From Insights to Impact: Hands-On with Research Artifacts

Purpose

Goal
Gain hands-on experience with research artifacts, understand how they are created and used, and explore how these artifacts guide design decisions and product strategy.

Practicing this in Teams & Organizations
Strengthening cross-functional collaboration, enhancing understanding of research practices, and improving application of insights to design and product decisions. 

Learning Outcomes

• Understand how research artifacts are created and utilized.
• Develop skills to interpret and apply research findings in design.
• Build confidence in collaborating with researchers.

Preparation

• Duration
  • Amount of time the activity will take
• Artifacts
  • Name of the  method or framework
• Participants
  • 1 Researcher - Facilitator 
  • Non-Research Facilitator 
• Supplies
  • 2–3 real research artifacts from past or ongoing projects, such as:
    • Affinity maps
    • User journey maps
    • Interview transcripts
    • Synthesis decks or research reports
    • Personas or archetypes

Workshop Steps

Step 1. Define Artifacts 

• Prepare a brief explanation of each artifact’s purpose, the research process it came from, and how it informed decisions.
  • Hint: Decisions can be related to design, product, or broader organization strategy
• Move on to the next step when…all artifacts have been defined. 

Step 2. Assemble and Explore Artifacts 

• Divide into small groups of 2-3 people with one person being the Research Facilitator. 
• The Research Facilitator  provides a guided walkthrough of the first artifact
  • Context: What was the problem or goal that led to this artifact?
  • Process: How was this artifact created?
  • Impact: How was it used to inform design or strategy decisions?
• Non-Research Facilitators capture key takeaways and externalize them for the team. 
• Move on to the next step when…all artifacts have been explored. 

Step 3. Applying the Insights 

• Everyone in the small group collaborates to apply the artifact insights to a mini-design challenge. For example:
  • Use an affinity map to identify key themes and brainstorm initial ideas.
  • Use a journey map to identify pain points and propose one improvement.
  • Use a persona to sketch a feature or solution tailored to their needs.
• Students document their ideas on a shared whiteboard or paper.
• Move on to the next step when…insights have been applied to at least one artifact and a new artifact is shareable. 

Step 4. Group Reflection & Share-Out 

All groups will come back together in one room. 

• Each group introduces the artifact they explored, shares the  insight they applied, and the new resulting artifact developed during the exercise.
• The group not sharing provides feedback. 

Step 5. Conclusion

Summary

• Call to Action (CTA): Reflect on one thing you learned about working with a research artifact and how to apply it to decision-making. 
• Closing Thought: End with a powerful statement, question, or takeaway.

Facilitation Tips

• Keep artifacts visually engaging (e.g., printed materials, digital slides, or large boards).
• Encourage researchers to share real-world anecdotes about challenges and successes related to the artifacts.
• Ensure each participant has the opportunity to engage with the artifact and ask questions.

Resources

Coming Soon