Users are people. Designing something both usable and useful for people requires getting to know them first. Research efforts often start by simply talking to people about their day, their goals and pain points. etc. However, these direct methods are usually just the beginning. In addition to talking with people, I frequently employ observational and guided interaction techniques. Depending on the engagement, I have conducted custom design ideation and feedback workshops, immersive ethnographic research, usability studies, cognitive walkthrough interviews, and many other endeavors. The deliverables are usually insight reports and documentation  — journey maps, task flows, storyboards, etc. — that are highly valuable for designers, stakeholders, product managers, and development teams alike.