Meaningful, actionable, customer research is within reach.
What is the HCD Discovery Guide?
The Discovery Guide shows you how to gather irrefutable evidence for problems everyone knows exist but can't prove - like scheduling quotas that alienate patients, or intake processes that create more work than they solve.
It gives you the exact language and frameworks to translate what you see every day into terms your leadership can't ignore.
How is the Discovery Guide better than other processes?
The HCD Discovery methodology was built over 15 years working in actual businesses and federal agencies. The HCD Discovery process resulted in:
- An over 35% increase in Trust Scores for the Department of Veterans Affairs (2016-2020)
- A 34% decrease in digital footprint in the General Services Administration (2022-2024)
- 3,000+ private and public sector professionals trained
From Vogue to VA, this system works. And unlike academic or consultant-led design thinking workshops that end when the sticky notes come down, this is a systematic process you can repeat, defend, and pass along to colleagues.
Why is the Discovery Guide critical to my success?
You already know what's broken and you want to start fixing it, but without evidence that speaks your organization's language and is tied to your goals, your runway is limited for this work.
With the HCD Discovery methodology you’ll gather the evidence and get the data backing to turn your expertise into organizational change that actually sticks.
How is the Guide organized?
The HCD Discovery Guide is written and organized in modular, interchangeable sections.
That means you don’t need to read straight through or follow this Guide step-by-step, like a recipe. Instead, use the parts of the Guide you need, while applying your own experience and SOPs to sail through the parts that are familiar to you.
HCD Discovery is systematic customer research.
The HCD Discovery Guide provides comprehensive customer experience research methodology for c-suite professionals leading internal and external teams.
This stakeholder research framework provides for systematic discovery. It has been used by federal agencies including the CDC and VA, as well as in private sector organizations managing complex CX initiatives.
HCD Production Guide
Get best practices for the production of your products, services, programs, and systems, including prototyping, testing with customers, and iteration.
Ishmael Interactive Office Hours
Have human centered design or CX questions?
Book 25 minutes with Ana Monroe, author of the HCD Guide series, to ask any questions you might have about the HCD, CX or the HCD Guides and walk away with:
- Clarity on process or strategy
- A Write Up of what was discussed
- An Action Plan to move foreward with
Ishmael Interactive Training
Looking for HCD or CX training?
Get expert direction when you're stuck on a project—2, one hour sessions focused on moving your work forward, not learning theory.
These sessions can be run back-to-back or split up to fit your schedule. You'll walk away with:
- Workshop materials focusing on the Discovery, Production, Delivery, or Measurement phases of HCD
- Clarity on how the HCD process hangs together
- An understanding of where HCD, CX, and DX intersect