Library
Goal
Standing on the shoulders of giants
To ensure rigor in your design explore what is already done. Watch what competitors are doing or get an overview of existing guidelines, patterns and theories. Sometimes called deskresearch.
Benchmark creation
Why?
Existing products in your niche can be a valuable reference and source of inspiration.
More info
Best, good & bad practices
Why?
Why invent the wheel again? Incorporating what others have learned is an important practice.
More info
Competitive Analysis
Why?
Find a niche or unique selling point competitors are not filling.
More info
Design Pattern Search
Why?
Find common solutions for recurring problems and a description of the context in which these solutions work best.
More info
Expert Interview
Why?
A domain or content expert can put you on track when you enter a new domain or field of expertise. The expert can point out sources, give you a sense of direction or point to common pitfalls.
More info
Literature Study
Why?
Find contextual information, guidance and best practices.
More info
Trend analysis
Why?
Catch up with novel developments before your competitors do.
More info