The Golden Trio: Research, Invention, and Critique in One Process
Why three roles
Researcher, inventor and critic are different types of thinking. The researcher looks for facts of past behavior, the inventor formulates contradictions and moves, the critic asks about the consequences for the user. One universal assistant mixes these roles and loses the rigor of each.
Handoff 1: research → invention
The CustDev Agent produces a research report: a map of themes, quotes, contradictions, hypotheses and a verification plan. For Super Oracle this is the input: the problem, the constraints and the conflict of requirements, formulated from materials, not from impressions.
Handoff 2: invention → critique
Super Oracle returns the contradiction map, solution directions, assumptions, operating conditions, and test scenarios. Muse checks the chosen solution: dark patterns, accessibility barriers, ambiguous promises — and suggests an honest alternative while preserving the designer's decision-making role.
A human at every handoff
At every handoff a human can check and adjust the data: remove weak quotes, refine the contradiction, change the priorities. The chain strengthens the team but does not replace the product owner: the critical decisions are made by a human with the relevant expertise.
When the chain is useful
- The product decision must rest on interviews, not on opinions.
- The requirements conflict, and the team is stuck between compromises.
- Before release the interface needs to be checked for honesty and accessibility.
Adapted from the article: agentseffect.com.