The Method

The method described in this chapter is a straightforward and simple way to find the pain points in your product's user experience and to create innovations that reduce those pain points. The five steps in this method are

1. Identify the current pain points of your product.
2. Find the underlying causes for the pain points.
3. Verify your causes.
4. Innovate solutions.
5. Document the results and process the output.

Throughout the description of the steps, I will use a concrete example. In this case, the example will be the remote control for a TV. I'll assume that the remote control currently looks like that shown in Figure 9-2. I have deliberately under-designed the remote control, and of course avoided referring to any existing branded models. Many of the functions, however, may well resemble those of the remote control you have in your living room.

Figure 9-2. TV remote control used as example