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Design Thinking Interview Techniques

The document provides guidance for conducting interviews using a design thinking approach. It recommends that interviews be unstructured and focus on understanding the person rather than specific answers. Interviewers should come prepared with initial questions but be willing to pursue other ideas raised by the subject. The purpose of interviews is to understand user needs, actions, feelings and motivations to help design solutions. Interviewers should build rapport before beginning, ask open-ended questions, avoid closed or leading questions, let the subject lead the discussion, and probe for more in-depth responses.

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327 views2 pages

Design Thinking Interview Techniques

The document provides guidance for conducting interviews using a design thinking approach. It recommends that interviews be unstructured and focus on understanding the person rather than specific answers. Interviewers should come prepared with initial questions but be willing to pursue other ideas raised by the subject. The purpose of interviews is to understand user needs, actions, feelings and motivations to help design solutions. Interviewers should build rapport before beginning, ask open-ended questions, avoid closed or leading questions, let the subject lead the discussion, and probe for more in-depth responses.

Uploaded by

fretgru
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Interview Guide

Interviews that are used for a “design thinking” approach should be thought of as
somewhat social and unstructured. Such interviews may be less about finding specific answers
and more about understanding the person you are interviewing, exploring problems and ideas.
Come to the interview with a small set of questions but don’t feel that you need to ask all of them.
When a subject raises interesting ideas it’s good to leave your written questions to the side and
pursue your subject’s ideas.

Purpose
Interviews are a good way to understand your user and the issue you are designing for.
You want to understand a person’s needs, actions, feelings, and motivations so you can design to
meet their needs. Use the first interview questions as a way to get to know the person, then ask
questions about the issue you are trying to solve.

Don’t begin the interview right away. Be a good listener


Take a few minutes to build Express interesting what
rapport. Do introductions and they are saying. Think of
introduce the project. Let them your interview more as a
know that they are the expert and friendly conversation.
that you are not. Try to remain neutral — do not
approve or disapprove of what your subject says.

Ask Open Ended Questions


An open-ended question invites the subject to speak more freely. The use of certain
words can help you as you try to phrase questions that are open-ended. Using words
like “what,” “who,” “how,” “when,” and “where” will help you form better questions.
The use of “why” questions can be good but may also imply that you think there is a
correct answer — so use caution.
Don’t Ask Closed Questions
There are two general types of closed questions…
1 - A question in which the answers are provided as part of the question — e.g. Do
you prefer to use a pencil or would you rather use a pen?
2 - A question that evokes a simple “yes” or “no” answer — e.g. do you like to drink
coffee?

Avoid Leading Questions


Try to ask questions that encourage people to answer in their own way and according
to their own experience. Avoid asking questions that may evoke fear or that steer your
subject to provide the answers that you think you want.

Let Your Subject Lead


Get your subject talking about the topic you are interested in and then let them
talk. Often, by letting them talk they will answer many of the questions you
have brought and you may not even have to ask them. Additionally, your
subject may speak about concerns and ideas that you have not thought about. Let your
subject talk — 80% or more of the words exchanged in the interview should come from
them.

Probe In-Depth
The list of questions that you bring to an interview should be thought of simply
as starting points. As your subject shares their thoughts and answers to your
questions, encourage them to share more details and to expand on their
answers. Try to get deeper responses by asking them to “describe…,” or “tell me
about…” the ideas that they share with you. Let your subject’s answers guide the
discussion — and give you the opportunity to ask new questions along the way. Restate
their answers – “so what you are saying is…” this will help you to more clearly and deeply
understand their responses.

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