What is design research?

Design research is a systematic approach to gaining in-depth understanding of users' needs, the contexts in which products or services are used, and societal and cultural trends. The aim is to integrate these insights into the design process and to develop innovative, user-centred solutions. While conventional market research is often based on quantitative data and the collection of opinions, design research focuses on qualitative methods to gain deeper insights. These can include interviews, observations, ethnographic studies and other creative methods. 

The focus is on understanding the user's perspective in order to better adapt products or services to actual needs and behaviours. Design research, specifically "UX design" research, plays a decisive role in various design disciplines, be it product, graphic, interaction or service design. Through this research, designers and companies can ensure that their design decisions are based on real needs and have a higher likelihood of success for their products or services.