Which statement best describes when user research is used during Growth-Driven Design?
- User research is primarily done when first kicking off a new GDD engagement to better understand your audience.
- User research is used throughout the entire GDD methodology, but it’s especially common during the strategy stage and the plan step of the continuous improvement stage.
- User research is primarily done after running an experiment that doesn’t perform like you predicted.
- User research is primarily done during the launch pad stage when you’re testing various prototypes with actual customers.
Explanation: The correct answer is User research is used throughout the entire GDD methodology, but it’s especially common during the strategy stage and the plan step of the continuous improvement stage. User research is a fundamental aspect of Growth-Driven Design (GDD), permeating every stage of the process to ensure that design decisions are informed by user insights and feedback. During the strategy stage, user research helps in understanding the target audience, their needs, pain points, and behaviors, which in turn informs the development of buyer personas and strategic goals. Additionally, during the plan step of the continuous improvement stage, user research guides the prioritization of initiatives and improvements based on data-driven insights and user feedback gathered from ongoing website optimization efforts. By integrating user research throughout the GDD methodology, teams can continuously validate assumptions, iterate on designs, and deliver user-centric solutions that drive meaningful value and business results. Therefore, this answer accurately reflects the pervasive role of user research in GDD, highlighting its importance during key stages such as strategy formulation and continuous improvement planning.