How do you frame a design question?

Framing a design question involves transforming a general problem into a specific, actionable, and human-centered question that guides the design process. Here's how you do it:

Key Steps in Framing a Design Question

1. Start with Broad Research and Understanding: Begin by exploring the problem space thoroughly. Gather information about the context, users, and existing solutions. This provides a foundation for a well-informed question.

2. Involve Stakeholders: Collaborate with stakeholders (users, clients, team members) to gain diverse perspectives and ensure alignment on the problem's scope and importance. This helps in creating a question that is relevant to everyone involved.

3. Focus on Human-Centric Problems: Frame the question around the needs, goals, and pain points of the end-user. Instead of focusing on technical solutions, concentrate on why users are facing challenges. Example: Instead of "How can we improve the app's loading speed?", consider "How might we help users access information quickly and easily, even with a slow internet connection?"

4. Reframe Problems as Opportunities: Turn negative statements into positive challenges. Use phrasing that encourages exploration and creativity. For example, change "Users are frustrated with the complex checkout process" to "How might we simplify the checkout process to make it more intuitive and enjoyable for users?"

5. Use Clear and Actionable Language: Avoid jargon, ambiguity, and overly broad terms. The question should be easily understood and provide a clear direction for the design team. Use action verbs to suggest potential solutions.

6. Avoid Assumptions: Challenge your initial assumptions about the problem. Ask "why" multiple times to get to the root cause. Frame the question to allow for exploration rather than reinforcing pre-conceived notions.

7. Be Open to Iteration: Framing a design question is not a one-time event. Be prepared to refine and revise the question as you learn more about the problem and user needs.

8. Prioritize and Scope: Ensure the question is focused and manageable within the project's constraints (time, budget, resources). Avoid overly ambitious questions that are impossible to address effectively. Break down large problems into smaller, more specific questions.

Example:

Let's say the initial problem is: "Our website traffic is low."

Here's how we might frame a design question:

1. Broad Research: Analyze website analytics, conduct user surveys, and research competitor websites.
2. Stakeholder Involvement: Talk to marketing, sales, and customer service teams.
3. Human-Centric Focus: Discover that users are having trouble finding relevant information quickly.
4. Reframe as Opportunity: Instead of "How do we increase website traffic?", ask: "How might we make it easier for users to find the information they need on our website, so they are more likely to engage and return?"
5. Clear and Actionable Language: The reframed question is clearer and suggests actions like improving navigation, search functionality, or content organization.
6. Avoid Assumptions: The question avoids assuming the low traffic is due to marketing or technical issues.
7. Iteration: After initial research and testing, refine the question further: "How might we redesign the navigation menu to help first-time visitors quickly find the most relevant products?"
8. Prioritize and Scope: Focus on improving the navigation first, before addressing other potential issues.

Summary

Effectively framing a design question involves a structured approach that emphasizes user needs, clear communication, and iterative refinement. By following these steps, you can create a guiding question that focuses your design efforts and leads to innovative solutions.