Practicing Preliminary Research and User Research

I like to introduce people to the practice of UX by pairing design stages
and skill sets. This works well for getting some actual design hours
clocked, especially when you’re not sure how to get started.
This path starts with preliminary research. Preliminary research is
the the most easily neglected UX stage, even though it is one of the
most important. It involves gathering all the tools you will need for
the project and creating a project plan that articulates how stake
holders will work with you on the project, even if that’s just you and
the client.

Sometimes, its harder to find a problem than a solution.

Why this list?

There are a few design problems floating around the internet, but nothing very extensive. I thought it might be useful if I collected some together and put them in one big list.

The examples here come from all kinds of places including personal experience, but I take no credit for any of them. I’ve included links when I know I saw it someplace else. I’m pretty sure a few came from my own imagination, but somebody else probably had the same idea first. It’s just the way ideas work. Still, if you want to be credited with one of these, let me know and I’ll happily link to the original.

Some further resources are at the bottom. I hope to expand and refresh the list every so often. If you have suggestions, please let me know!

How do I do this?

The challenges run from mundane to weird, and old-fashioned to futuristic, but most are kept as open as possible. It’s a good idea to limit yourself by imposing some assumptions, constraints, and a platform (mobile / desktop / tablet etc). If working in pairs, one person could pick a problem, and the partner could refine it. So choose one of the following, decide on a mobile or desktop solution, and then keep asking questions.

Without further ado…

100 Example UX Problems

1. Find your way around a new city.
2. Fill small amounts of “bored” time in your day with something interesting.
3. Split a check at a restaurant.
4. Split a check at a restaurant between vegetarians and meat-eaters.
5. Split a check at a restaurant between drinkers and nondrinkers.
6. Organize your wardrobe.
7. Keep track of messages across all platforms (whatsapp, wechat, email etc) that need to be responded to or viewed later.
8. Know where, what, and how to recycle.
9. Donate/recycle old goods and clothes efficiently.
10. Find other people to enjoy a hobby with.
11. Users do not like waiting in line for the cinema. Do something about it.
12. Be reminded to practise a hobby.
13. Find a nanny.
14. Find out about concerts in your city.
15. Know when to water your plants.
16. Create a mindfulness app.
17. Discover recipes.
18. Keep up to date on the weather.
19. Create a ticker for your favorite sport.
20. Create an alarm clock.
21. Create an internal tool that allows a major TV network to tag and organise their content.
22. Create a time tracker.
23. Create a chat-bot for financial decisions.
24. Create a music player.
25. Create a smart mirror.
26. Prompt the user to engage in a daily act of kindness.
27. Track your health with some kind of wearable tech.
28. Locate your locked bike and be informed if it moves.
29. Prevent your parked car from being stolen while you go on holiday.
30. Build a smart fridge.
31. Identify the key components of a “smart home”.
32. Design the Search/Filter section for an app that connects the user with amateur sports teams to play casual games.
33. Make it easier to donate money to charity.
34. Connect designer/developer/illustrator freelancers with clients.
35. Create an inspirational quote generator for millenials.
36. Out-uber Uber.
37. Design the ideal commuting experience in a self-driving car.
38. Help the user improve their knowledge of wine.
39. A wallet app to securely store travel documents.
40. Speed-pitching for UX designers and VCs.
41. Fitness app focussed on motivation.
42. Pick your favourite design agency. Redesign their contact page in a more user-friendly way.
43. A constantly updating list of the best software tools for designers.
44. You need certain essential items (toiletries, medical supplies etc) ASAP. Find out EXACTLY which store, area of store and shelf they are located in as quick and simple a way as possible.
45. A video editing app for a smartphone.