Tool details
Guided Tour
Having one of the persons you are designing for giving you a walkthrough in their home, at work or a daily activity.
Tool category:
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When to use
When you want to learn about the people you are designing for.
Why you should
A Guided Tour in the context of the person you’re designing for can reveal their habits and values far better than talking to them on the street.
What you get
A look into your users life giving insights regarding their daily life.
Steps to take
Arrange with someone you’re designing for to get a Guided Tour of her home or workplace. Cultural and gender dynamics may come into play when you visit someone’s home, so be sensitive to those issues and make sure you’ve got full permission before your visit.
Come with just two team members, one to ask questions and the other to take notes. Pay close attention to the space that you’re visiting, the rituals you see there, what’s on the walls, who uses it, and where it’s located. All are key pieces of information.
Only take photos if you can get permission.
Ask lots of questions about the person’s habits and space. Why does she do the things she does? Who uses the space and where are things kept or why are things organised the way that they are?