Building Research Programs that Executives Can Believe In

When introducing design research to executives, my focus is on clarity and confidence. Most leaders haven’t seen the inner workings of discovery, so I take time to show what we’ll actually do—the sequence of activities, team roles, and milestones that lead to meaningful insight. This transparency helps executives see design as structured, accountable work that de-risks decisions before investment.

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By visualizing the process—timelines, methods, deliverables, and checkpoints—I help leaders understand exactly how design research moves from exploration to evidence. These programs build trust, set expectations, and create shared language between design and the business.

Challenge

Executives often support the idea of “understanding the customer,” but struggle to picture how that happens in practice. Without a tangible view of the steps, design can feel abstract or academic.

Solution

I create clear, right-sized research programs that outline each method, activity, and expected outcome. From stakeholder interviews to field studies and synthesis workshops, every element is mapped to time, resources, and intent—making the process concrete and the path to insight visible from day one.