Rapid Contextual Design is a methodical approach to develop user interfaces for end devices, with which the user interacts with an end device during use. In this context, the user-centered design technique aims at high speed in the development processes, as time has become a much more important factor in system design.
The goal of Rapid Contextual Design is to put the customer at the center of the processes and involve them in the process without slowing them down. The key is to fit the design into the existing structures, expectations and development processes of the organizations.
The focus of the Rapid Contextual Design Process is the systematic survey of users and customers. The interviews are directly related to the development of the user interface and are processed in a structured manner with the help of various workshops in order to ultimately develop new approaches to solutions.
The speed of the development process depends on the complexity of the product. The individual steps of the process are made as short as possible. Using the Rapid Contextual Design method, designers can gather customer data in as little as a week and envision a solution after interviewing users. As a result, the actual design process extends from five to seven weeks, which definitely has to be counted as “rapid”.