Social Science Strategies for User-Focused Innovation and Design Management
Design Management Review, Volume 16, Issue 4, pages 73-79, 2005
16 Pages Posted: 22 Jan 2020
Date Written: May 7, 2012
Abstract
Social science research can provide a valuable pathway between consumer insights and design. However, social science methodologies come with six important strategic implications not only for consumer engagement but also for the design process itself: heed perceptual limitations; correct for cognitive biases; consider context as well as objective information; manage the pressure to conform; look for ways to bring in new knowledge; and cast a wide net in gathering ideas. The theoretical basis and practical implication of each strategy is discussed, along with two integrative examples from ongoing work in this area.
Keywords: User innovation, Design management, Social science, Ethnography
JEL Classification: M12, O31
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation