Short answer
When designing for long-term user engagement, move beyond the ephemeral nature of prototypes and aim to create 'research products' that feel more complete, contextually appropriate, and capable of independent exploration by users.
- Field
- Modelling
- Source
- Academic Publication (2016)
- Method
- Design Research Case Studies
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
The concept of a 'research product' offers a more robust framework than traditional 'research prototypes' for investigating complex, long-term human-technology relationships in everyday contexts. This modelling research insight is drawn from a 2016 study published in Academic Publication. Using Design research case studies, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for long-term user engagement, move beyond the ephemeral nature of prototypes and aim to create 'research products' that feel more complete, contextually appropriate, and capable of independent exploration by users.
Research Products: Evolving Prototypes for Long-Term User Interaction
The concept of a 'research product' offers a more robust framework than traditional 'research prototypes' for investigating complex, long-term human-technology relationships in everyday contexts.
Academic Publication · 2016
Key Findings
- 01Traditional research prototypes are often insufficient for studying long-term user engagement and complex human-technology relationships.
- 02Research products, characterized by being inquiry-driven, having a sense of finish, fitting into specific contexts, and operating independently, offer a more suitable model for this type of research.
- 03These research products enable deeper generative inquiries into how users interact with technology over extended periods and in everyday life.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing for long-term user engagement, move beyond the ephemeral nature of prototypes and aim to create 'research products' that feel more complete, contextually appropriate, and capable of independent exploration by users.
How to apply
When undertaking a design project that investigates how users interact with a product over weeks or months, consider building a more polished and contextually integrated artifact (a research product) rather than a purely functional, early-stage prototype.
Project actions
- 01Consider the longevity of your design's interaction with users when deciding whether to create a prototype or a research product.
- 02Think about how 'finished' your artifact needs to feel to elicit genuine long-term use and feedback.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a framework for studying complex, long-term user-technology relationships.
- +Offers a practical evolution from the concept of research prototypes.
Limitations
Achieving a high degree of 'finish' for a research product can be time-consuming and may require resources beyond a typical design project.
Reliability & validity
The validity of findings depends on the careful selection of case studies that genuinely embody the proposed qualities of research products and the rigorous analysis of the insights gained from them. Reliability is enhanced by the consistent application of these qualities across multiple diverse cases.
Think critically
To what extent does the pursuit of 'finish' in a research product risk prematurely closing off avenues for user innovation or unexpected use cases?
Design Principles
"For research exploring sustained human-technology interaction, prioritize the creation of 'research products' that exhibit a degree of finish, contextual fit, and user independence to facilitate deeper, long-term generative inquiries."
As design research moves beyond immediate usability to explore sustained engagement and emotional connection with technology, the methods for creating and evaluating these interactions must also evolve. Research products provide a tangible means to explore these deeper, more nuanced aspects of user experience over time.
What This Means for Your Design
Sometimes, just making a quick model isn't enough to see how people really use something over a long time. This idea suggests making a more finished, real-feeling 'research product' to better understand those long-term uses.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this concept when discussing the iterative development of your design, particularly if you move from early prototypes to more refined models for user testing.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The development of this design artifact was informed by the concept of 'research products,' which extend traditional prototypes by emphasizing inquiry-driven design, a sense of finish, contextual fit, and user independence. This approach was adopted to better investigate the long-term interaction and evolving relationship between users and the proposed design in its intended everyday context.
Source
Questions About This Research
- What does the research say about research products: evolving prototypes for long-term user interaction?
- When designing for long-term user engagement, move beyond the ephemeral nature of prototypes and aim to create 'research products' that feel more complete, contextually appropriate, and capable of independent exploration by users. Evidence: Academic Publication (2016).
- Why does "Research Products: Evolving Prototypes for Long-Term User Interaction" matter for design?
- As design research moves beyond immediate usability to explore sustained engagement and emotional connection with technology, the methods for creating and evaluating these interactions must also evolve. Research products provide a tangible means to explore these deeper, more nuanced aspects of user experience over time.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing for long-term user engagement, move beyond the ephemeral nature of prototypes and aim to create 'research products' that feel more complete, contextually appropriate, and capable of independent exploration by users.
- What were the main findings?
- Traditional research prototypes are often insufficient for studying long-term user engagement and complex human-technology relationships.. Research products, characterized by being inquiry-driven, having a sense of finish, fitting into specific contexts, and operating independently, offer a more suitable model for this type of research.. These research products enable deeper generative inquiries into how users interact with technology over extended periods and in everyday life.
- What research method was used?
- Design Research Case Studies.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2016 journal from Academic Publication.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When undertaking a design project that investigates how users interact with a product over weeks or months, consider building a more polished and contextually integrated artifact (a research product) rather than a purely functional, early-stage prototype.
- What are the limitations?
- The concept of 'finish' can be subjective and may vary depending on the research goals; the independence of a research product might be constrained by the research context.