B2.1.04 Secondary Research

What is it?

Internet-based research involves using online sources to gather information relevant to your design project. The internet provides access to an enormous range of information — from product reviews and design blogs to scientific articles and manufacturer specifications.

Types of useful internet-based sources for designers:

• Design and industry websites — professional design organisations, manufacturer websites, and product databases

• Online product reviews — user-generated feedback about existing products that reveals real-world performance and frustrations

• Patent databases — searchable records of existing design solutions and innovations (e.g. Google Patents, Espacenet)

• Design case studies — documented accounts of design processes and outcomes

• News and current affairs — emerging social, environmental, and technological trends relevant to your design context

• Multimedia content — video demonstrations, unboxing reviews, and user tutorials that reveal how products are used in reality

Critical evaluation of internet sources:

Not all internet sources are equally reliable. Designers must evaluate sources critically:

Real-World Example:

When designers were developing improved grip aids for people with Parkinson's disease, internet-based research revealed extensive online communities of Parkinson's patients sharing their daily challenges with existing products. Forum discussions, video reviews, and caregiver blogs provided rich qualitative data about real-world product failures — insights that would have taken months of primary research to gather independently.

Additionally, patent database searches revealed existing grip aid designs, allowing the design team to identify what had already been tried and where genuine innovation gaps remained.

What is it?

Government data and statistics are officially collected, large-scale datasets published by national and international government bodies. These datasets are typically gathered through national censuses, public health surveys, economic research, and social studies.

Examples of valuable government data sources for designers:

• National census data — population demographics, age distributions, household compositions

• Public health statistics — prevalence of disabilities, chronic conditions, and age-related health trends

• Housing and urban planning data — information about built environments, accessibility standards, and mobility patterns

• Consumer spending statistics — market size data for specific product categories

• Workplace and occupational health data — information about injuries, ergonomic risks, and worker demographics

• International organisations — WHO (World Health Organisation), UN, and World Bank publish global datasets on disability, ageing, and accessibility

Why is government data particularly valuable for universal design?

Government data provides statistically reliable, large-scale evidence about the populations designers are designing for. It removes assumptions and replaces them with evidence.

Real-World Example:

The global movement toward inclusive urban design — kneeling buses, accessible pedestrian crossings, tactile paving, and dropped kerbs — was significantly driven by government statistical research.

When the World Health Organisation published data showing that over 1 billion people — approximately 15% of the global population — live with some form of disability, and that this figure is rising due to global population ageing, city planners and transport designers could no longer treat accessibility as a niche concern. The data made the case for universal design undeniable.

What is it?

University research refers to academic studies, experiments, and investigations conducted by university researchers and published in academic journals, conference papers, and research reports. This type of secondary research represents some of the most rigorous, evidence-based knowledge available to designers.

Types of university research relevant to design:

• Ergonomics and human factors research — studies of human physical capabilities, limitations, and anthropometric data

• Materials science research — investigation of material properties, performance, and innovation

• User experience (UX) research — studies of how people interact with products, interfaces, and environments

• Accessibility and inclusive design research — investigation of design barriers and solutions for diverse user groups

• Sustainability research — studies of environmental impact, lifecycle analysis, and sustainable materials

How to access university research:

• Google Scholar — free search engine for academic publications

• ResearchGate — platform where researchers share their published work

• University library databases — accessible through school or university library subscriptions

• Open access journals — academic journals that publish freely available research

Evaluating university research:

University research is generally more reliable than internet sources because it is peer-reviewed — meaning other experts in the field have assessed the research before publication. However, designers should still consider:

• How recent is the research?

• How large was the study sample?

• Does the research apply to your specific user group and context?

Real-World Example:

The development of ergonomic design standards for office furniture — including adjustable chairs, monitor heights, and keyboard positions — was largely driven by university research in human factors and occupational health.

Studies conducted at institutions including Cornell University's Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory produced detailed anthropometric data and ergonomic guidelines that became industry standards. Companies such as Herman Miller — famous for their Aeron chair — directly referenced university ergonomics research when developing seating designed to accommodate the full range of human body sizes and sitting postures.

What is it?

A literature search is a systematic review of published written sources — books, academic journals, design publications, industry reports, and historical texts — to build comprehensive knowledge about a design topic.

Unlike general internet research, a literature search is structured and purposeful — the designer identifies specific topics to investigate and searches methodically for the most relevant and authoritative sources.

Types of literature relevant to design research:

• Design theory and methodology books — foundational texts on design thinking, user-centred design, and universal design

• Product design and engineering textbooks — technical knowledge about materials, manufacturing, and structural principles

• Industry reports and white papers — professional analysis of market trends, user needs, and technological developments

• Historical design literature — understanding the evolution of products and design approaches over time

• Standards and regulations documents — official guidelines and legal requirements for product safety, accessibility, and performance (e.g. ISO standards, building codes, accessibility legislation)

Why is a literature search different from general internet research?

A literature search prioritises depth and authority over breadth. It focuses on finding the most credible, well-researched sources rather than the most easily accessible ones.

Real-World Example:

When designers at Humanscale were developing their Freedom Chair — an ergonomic office chair designed for maximum adjustability and universal fit — their design team conducted an extensive literature search through ergonomics publications, anthropometric data books, and occupational health journals.

This literature search revealed published research on the relationship between recline angle and spinal pressure, seat depth and circulation, and armrest height and shoulder tension — technical knowledge that directly informed the chair's mechanical design and adjustment range. The result was a chair capable of comfortably accommodating a wide range of body types and sitting postures without manual adjustment — a powerful example of evidence-based universal design.

Before using any secondary source, ask:

• Who produced this information and why?

• When was it published — is it still current?

• How was the data collected — is the methodology sound?

• Does this source agree or conflict with other sources?

Identify the specific data, statistics, insights, or knowledge from each source that is directly relevant to your design project. Do not simply copy large sections of text — extract the key points that answer your research questions.

The most powerful secondary research analysis combines findings from multiple sources to build a comprehensive picture. Look for:

• Agreements — where multiple sources confirm the same finding (stronger evidence)

• Contradictions — where sources disagree (requires further investigation)

• Gaps — what the existing literature does not yet address (potential design opportunities)

Just as with primary research, secondary research findings should be transformed into specific, evidence-based user requirements that inform your design specification.

This user requirement is:

• Evidenced — references specific secondary sources

• Quantified — provides a measurable criterion

• Justified — explains why the criterion exists

Secondary research significantly enriches your design specification by providing:

• Quantitative benchmarks — specific measurements, force limits, and performance thresholds from ergonomic and anthropometric research

• Regulatory requirements — legal and standards-based criteria from official publications

• Market context — understanding of existing solutions and their limitations from internet and literature research

• User demographic data — population statistics that define who the design must serve

Secondary research can powerfully enrich and validate user personas developed through primary research. Where primary research gives you the specific stories of individual users, secondary research provides the statistical and demographic context that confirms your persona is representative of a broader user group.

Example — Enriching a Persona with Secondary Research:

Secondary research additions:

• Government data: WHO statistics confirm that 46% of people over 60 experience some form of musculoskeletal condition, validating Margaret's arthritis as a representative characteristic

• University research: Published ergonomics studies confirm that grip strength in women over 65 averages 18kg — significantly below the force required to open standard jar lids (typically 25–35kg)

• Literature search: Published universal design literature identifies dignity and independence as primary motivational values for older users — confirming Margaret's emotional profile

These secondary research additions transform Margaret from an individual portrait into a statistically grounded, research-validated representation of a significant user group.

Secondary research frequently identifies directions for further investigation — areas where existing research is limited, outdated, or not specific enough to your design context.

This analytical thinking demonstrates that your secondary research is actively driving your design process forward and identifying where primary research is needed to fill specific knowledge gaps.