User interviews

Question 1

Conduct user interviews

Answer 1

Collect supplies
Research the users.
Script interview questions.
Practice.
Build a rapport.
Thank users for coming.
Gather basic details.
Follow interview etiquette.
Ask open-ended questions
Highlight compelling quotes.
Document observations about participants.
Consider recording interviews.

Question 2

Collect supplies.

Answer 2

Create a checklist of items you’ll need for the interview, such as a computer, a printed list of questions, or paper and a pencil. If you’re using new equipment or technology during the interview, make sure you know how it works in advance.

Question 3

Research the users.

Answer 3

take note of their personal information before the interview
their name, demographic information, relevant experience with the product you’re designing, or details about how they learned about the interview
also screen participants on sites like LinkedIn to confirm they are who they say they are.

Question 4

Script interview questions.

Answer 4

It’s considered a best practice to keep interview questions fairly consistent across users, but this list of questions is just a guide. You can deviate from the questions you prepared, if necessary, to learn more about the user and their pain points.

Question 5

Practice interview questions.

Answer 5

Practice. It’s always a good idea to practice delivering the questions you’ll ask users before you conduct a real interview. This gives you time to make changes to the questions you’re planning to ask and helps ensure that the interviews run smoothly.

Question 6

Build a rapport

Answer 6

Making light conversation, like asking how the user’s day has been, can help establish a relationship before the interview begins. Simple questions and welcoming gestures can put the user at ease

Question 7

Thank users for coming

Answer 7

Before the interview begins, show gratitude to the people you’re interviewing for taking the time to meet with you and share their perspectives.

Question 8

Gather basic details.

Answer 8

remember to ask about basic information that’s relevant to the interview, such as their name or demographic details.

Question 9

Follow interview etiquette.

Answer 9

Speak in a clear and concise manner while asking questions, and remain professional no matter how users answer a question.
Show that you are actively listening while users share their perspectives, such as nodding, making appropriate eye contact, or writing notes.

Question 10

Ask open-ended questions.

Answer 10

Avoid asking questions that would lead to a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Instead, ask questions that start with “why.” For example, avoid asking “Do you like going to the library?” and instead ask “Why do you like or dislike going to the library?”

ask a follow-up question to get them to share more.

Question 11

Highlight compelling quotes.

Answer 11

Including quotes in your empathy maps is a great way to feature a firsthand perspective from a real user, which can provide valuable insight when you begin your designs.

Question 12

Document observations about participants.

Answer 12

It’s important to record not only what users say, but also their mood, expressions, body language, and behaviors. Pay special attention to outside factors, like a noise or distraction, that might skew interview responses. All of these observations will be important to consider when creating empathy maps.

Question 13

Consider recording interviews.

Answer 13

sk participants if they will allow you to record their interview. If they consent, recorded interviews can be really helpful later, for revisiting parts of an interview that you might not remember or taking additional notes after the interview concludes.

Question 14

Determine interview goals

Answer 14

Here are some examples of common research goals when it comes to empathizing with users:

• I want to understand the processes and emotions that people experience around the problem my product is trying to solve.
• I want to identify common user behaviors and experiences with tasks that my product is trying to address.
• I want to understand user needs and frustrations as they relate to the product I’m designing.

Question 15

Screener survey

Answer 15

A screener survey is a detailed list of questions that help researchers determine if potential participants meet the requirements of the research study.
Screening participants often requires collecting demographics, which are the characteristics of a group or individual. Demographics that you might ask about in a screener survey include:

• Age
• Geographic location
• Job title or industry
• Gender

For example, “In the spirit of inclusive design, we are asking these questions to make sure we’re reaching out to a diverse group of people.”

Question 16

Research participants

Answer 16

How and where you find research study participants depends on the company you work for, the type of product you’re designing, time constraints for the research, the project’s budget, and the accessibility of target users

Personal network.
Existing user base.
Online.
Hallway testing.
Third-party recruiting agencies.

Question 17

an incentive

Answer 17

. If you have the budget to provide an incentive to motivate or encourage people to participate in a research study, like a gift card,

Question 18

Interview Questions

Answer 18

Ask open-ended questions.
Keep questions short and simple.
Ask follow-up questions.

Question 19

empathy in UX design

Answer 19

Ask questions that begin with what, how, and why to gain a deeper understanding of your users’ perspective.

To help capture observations, you’ll take detailed notes or even record your sessions with users.

Be an active listener. Active listening requires you to fully concentrate on, understand, and remember what is being said by the user you’re interacting with.

It’s important to request input from a variety of sources and a diverse group of users.

As UX designers, we have to set biases aside to better empathize with others.