The CIRCLES Method is a framework designed to help professionals systematically evaluate and improve product designs. It provides a comprehensive approach to breaking down complex design problems into manageable components, ensuring thorough analysis and thoughtful solutions. The method is widely used in user experience (UX) design and product management to enhance the usability and appeal of products.
Comprehend the Situation: Understand the context and the user needs. | Identify the Customer: Specify the target user demographics and behaviors. | Report the Customer's Needs: List out what the user needs from the product. | Cut through Prioritization: Prioritize the needs based on importance and feasibility. | List Solutions: Generate a range of solutions to address the prioritized needs. | Evaluate Trade-offs: Assess the pros and cons of each solution. | Summarize Recommendations: Provide a final recommendation with justifications.
Thoroughly research user demographics and behaviors | Regularly update and validate user needs | Encourage creativity in the solution generation phase
Provides a structured approach to problem-solving | Enhances focus on user needs and experiences | Facilitates thorough analysis and informed decision-making
Can be time-consuming | May require substantial user research data | Potentially overlooks non-user-centric factors
When designing or redesigning a product | When evaluating user experience for improvements
For quick, minor product updates | When the product's user base is not clearly defined