Methods

Research that reveals. Design that delivers.

Our clients get insights that shape strategy. We are expert at applying mixed-methods research and designing studies that are tailor-made for your challenge.

Our main approach is to create a robust foundational data set that serves as the ground truth, incorporating it into your system so that you own it. We are fully transparent in data collection and analysis because we believe it is important for you to be able to fully participate in the project if you wish. Next, the foundational dataset is used to create design principles that are formatted to the team who is in charge of implementation to make sure that they can act. Lastly, if your project requires it, we can lead ideation, testing, and validation to ensure that the impact you want is what you are getting.

We specialize in a variety of approaches depending on the nature of your project:

Remote and Asynchronous Methodologies

BEST FOR

Ideal for longitudinal studies, diary studies, and capturing contextual insights in real-world settings over time. Can also be used with participants spread across time zones or when in-person access is limited.

Designing for Societal Transitions

BEST FOR

Initiatives responding to complex social, environmental, or technological shifts where understanding emergent behaviors is critical. For example: climate adaptation, evolving labor models, or equity in digital access.

Systems Thinking

BEST FOR

Where interventions must align across multiple layers of experience and require integrating dependencies across services, organizations, and communities.

Participatory co-creation

BEST FOR

Projects with passionate communities who have lived experience with the issue at hand, particularly when inclusion, empowerment, and creativity are vital to success.

Futures Thinking and Speculative Design

BEST FOR

Navigating disruption, aligning the vision across different actors, preparing for long term development through an anticipatory frame, and using a participatory method for effective planning.

Cross Disciplinary Approaches

BEST FOR

Projects that require teams of subject matter experts to analyze complex behavioral challenges in highly regulated industries with multiple stakeholders. 

Ethical Frameworks

BEST FOR

Projects involving marginalized or vulnerable populations, emerging technologies (like AI or biometric data), or sensitive subject matter. This is where responsible design practices and trust are non-negotiable.

Implementation + Measuring Design Impact

BEST FOR

Organizations looking to scale design operations, justify investment, or track long-term outcomes.

The YZDW Research Engagement Standards

We value participatory and co-creative research and design processes with participants and clients alike; we work with clients to bring them into the process in whatever capacity they’re comfortable with. We build rapport with our participants–empathy and mutual respect are essential starting points for real understanding. This rapport encourages our participants to go above and beyond as we gather data, test prototypes, and design together.

1. Methodological Transparency

You should be able to understand exactly how conclusions were reached. This means:

  • A documented codebook explaining how data was categorized
  • Clear description of recruitment criteria and participant selection
  • Explicit acknowledgment of study design and what the research can and cannot claim

At YZDW: We deliver a Guide to the Dataset with every project, documenting methodology, participant characteristics, and the complete codebook.

2. Traceable Analysis

Every insight should connect to actual data. You should be able to ask “where did this come from?” and get a specific answer.

  • Reports hyperlinked to source transcripts where platform allows
  • Transparent coding, statistical tests, or any analysis which demonstrates how themes emerge from participants
  • Clear distinction between participant quotes, pattern observations, and researcher interpretation

At YZDW: Our final reports link directly to transcripts, and analysis, with complete documentation. You can trace any finding back to its source and across any analysis.

3. Participant-Centered Design

Research participants give you their time and insight. The research process should respect their effort.

  • Participants should be able to recognize their experience in the findings
  • Research artifacts can be designed to give value back to participants, not just extract from them
  • Rapport and mutual respect produce richer data than transactional extraction

At YZDW: We design deliverables that participants themselves can learn from; validating their experience while generating insights for clients.

4. Actionable Outputs for Multiple Audiences

Research is only valuable if it can be used. Different stakeholders need different formats.

  • Executive summaries for decision-makers
  • Detailed findings for implementation teams
  • Frameworks and design principles that translate across contexts
  • Raw data access for future researchers

At YZDW: A single study might produce slide decks, written reports, video summaries, thought-leadership outlines, dataset guides, to name a few. Each asset is designed for an intended audience.

5. Built to Last

Research should remain useful beyond the immediate project. This requires:

  • Professional transcription, fully edited for accuracy
  • Structured participant data integrated for filtering
  • Documentation that enables future researchers to build on the work

At YZDW: Our datasets are designed for extensibility. Future teams can re-analyze with new questions without starting from scratch.

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