There are a few different ways to determine what users need and want from a product or service. Perhaps the most obvious way is to simply ask them. This can be done through surveys, interviews, or focus groups. Another way to determine user needs is to observe them using the product or service. This can be done through usability testing or analytics.
One of the challenges with determining user needs is that people may not always be aware of what they need or want. They may be able to articulate what they don’t like about a product or service, but not necessarily what would make it better. In these cases, it can be helpful to use techniques like card sorting or tree testing to help users organize their thoughts and ideas.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that users are individuals with their own unique needs and wants. What works for one user might not work for another. That’s why it’s important to use a variety of methods to determine user needs, and to constantly be testing and iterating based on feedback.