How do you conduct user research to understand user needs and preferences in your design process?

In one of my college projects, I was tasked with designing a mobile app for students to manage their study schedules. To understand user needs, I conducted user interviews with fellow students. I prepared a set of open-ended questions to explore their study habits and challenges. During these interviews, I learned that many students struggled with balancing their time effectively. This insight prompted me to include a feature in the app that allows users to input their courses and deadlines, which then suggests personalized study plans. After implementing this feedback, I tested the prototype with a group of students, and they responded positively, finding it helpful and aligned with their needs.

While volunteering for a local non-profit, I helped redesign their website to improve user engagement. I organized informal feedback sessions with community members who used the site regularly. Through these discussions, I discovered that users found the navigation confusing and had difficulty finding key resources. Based on their feedback, we simplified the layout and added a search feature. After the redesign, I followed up with the community, and they reported a much easier experience, which increased their overall satisfaction and usage of the website.

In my first job as a junior designer, I was involved in a project to improve an existing web application. We conducted usability testing with users who frequently interacted with the app. During the testing sessions, I observed users as they completed tasks and took notes on where they encountered frustrations. One significant finding was that users struggled with a particular form submission process. We used this information to streamline the user interface, reducing the number of steps needed to complete the task. After implementing the changes, we saw a decrease in user errors and an increase in task completion rates, demonstrating the value of user research in guiding design improvements.