All successful projects/ pieces of work are based on solid, comprehensive reserach.
This means finding out as much about a topic or scenario as you can. The question is though, how do you do it?
First...
Then ask more questions to explore further!
Read around the subject/ topic
Speak to other people - specialists
- other users
- stakeholders
Look at other areas of inspiration (different to what you are trying to sovle)
Explore issues and problems
E.G. Methods of collecting research:
Primary:
Conducting your own tests
Questionnaires/ surveys
Focus group discussions
Visiting shops
Testing & analysing products
Secondary:
Using the internet
Sourcing data from books
Looking at products online
Then...