A two-day workshop
Design Research for Product & Service Innovation
Qualitative research is the foundation of good design. It's how we learn what people actually need and do, how they solve everyday problems, and how our products and services fit into their lives. Without it, teams spend months building solutions to the wrong problem. In this two-day workshop, you'll learn how to gather meaningful research data through a range of design research methods — and how to turn that data into decisions once you have it.
Format: Two days · delivered in-house or as a public workshop
Upcoming sessions
No scheduled sessions right now. Get in touch to register interest or arrange an in-house workshop.
Who this workshop is for
This workshop suits mid-weight designers and researchers who want to strengthen their practice, people who work alongside designers and want more out of the collaboration, and teams building their capability to design better solutions. It mixes theory with hands-on practice you can apply directly to your own projects — including how to communicate the value of research to clients and stakeholders.
Day one: research skills
Day one builds a solid foundation in planning and running qualitative research, and using it to address complex organisational and social problems. You'll learn:
- When to use qualitative research — and what it gives you that quantitative research can't
- Core qualitative methodologies and how they connect to design
- How to plan research that yields useful, relevant data
- Techniques for interviewing research participants
- The challenges and opportunities of research in government and corporate contexts
The day closes with applied research practice — and the data you generate carries into day two.
Day two: making sense of synthesis
Day two focuses on synthesis: turning data into insight, and insight into action. Working with the data from day one, you'll learn:
- Methods for making sense of research data with others
- Qualitative coding — finding themes and grouping data for analysis
- Turning data into actionable insights
- Spotting quick wins alongside opportunities for larger-scale change
- Building a case for change with research evidence
- Using journey maps and sketches to communicate a problem
- Turning research into stories that inspire product, service and policy responses
What you'll leave with
You'll leave able to plan and run qualitative research with confidence, synthesise what you find into clear insights, and tell research stories that move decision-makers to act. Most importantly, you'll have practised the whole arc — from planning to synthesis — on real data, so you can put it to work straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the workshop held?
In-person sessions run at the Paper Giant studio — Level 3, 2 Russell Street, Melbourne. Check each session for its location.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is listed on each scheduled session — for example, the two-day Melbourne workshop is $1,200 + GST per person.
How many people are in each workshop?
We keep sessions small — capped at 16 people — so there is plenty of hands-on time with the facilitators.
Can you run this training in-house for our team?
Yes. We run private workshops for teams and organisations, tailored to your context. Get in touch to talk about what you need.
