Design Firm Market Research

The Rise of Innovation and Design Firms

The term “innovation” only came into everyday use at the start of the twentieth century. Since then, it has become symbolic of contemporary society. Dedicated innovation and design firms are one of the features of modern business. Some larger firms offer these services as part of management consulting. Others select either innovation or design as their only focus. They provide expertise in this essential area.

Design firms help companies create new products. They develop prototypes that they can test through market research. These firms help to create an unlimited range of products. From home appliances to furniture to pet supplies, they have it covered. They help with the invention, patenting, branding, and packaging. They also do mechanical design, engineering, and product testing.

Design firms often use storytelling to communicate consumer insights to their clients. Telling the story of a brand is a critical part of building it. Science has confirmed an innate desire in humans for stories. A good story is universal, and it makes consumers feel something. Forbes has dubbed storytelling “the new strategic imperative of business.” According to author Seth Godin, marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make. It is about the stories that you tell.

Design Firms Need Qualitative Market Research

Design firms use Ethnography, a form of Qualitative Research, to gain design insights. Design Ethnographers visit participants to observe and interview them. With Design Ethnography, the researcher does not only ask people what they want. He or she also tries to find out why people desire those things. They answer questions like, what goals are users trying to achieve? How do they do it at present? What parts do they like or dislike?

Another form of Qualitative Research that design firms use is Focus Groups. These groups tell the designers what they like or dislike about their product. It’s best to observe these groups in real-life situations. For example, don’t show participants an artist’s rendering of the design concept. Instead, let them look at a prototype of the product. After that, all the researchers need to do is to ask the right questions. In that way, they will gain the insight required to fuel the design process.

A third method is Customer Interviews. Taking the time to interview prospective users or customers is beneficial. Researchers can talk to interviewees in person or over the phone. These discussions help design firms to understand consumer needs. It’s a chance to move away from the company’s internal views and perceptions of how things are. Consumer Interviews can be quite simple. However, if they show how consumers think or behave, they can shape the direction of a project.

Benefits of Design Research

Design Research has several benefits. These include:

• Testing new product concepts
• Understanding unmet customer needs
• Understanding usability requirements
• Understanding the emotional and functional needs of customers
• “Customer Discovery” insights. Companies can understand their best customers and what their lifestyles are like

SIS International Research Provides Recruitment Services

We provide the recruitment of participants for market research studies. We recruit from our database consisting of more than _____ individuals. We also recruit Ethnography respondents. These respondents help design firms understand specific groups. Ethnographic respondents show how different groups use a product or service. Another recruitment service that we provide is participants for customer interviews. Design firms can get interviewees targeted by demographics or geography. We also offer interviewees targeted by profession or any other criteria.

SIS International provides respondents from around the world. These respondents provide insight and reactions to new products. Our focus is to give our clients respondents even in hard-to-reach demographics. We can provide insights from smaller countries. We also gain insights from difficult target groups. These groups include teens, males, and Hispanics. Our reach ensures that you are speaking to a diverse sample. We always ensure that your cross-section is representative of your global users.