Interview Log

STEP 1

Start by learning as much as you can about your interviewee, gathering your research in the first step of the Interview Log sheet. Who is this person – your user – and what do they do for work and for fun? What are their aims and motivations? Do some secondary research by browsing social media profiles and other publicly available resources. 

STEP 2 

Next, define the objective of your interview. What insights do you hope to gain from your user? What knowledge are you still missing, and how might this interview fill that gap? Write down your objective on the Interview Log template.

STEP 3

Brainstorm some topics. Which fields would you like to discuss; what areas or topics does your interviewee have insight into? This exercise will help you to define the umbrella themes for your interview.

STEP 4

Now that you’ve mapped out the context of your interview, it’s time to define some actual questions. By preparing these in advance, you’ll be freer to closely observe your user during the interview itself. List the questions on the template sheet.

STEP 5

During the interview, jot down some notes and insights. Ask if it’s ok to record the conversation with your phone. Listen actively and dig as deep as you can. But make sure to stay on topic. Always remind yourself of your research objective.

STEP 6

Once the interview is over, take a look at the answers you received. Can you detect some patterns? Which answers or anecdotes were the most insightful? Highlight the top three on your Interview Log.