nw-discovery-methodology

Identify user journey pain points by progressing through emotional journey and error path discovery phases. This approach systematically surfaces user expectations and friction points to produce a draft sketch and explicit success criteria for design decisions.

Define success criteria for journey design by conducting a question-first discovery session that articulates user goals and expectations. The methodology outputs explicit success criteria and a draft sketch to directly inform downstream design decisions.

Start sketching user flows by first answering targeted discovery questions about mental models and integration points. The framework delays sketching until initial answers are gathered, then produces a draft sketch to surface concrete progress and unknowns.

You can use this question-first approach for UX research on existing journeys when your discovery needs deepening. It applies phase-based questioning to reveal integration points and emotional journeys across both new and established product designs.

Avoid using a phase-based discovery methodology when you need rapid prototyping without upfront research, or when journey triggers are already explicitly defined. It is designed for early-stage design requiring deep user flow understanding before sketching.