## 5 Understand
### Direct Discussion with Client and Stakeholders  
Regular and well-documented meetings are key to achieving good results. This can be achieved as follows:  
1. Initial Meeting: An opening session involving all stakeholders, including the client, designers, and other relevant parties. All design team members should attend this meeting to ensure a unified understanding of the project's basic requirements. During the meeting, clients should outline their vision and requirements, including the schedule of completion and budget.  
Ongoing Dialogue: Following the initial meeting, the design team should split into two groups. One group should be responsible for maintaining continuous dialogue with the client and stakeholders to gather feedback and refine the project requirements as needed.  
_Research_  
The second group will engage in research. This group must maintain constant contact with the \"dialogue\" group to keep the client and stakeholders updated and respond to their requests in real time. The research should be conducted in a systematic and structured manner, and include these steps in particular:  
1. Definition of Research Questions: Identify clear and focused questions to guide the study. While questions will vary depending on the specific project context, they may include the following: * Context: What are the cultural, social, economic, and technological characteristics of the context in which the project must be developed? What might the project's reception be in this context? * Case Studies: Are case studies relevant to the context in question? Can they be adapted to the situation?
2. Selection of Research Tools: Choose tools and methods for collecting research material. Common research tools include: * Bibliographic Surveys: Comprehensive literature reviews to gather relevant data, theoretical frameworks, and best practices. * Interviews: Engagement with industry professionals and experts to gain insights and validate feasibility. * Field Investigations: On-site visits and observations to understand contextual factors and practical constraints.  
_Documentation and Outputs_  
Each activity during this phase should be recorded and archived in an appropriate format. Specifically, this should be done through the following steps:  
1. Reports and Transcripts: Meetings, field trips, and interviews should be documented through detailed reports and transcripts (simple minutes for minor meetings). These records should capture all significant discussions, decisions, and observations.
2. Research Databases: Extensive bibliographic and iconographic databases should be used to meticulously record the collected data.  
_Integration of Digital Tools_  
Smart digital tools should be used to complete the tasks of this phase efficiently. Among existing tools, the following may be particularly useful:  
1. Sharing Platforms, such as Google Drive and Dropbox, enable information collection and sharing. These tools ensure that all team members can access and review the collected data.
2. Collaboration Software, such as Asana, Trello, and Microsoft Teams, can be used for task management and tracking research progress. Although real-time collaboration on design features is not the primary focus at this stage, these tools can help maintain the organization and accountability of research and development.