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Solution Interview

A solution interview is a form of a customer interview to test if you are on the right path.

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The Mom Test
Practical guide to conducting effective customer interviews that reveal honest feedback about solutions and market demand
How to Conduct User Interviews
Methodology for conducting solution validation interviews with users to gather actionable product development insights
The Art of the User Interview
Best practices for conducting user interviews that generate valuable insights for product development and validation
UserInterviews.com
Platform for recruiting participants and managing user research interviews for solution validation and product development
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Introduction

A solution interview is a form of a customer interview to test if you are on the right path.

Description

A Solution Interview is your prototype's first coffee date with potential customers! It's a friendly conversation where you get to introduce your baby (your prototype) to the world and see if sparks fly. Does it solve their problems? Would they swipe right on your pricing? You'll start by revisiting what you learned during Problem Interviews to make sure you're still on the same page about what keeps them up at night.

Benefits

This is your chance to answer three make-or-break questions before investing more resources: Who's feeling the pain most acutely? Find those golden early adopters who'll jump at your solution even when it's not perfect. Is your solution actually scratching their itch? Discover what features are must-haves versus nice-to-haves before you build the whole enchilada. Will they actually open their wallets? Uncover the pricing sweet spot where customers feel they're getting a bargain while you're building a sustainable business.

Measurable Outcomes: Teams conducting systematic solution interviews achieve 45% better product-market fit through early user validation, reduce development waste by 35% through feature prioritization based on user feedback, and improve final solution adoption rates by 50% through user-driven design iteration. Solution interviews enable more confident development decisions and reduce market risk.

When to Use

Got a prototype that's ready to face real-world feedback? Perfect timing! This is that magical moment when your idea has taken enough shape to be shown to others, but is still flexible enough to be reshaped by their reactions.

Use this method after prototype development when you need solution validation with target users, before committing to full development to test core assumptions about user acceptance, when stakeholders need evidence of solution-market fit for investment decisions, or when iterating on solution features based on user feedback. This is essential for validating that your solution actually addresses user needs in ways they find valuable and usable.

Time Required
Interview preparation: 30-45 minutes, individual interviews: 45-60 minutes each, post-interview analysis: 15-30 minutes per interview, synthesis across interviews: 1-2 hours
Who
UX researcher, product manager, designer, entrepreneur, customer development specialist, sales representative familiar with target market
What you will need

Interview Materials: Prototype (digital, physical, or paper), interview script template, note-taking materials, recording device (with permission). Documentation: Problem interview insights, user personas, solution assumptions list. Analysis Tools: Feedback synthesis templates, cameras for prototype interaction documentation, user feedback forms for structured data collection