In this blog we will walk you through our "Discovery Findings Workshop." which shows each step we follow to ensure every presentation for our stakeholders is a success. The goal of these workshops is twofold. First, to present the results of our research. Second, to receive feedback from the client on what they found most interesting, what they want to explore further, and so on. All of this will help align expectations with stakeholders and prepare your team for the next stage.
The estimated time you will need to prepare your presentation is two days. We suggest that the scheduled length of the workshop is between an hour and a half to two hours. It’s important to have enough time for sharing information, exchanging ideas and to structure the next steps with the team.
Here is our step by step for a successful Discovery Findings Workshop
1. Separate calendars of the stakeholders
By scheduling the workshop in advance and communicating with each stakeholder, you will allow them to have time they need to prepare while also avoiding any surprises that might affect the project timeline.
2. Gather all the findings from the Discovery process
This can be a mix of digital and physical artifacts that you can classify by theme, format or another way that makes the most sense for your project.
- User needs
- Pain points
- Journey
- Main User Cases
- Navigation
- Accessibility
- Usability
- Product Scalability
- Integrations
- Platforms and devices
- Language and messaging framework
3. Visualize your information
Once you have all your information gathered, it is time to start thinking about how you want to present it. By being creative and dynamic in your presentation, you can ensure that everyone understands your findings and is ready to move forward.
If you are not sure where to start, here are some ideas:
- Create a mind map of your findings
- Make a timeline of the discovery process
- Use infographics to visualize data
- Tell a story with your visuals
4. Prepare your presentation
Once you have all your information gathered and visualized, it’s time to kick start the preparation process. Key points to identify:
Know your audience: it is important that you know who will be attending your workshop and what their level of knowledge is on the project. This will help you to adapt your language and focus on the most relevant information for them. You need to understand what the stakeholders want and need from the research. Once you have a good understanding of their requirements, you can start to tailor your presentation to meet their needs.
The structure of your presentation: Outlining a clear structure for your presentation allows you to make sure your findings and narratives are easy to understand and follow. It should include:
First things first: Start by introducing yourself and the purpose of the workshop (prepare your audience for what they should expect from start to finish).
Agenda: design an agenda of the workshop, so everyone is aware of the rules, times and dynamics to follow.
Context: provide some background information on the project, such as what prompted the research, where you were at when you started the research.
Method Introduction: briefly explain the reason for the selected method and its dynamic.
Testimonials: these should be collected from everyone involved in the investigation process in order to set the tone for the research.
Experiments - What we did: list here the methods or key activities. These could be: analysis of material from past research, interviews (include user demographics), competitive analysis and mood board, workshop, en live on first person experiences, and surveys.
Facts - and we found out: here you talk about all the information that supports your research: data, articles, quotes, and demographic information. See below for an example of a good way to synthesize your findings.
- Experiments: what were the results of your user testing?
- Interviews: what did you learn from your interviews with users and stakeholders?
- Surveys: what did your research tell you about your target audience?
- Analytics: what can you learn from the data you have collected?
Insights - which make us think this: here is the interpretation of your findings. You will define the meaning behind the data and the positive and negative ways it affects the design of your project. So, what is working and what needs to be improved. Having testimonials of points of view collected from the team will strengthen your argument.
Recommendations - so we recommend: here is where you present effective suggestions on how to move forward based on your findings, decisions and next steps.
Q&A : make sure to leave some time for questions and answers at the end of your presentation.
5. Define the dynamic and prepare the Miro board (Or your preferred Virtual White Board)
Now that you have all your information and visuals ready, it is time to think about the dynamic of the workshop. Make sure you can answer these questions: How will you present your findings? Who will moderate each part? What will the ideation exercises be?
Will you start with a general overview of the project and then go into more detail on specific areas? Or will you focus on one area at a time and then have a general discussion at the end?
Once you have all of these responses, it is time to prepare the Miro board. This tool will contain all your visuals and text that people will follow during your talk. Take a look at our Miro template to get some inspiration to kick off yours.
6. Test your presentation
Presentation is finished. Check that box as completed. However, don’t think the work is finished!. Now it is time to test it out, so do a live presentation to a colleague or friend who will give honest, constructive feedback. This is a great way to make sure that everything makes sense and that you are ready for the big day.
7. Deliver your presentation
The big day has arrived! Make sure you are well prepared and confident in your delivery. Remember, this is an opportunity for everyone to understand your findings and be part of the decision-making.
On the day of your presentation, make sure to:
- Start on time
- Be clear and concise
- Engage with your audience
- Make eye contact
- Be confident in your delivery
- Leave time for questions and answers
8. After you have delivered your presentation
Once you have delivered your presentation, it is important to follow up with your team and stakeholders to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there are no misunderstandings. A great way to do this is by sending a summary of the presentation via email that includes all the key points that were discussed, the next steps and action items (what tasks need to be completed before moving forward?). By doing this , you can be sure that everyone is on track and that the project is moving forward as it should.
We hope these tips were helpful and that you feel more prepared to deliver your next presentation! If you would like to be part of our Design Research Team, please send us your CV and portfolio. We are always looking for great Designers to join our team!
Happy presenting! :)
