THEAtomic Research, inspired by theatomic design and theorized by Daniel Pidcock, revolutionizes design and research. This innovative method divides knowledge from UX research (User Experience in French) into key elements such as experiences, facts, insights and conclusions.
Source : https://atomicdesign.bradfrost.com/chapter-2/
The history of the Atomic Research method
To understand how it works, we must first go back to when it all began with the creation of theAtomic Design. It is a method created by pioneers like Brad Frost et Dave Olsen who helped popularize this approach by breaking down projects into atomic units. This offers more modularity of information, easier management of changes to be made, better organization of the UI kit (UI kit) and better consistency within a company in the use of interface components among different teams.
In the case of Daniel Pidcock, his teams were used to working on deliverables such as PDF slides and docs, centralized in a drive. These concentrate the knowledge and results obtained from user research carried out. This was without counting on the new team member who had just arrived on the project, who needed to delve into the documents to be able to work on a feature. Facing the large amount of information and the problem of sharing information, Daniel Pidcock looked into the finding solutions for preserving and organizing important and expensive data that his company owned. The goal was to benefit later, while avoiding unnecessary repetition of UX studies.
Source about Dave Olsen: https://bradfrost.com/blog/post/atomic-web-design/
How the Atomic Research method works
The Atomic Research method is based on the decomposition of the elements of a search into atomic units. It highlights experiences, facts, learning, and recommendations. Here's how this method works:
Experiments (Experiences)
The first step is to identify and document different experiences related to research. This includes interactions, user feedback, tests, and any element relating to the user or consumer experience.
Facts
The experiments are then analyzed to extract concrete facts. This can be numerical data, observed behaviors, or any tangible element that results from different experiences.
Learning
Based on the facts collected, the objective is to identify significant learning. This involves understanding the implications of identified facts, analyzing emerging trends, and drawing relevant lessons for decision-making.
Recommendations (Recommendations)
Based on the learning, recommendations are made. These recommendations aim to guide future actions providing solutions, improvements, or strategic directions based on research findings.
Here is how the method theoretically works:
An example of how the Atomic Research method is applied:
In summary, Atomic Research begins by exploring experiments to obtain rich and varied data. These experiences are then transformed into concrete facts, on which learning is based. Finally, recommendations emerge from this learning, providing a solid basis for concrete actions and continuous improvements. The atomic methodology allows finer management of the different aspects of research. She facilitates communication and understanding every step of the way.
How does this store information related to user searches?
The experiments carried out during user research are recorded in what is called a UX repository. The latter acts as a centralized reserve where all our learning from the different stages of the research is recorded. Its main purpose is to enable the linking and subsequent rereading of information. It thus offers a consolidated reference to take advantage of the lessons obtained during the user research process. In summary, the UX Repository functions as a valuable knowledge reservoir that facilitates reuse and reflection on data collected during experiments.
Setting up a UX Repository to store all the information is not a simple task. It is necessary to allow the team to be able to reflect on learning, but implementing this type of solution can take time and money. For now, there is no “perfect” tool that would meet these needs. I will still give you my opinion on the advantages and disadvantages of building a Repository:
The Power of Atomic UX Research – Daniel Pidcock at UX Brighton 2018
The advantages of the UX Repository
Data Centralization: it brings together all the experiments in the same place, facilitating access and management of information.
Easy reuse: it allows you to revisit and take advantage of previous data for new analyzes or projects.
Consistency of Results: she fpromotes the consistency of results by avoiding redundancies and guaranteeing the use of validated information.
Improved Collaboration: it facilitates the sharing of data between team members, promoting more effective collaboration.
Learning History: it provides a chronological history of learning, making it possible to follow the evolution of knowledge over time.
The disadvantages of Repository UX
Complex Management: data centralization can become complex as the volume of information increases, requiring careful organization.
Redundancy Risk: there may be a risk of storing similar information, especially if the organization is not optimal. This can lead to a loss of efficiency.
Need for Constant Maintenance: this requires regular maintenance to ensure the relevance of stored data and avoid obsolescence.
Restricted Accessibility: If access to the UX Repository is not well managed, some team members may have difficulty finding the necessary information.
Implementation Cost: The creation and initial implementation of a UX Repository can require considerable resources in terms of time and costs*.
*It all depends on the types of solutions you decide to invest in. An Airtable may be sufficient to store information. What is expensive is the number of seats that can modify the information.
Who is this method for? What can it bring to other designers and teams across a company?
When it comes to teams, Atomic Research favors a more effective collaboration and a better understanding of the learning done. Each member, whether PO, team member Marketing, Junior Backend Developer (Intern) or team member business, may refer to user studies conducted by the User Researcher. It can also understand, for each recommendation made, its lessons and on what facts they are based.
At the organizational level, this methodology optimizes project management, ensures understanding of user needs on products and facilitates monitoring of what has been implemented according to the proposals reviewed with the project teams.
Conclusion
In summary, Atomic Research, heir to Atomic Design, revolutionizes knowledge management in UX by breaking down research findings into experiences, facts, learnings, and recommendations. This methodology, theorized by Daniel Pidcock, facilitates communication, understanding, and reuse of information.
Despite the potential challenges of the UX Repository, its benefits, such as centralizing data and facilitating reuse, make it a valuable tool for optimizing UX knowledge management. Atomic Research is aimed at diverse teams, promoting more effective collaboration and a deeper understanding of user needs. It thus contributes to the continuous improvement of projects and better user satisfaction. In summary, this methodology represents an essential approach to maximizing the impact of UX research within companies.
You want to learn more and know:
- Which tool should I use to create an effective Repository?
- How to share your results?
- If AI can play an important role in User Research?
Anton Blondeau, Product Designer Consultant at UX-Republic
