An In-between Ludic Approach for UX Research: A Case Study

UX research is a still under-defined topic, in which a definite sense for both researchers and practitioners is to be found. In this context, we propose a UX approach to be introduced as an integrative educational method, useful to translate user studies results into indications for the future experience that users will have in relation to the designed product, service or installation. Our approach is based on an early and direct involvement of the user, the scope of which is about letting the designer get inspiration throughout the ideation process. It is imagined to stand in-between the explorational and generative phases of the design process, putting itself in an interstitial space between quantitative or qualitative research, ethnography and co-design, detached analysis and proactive cooperation. In this way, we are trying to go beyond the concepts of human-centred design, towards a design-driven research that makes UX methods and tools meaningful for the designer. The approach is described through a hands-on experience of a student’s thesis work and is purposed to set the beginning of a conversation for future developments.