Ronald deVlam
Founding Partner & President
Webb deVlam, Chicago

Connecting the dots: How Design Research helps a designer draw

The research function has been steadily stretching from validation to informing the design process—this has many organizations scampering for the appropriate tools, the right partners, and the Holy Grail: data!

Cultural anthropology, semiotics, and ethnography are just some of the many methodologies available to help uncover the big “a-ha” moment. In these exciting times, we can now see a consumer through both a macro and a micro lens. But the process can get complicated too: opinions, intuition, and lack of data can weaken an insight prognosis.

In his presentation, Ronald will share best practices in Design Research, the pros and cons of the many methodologies available, and their suitability for your specific research needs. Using case studies as examples, the presentation will begin the discussion about the potential ROI on Design Research and outline the significant benefits that it provides as cross-functional teams are tasked to visualize their brand’s future.