What is an Audit?
An audit in research is a systematic review and analysis of existing data, research, and materials related to the design project. It involves examining existing information to identify gaps in knowledge, potential opportunities, and areas for improvement.
An audit can take different forms depending on the nature of the design project and the available data sources. However, some common types of audits include:
- Market research audit: This involves reviewing existing market research data, such as industry reports, customer surveys, and competitive analysis, to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities in the market.
- User research audit: This involves reviewing existing user research data, such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to identify user needs, pain points, and behaviours.
- Content audit: This involves reviewing existing content, such as website pages, social media posts, and marketing materials, to identify gaps in messaging, branding, and tone.
- Technology audit: This involves reviewing existing technology infrastructure, such as hardware, software, and network systems, to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
- Process audit: This involves reviewing existing processes, such as project management, customer service, and production, to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement.
An audit is a valuable tool in the research and discovery phase of product and service design as it can help designers gain a better understanding of the project scope, identify potential problems early on, and develop insights that inform the design process.