What is RACU ?

RACU goes beyond a methodology, it’s a flexible mindset designed to approach challenges with a human-centered perspective. It focuses on understanding users’ contexts, exploring opportunities through experimentation, and iterating based on feedback. RACU is flexible and it is structured around five key steps. It adapts to various situations, whether creating a product, improving a process, or addressing user needs.

Steps & Benefits

Key Benefits of Adopting RACU 

 

User-Centered Solutions

Creating solutions that truly meet users’ needs and expectations. 

 

Reduced Risk and Uncertainty

Validating ideas early and often, ensuring that resources are invested in solutions that work.

Collaboration and Creativity

Encouraging cross-functional teamwork, unlock creative potential by exploring diverse perspectives.

The 5 Steps of RACU

 

STEP 0

 

Empathize

 

define

 

ideate

 

prototype
improvement

 

prototype
testing

 

Let’s Understand Each Step 

 

STEP 0: Know your Challenge

Define Where to Focus 

What happens?

  • Identify and select a relevant topic to explore, one that feels strategic, timely, and meaningful.
  • Frame the initial challenge and clarify what success could look like.

Outcomes: 

Your output is a well-defined challenge

Execution Time: 

1 week 

 

STEP 1: Empathize

Understand the People You’re Designing For

What happens?

  • Explore the user’s world through observation, interviews, and engagement to gain a deep understanding of their needs, emotions, and behaviors.
  • Identify the context, culture, and environment that influence their experiences.

Starting point:

Your input for this step is the Challenge, from step 0.

Outcomes:

Your output for this step are Findings

Execution Time:

3 weeks 

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STEP 2: Define

Frame the Right Problem

What happens?

  • Synthesize key findings to reveal patterns and deeper meanings.
  • Transform discoveries into clear insights that define the core problem or opportunity to address.

Starting point

In this step you put all the Findings, you got on Step 1: Empathize

Outcomes

In this step you get insights, problem or opportunity

Execution Time: 

1 week

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STEP 3: Ideate

Generate and Select Ideas

What happens?

  • Encourage brainstorming and creative thinking to explore a wide range of ideas.
  • Select and refine ideas that best align with user needs and project goals, shaping them into workable concepts.

Starting point

Your input for this step are the insights, problem or opportunity define in step 2.

Outcomes

In this step you get  ideas and concepts to work on.

Execution Time: 

2 weeks

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STEP 4: Prototype Improvement

Build to Learn

What happens?

  • Develop quick, low-cost prototypes to explore potential solutions.
  • Test and refine these prototypes based on user feedback, leading to the creation of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that addresses key needs.

What is your input for this step?

Your input for this step are the concepts and ideas you can work on. 

What is the output for this step?

In this step you get an MVP validated in a controlled environment.

Execution Time: 

3 weeks

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STEP 5: Prototype Testing

Validate in the Real World

What happens?

  • Test the MVP in real-life environments to assess performance and relevance.
  • Gather user feedback for final adjustments or to validate the solution for launch.

Starting point

Your input for this step is an MVP validated in a controlled enviroment. 

Outcomes

In this step you get an MVP validated in real-life enviroments.

Execution Time: 

6 weeks

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