you want what you’re testing to be ready for primetime. We have found it is very ...
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How Zelda paved the way for Zynga

by Bryan McClain, April 22, 2011 | Comments

Legacy technologies help pave the way for today's largest entertainment companies

Many of us remember playing Atari and Nintendo games growing up. If you asked any 30-something about what it was like to grow up as the video-game industry evolved, you would probably hear something like this: “When Nintendo came out, it changed everything. I loved playing Zelda and Mario and Excitebike.” The Nintendo gaming experience created a sense of excitement, ...

The dangers of design by user

by Bryan McClain, March 11, 2011 | Comments

Users design for themselves, and don't always know what they want

In last month’s column, we talked about ways to include users in the design process by employing Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs). While it is always advisable to understand the user perspective, there are certain dangers that are associated with an overreliance on user input. As we’ve mentioned in the past, improperly conducted user research can be a liability that could lead ...

Subject-matter experts

by Bryan McClain, February 15, 2011 | Comments

Putting users at the center of the design process

This month, we’ll discuss the process of putting users at the center of the design process and what that means in regard to both design and product strategy. We’ll also discuss some different approaches to a user-centered design process that we’ve come across and outline their positives and negatives. Finally, we’ll outline the steps necessary to make user-centered design a ...

The future of user interaction

by Bryan McClain, January 7, 2011 | Comments

New technologies that have the potential to change the way we interact with tech and the world

(Demetrius Madrigal co-wrote this piece) We think it’s appropriate to kick off the new year with an examination of what the future holds for user experience and product development. To stay ahead of the curve when it comes to user research and UX design, we must keep in mind the new technologies that are currently under development and could influence ...

Getting the most out of the freemium model

by Bryan McClain, December 13, 2010 | Comments

Keep in mind: Bait the hook and schedule reinforcement and potential pitfalls

Freemium business models seem to be gaining in popularity and rapidly becoming a dominant factor in the success of Web startups. Massively successful social-gaming companies like Zynga and Playdom have had a role in driving their adoption. These companies have been able to grow quickly and make substantial revenues through a combination of ad sales and charging small amounts of ...

Lessons on usability for mobile devices

by Bryan McClain, October 14, 2010 | Comments

Accomplish lightning-fast engagement is essential to the success of a mobile app

The mobile space is the new Wild West of technology. Much like the Web during the 1990s, mobile is the new domain at the forefront of innovation. Users are discovering new capabilities, integrating them with their daily lives, and experiencing new interaction models. The tech equivalent of indie bands, independent developers—working solo or in small teams—can create innovative new software ...

So, you want to do user research

by Bryan McClain, June 8, 2010 | Comments

	Characteristics of great researchers One of the best things about user research is that anyone can do it. On the other hand, it takes real commitment and a lot of personal development to do user research well. People commonly assume that research is research—and doing any kind of research is better than doing none at all. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Not all ...
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Dealing with risky and safe assumptions

by Bryan McClain, April 6, 2010 | Comments

If not managed properly, they can definitely lead a project down the wrong path

One of the most important aspects of product development is the process of predicting the behavior of a product’s intended users. I’ve participated in "ideation" sessions with companies where designers, user researchers, and engineers were making major assumptions about what users would and wouldn’t be willing to do with their product, without performing any research. Of course, assumptions are important ...

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Bryan McClain
Co-founder and Managing Partner
Metric Lab (Owner)

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