Guerrilla user research by the Congress
House Members Eat at Food-Stamp Level for a Week
This segment on NPR‘s All Things Considered last night reminded me of some of what we used to do in college. It’s a common design technique to try to put yourself in your target audience’s shoes, and/or to observe your users in the context in which they use your product. It’s the central idea in the user-centered design principles.
It is a gimmick, but there is a reality to it right now… Nonetheless, this is what I’m eating on for a week, and I have a new appreciation, and in that sense it’s not a gimmick.
It’s nothing new, I just thought it was interesting that politicians are using it, and the mainstream media picking it up. Of course it’s a part publicity stunt, but this congresswoman sounds pretty genuine about her desire to understand the reality of the people she’s serving.
