Empathy map

A synthesis tool with four quadrants: says, thinks, does, feels. Used to make user research findings shareable.

HMW

How Might We. A question format for turning observations into design challenges.

Double diamond

UK Design Council model: discover, define, develop, deliver. Two diverge-converge cycles.

Design sprint

Jake Knapp's five-day process: map, sketch, decide, prototype, test.

Jobs to be done

Christensen's framework: people hire products to accomplish functional, emotional, and social jobs.

Affinity mapping

Grouping observations or ideas by theme to find patterns. Done silently to prevent framework imposition.

Prototype

A low-fidelity, cheap, fast representation of a solution idea, built to make an assumption testable.

Usability test

Observing real users complete a task with a prototype to uncover problems and needs.

Say-do gap

The difference between what users report they do and what they actually do. Often the location of the real design problem.

POV statement

Point of view. A one-sentence synthesis of who the user is, what they need, and why. The output of the first diamond.

Bharat

In Indian product design, refers to users outside major metros, often with different device constraints, languages, and connectivity.

Crazy 8s

An ideation exercise: eight sketched ideas in eight minutes. Forces divergence before convergence.