Understand the problem
before the solution.

Start with the situation people are in.

Discovery research explores how someone handles a problem today. The useful detail often lives in their recent experience: what triggered the task, which tools they used, and what they did when something got in the way.

This work can help a team refine a problem statement, examine a product assumption, or decide what deserves a prototype.

Questions worth exploring

• What makes this problem important enough to act on?
• How do people solve it today, and where does that break down?
• Who else is involved in the decision or workflow?
• Which assumptions are based on evidence, and which need testing?

How a study comes together

We begin with the decision, define a participant profile, and prepare a guide around concrete experiences. Interviews leave room for follow-ups and unexpected details.

AI can assist with guide preparation, transcription, and organizing excerpts. Interpretations still need a return to the source and careful consideration of alternative explanations.

What the work can produce

• A focused research brief and discussion guide.
• A synthesis of needs, behaviors, constraints, and recurring themes.
• Supporting excerpts with their relevant context.
• Implications for product exploration and unanswered questions.