Product teams are fast moving, more so than ever before. Some of the methods that I use to help inform them and stay ahead of their development are:
* Quick online surveys with fewer than five questions
* Cafe Feedback to quickly answer specific, finite questions of employees during lunch
* Contextual user testing to gather authentic, organic feedback on a photo app experience that cannot be replicated well in the lab.
* Lab-based usability studies with quick-turn results
My work with these techniques has recently helped define Motorola's Camera hardware specifications, Camera software and Gallery software, including front-facing LED flash and a wider field of view for the camera.