Pioneering A New Research Methodology
Client: Bitpanda | Year: 2022
Context
In 2022, amidst a bear market following years of bullish trends in the cryptocurrency industry, Bitpanda faced intensified competition and shifting customer dynamics. Recognizing the imperative to stay innovative and resilient, The Head of Experience Design commissioned me to challenge and revamp existing research practices, signaling a pivotal moment for the company's approach to understanding user needs and market trends.
Goals
The primary objective was to future-proof Bitpanda against market uncertainties and emerging trends, ensuring its adaptability and competitiveness in a volatile crypto landscape.
Methods
Embarking on this mission, I immersed myself in the realms of foresight research and speculative design. Through desk research and expert interviews, I assimilated insights into cutting-edge methodologies and their potential applications within Bitpanda's context.
Subsequently, I engaged internal stakeholders across departments to align the methodology with Bitpanda's organizational vision and strategic goals. This collaborative effort ensured that the new approach resonated with Bitpanda's unique challenges and opportunities.
With a refined understanding and stakeholder insights, I crafted a structured framework, manifested in a double-diamond process. This framework became the blueprint for conducting future research endeavors, fostering iterative exploration and creative ideation.
To validate the efficacy of the methodology, I applied it to a research study on values-based investing, a trend with profound implications for the cryptocurrency industry. Through a blend of internal surveys, trend analysis, and speculative ideation sessions, I explored potential future scenarios and user preferences related to values-based investment strategies.
Outcome
The introduction of foresight research and speculative design marked a pivotal shift in Bitpanda's research and innovation approach. The values-based investing study served as a successful pilot for the new methodology, demonstrating its potential to uncover strategic insights in a rapidly evolving market.
While my departure from Bitpanda prevented a detailed assessment of internal impacts, the structured double-diamond process laid the groundwork for continued innovation and agility within the organization, positioning Bitpanda for resilience and growth amidst market volatility.
Testimonial
"Benjamin has a been a key player in our design team, supporting our discovery studies. His diversity of experiences, away from the digital world but in close contact with humanity in wildly different contexts, brought a flavour that most tech companies miss - innovation doesn't happen by understanding technology alone, but how to bridge that to humans in a way that is actually desired! Leading foresight studies and speculative design exercises, he landed such foreign concepts in the MVP world with vigour and managed to trigger curiosity and participation from many different stakeholders. A true team player, flexible in his approach, deep thinker and great conversation partner, Benjamin is a win in any team with his creative approach and inspiration to 'what can be'."
- Raquel Damas, Head of Experience Design
