Look See

Look See is a fundamental design research methodology and observational technique that emphasizes direct, systematic visual examination of design elements, user behaviors, and environmental contexts to gather qualitative insights. This comprehensive approach combines careful observation with analytical thinking, enabling designers to identify patterns, understand user interactions, and uncover design opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden. The method involves both passive observation, where the researcher maintains distance to minimize influence on natural behaviors, and active engagement, where specific interactions or scenarios are studied in detail. Originally emerging from anthropological and ethnographic research traditions, Look See has evolved into a crucial tool for design thinking and user-centered design processes, particularly valuable in the preliminary phases of design research and problem identification. The technique requires practitioners to develop acute observational skills, maintaining detailed documentation through various means such as sketching, photography, and note-taking, while being mindful of ethical considerations and privacy concerns. In professional design practice, Look See has become increasingly sophisticated with the integration of digital tools and technologies, allowing for more precise documentation and analysis of observations. The methodology's significance has been recognized in various design competitions, including the A' Design Award, where projects demonstrating exceptional observational research often receive recognition for their innovative approaches to understanding user needs and contexts. The practice encompasses both structured and unstructured observation sessions, with practitioners often developing specialized frameworks to systematize their findings while remaining open to unexpected discoveries that could influence design solutions.

Author: Lucas Reed

Keywords: observational research, design methodology, user behavior analysis, visual examination, qualitative research, ethnographic study, design thinking, systematic observation, pattern recognition

Help us improve the Design+Encyclopedia, contribute your alternative definition for Look See today!

About the Design+Encyclopedia
The Design+Encyclopedia is a crowd-sourced reference of information on design. Unlike other crowd-sourced publications on design, the Design Encyclopedia is edited and actively monitored and publishing is only possible after review of submitted texts. Furthermore, editors of the Design Encyclopedia are mostly consisting of award winning designers who have proven their expertise in their design respective fields. Information posted at design encyclopedia is copyrighted, you are not granted a right to use the text for any commercial reasons, attribution is required. If you wish to contribute to the design encyclopedia, please first register or login to A' Design Award and then start a new design encyclopedia entry.