THN Design
Trent Nguyen · Portfolio
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All research resources Research Method · Generative / Discovery · 1:1, qualitative

User Interviews

Understanding motivations, mental models, attitudes, and the ‘why’ behind behavior. Best for early discovery when you don’t yet know what you don’t know.

Use When
Generative / Discovery
Time Needed
1-2 weeks to recruit and field 6-10 participants, plus a few days to synthesize.
Type
1:1, qualitative
Category
Generative / Discovery
Generative / Discovery · Use when you need to understand people, context, and problems.
User Interviews
1:1, qualitative
When to Use It

Where this fits in the process.

Early discovery, before you know what you don't know. Use this before you've committed to a problem framing or a solution direction.

Time Investment

How long it takes.

1-2 weeks to recruit and field 6-10 participants, plus a few days to synthesize.

What You'll Need

Before you start.

A discussion guide, 6-10 recruited participants matching your target profile, a note-taker or recording setup, and time afterward to synthesize.

What It's Good For

The kinds of answers you get.

Understanding motivations, mental models, attitudes, and the ‘why’ behind behavior. Best for early discovery when you don’t yet know what you don’t know.

Watch Out For

Where it falls short.

What people say they do often differs from what they actually do. Takes real time per participant, and the quality of the guide matters as much as the participants you recruit.

Template

Speed this method up with a ready-to-use Interview Discussion Guide template.

Download Interview Discussion Guide
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