Customer Interview Brief

Blank working template. Replace bracketed fields before use.

Learning question

[Which recent workflow, unmet need or assumption are you investigating?]

Decision this interview will inform: [decision]. Target segment: [segment]. Recruitment criteria: [recent relevant experience].

Session and permission

• Interview ID: [pseudonymous ID]
• Date and interviewer: [date / owner]
• Participant role and context: [role / context]
• Permission to take notes: [confirmed / pending / declined]
• Permission to record, if applicable: [confirmed / pending / declined]
• Permission to reuse attributed quotations, if applicable: [confirmed / pending / declined]
• Restricted source location and retention plan: [location / owner / review date]

Ask for and record permission using your organization's approved process. This page is a preparation record, not a legal consent form or an access-control system.

Opening

[Explain the learning purpose in plain language. Confirm time available, optional questions and how notes will be used. Avoid pitching a solution.]

Explore a recent event

1. Recall the most recent time you [relevant task]. What triggered it?
2. Walk me through what happened, starting with [first step].
3. Who was involved and what information did you need?
4. Where did you pause, repeat work or ask someone for help?
5. What did you do instead, and what happened next?
6. Was there a time this went smoothly? What was different?

Keep evidence separate from interpretation

Source excerpt or observed action

[Record a short exact quotation only if permitted, or label a faithful paraphrase. Include a timestamp, paragraph or event locator.]

Interpretation

[Your explanation of the possible unmet need. Mark uncertainty.]

Contradictory evidence or alternative explanation

[What did not fit? What else could explain the event?]

Close and follow up

Anything important we missed? [notes]. Requested follow-up: [action]. Owner: [owner]. Due date: [date].

Debrief

What changed our understanding? [notes]. Which assumption remains unresolved? [notes]. Smallest next learning step: [action / owner / review date].

Do not convert a feature suggestion or hypothetical willingness to pay into a confirmed purchase commitment. Repeated comments from one interview remain one interview.