Exploring contexts
Exploring Contexts
Purpose and Outcomes
- Understanding the purpose of exploring contexts is to gain valuable insights into the problem area, stakeholders, and potential solutions.
- Outcomes from this exploration may include the identification of user needs, technical requirements, and any constraints or opportunities for design.
Problem Identification
- The first step in exploring contexts is identifying a problem that requires a solution.
- Designers use their understanding of the world, user needs, and technical possibilities to identify problems that can be solved by design.
- Robust problem identification involves considering the context, the resources available, and the needs of stakeholders.
Use of Research
- Research is an invaluable tool. This could include market research, interviews with potential users or subject matter experts, use-case studies, and environmental scans.
- The aim of research when exploring contexts is to gather evidence that will guide and inform the design process.
Stakeholder Identification
- An essential part of exploring contexts involves identifying the stakeholders related to the problem.
- Stakeholders can include users, clients, businesses, or any parties that may affect or be affected by the problem or the proposed solution.
- Understanding stakeholder needs, views, and limitations is fundamental to the success of a design project.
Uncovering Constraints and Opportunities
- Further exploration of contexts uncovers any constraints or opportunities related to the problem or solution.
- Constraints may be budgetary, legal, environmental, or technical and can have a significant impact on the project.
- Opportunities could include new technologies, favourable market trends, changing user behaviours, etc.
- Identification of both constraints and opportunities help shape the brief and the subsequent design process.
Contextual Factors
- Exploring contexts broadly means considering factual, sensory, emotional, and social aspects related to the problem and its impacts.
- Recognising these factors and how they might impact the project is a critical part of exploring contexts.
Reflection
- Constantly reflect on the insights gained from exploring contexts.
- Reflection can help identify missing information, reassess previously made assumptions, and determine the next steps in the design process.
By thoroughly exploring contexts in this way, designers can ensure that solutions are meaningful, user-focused, and have a high probability of success.