🗞️ Curating the best User Research Events in 2024 🎉

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😌 Humans of User Research with 'Lade Tawak

Tell us a little about yourself, 'Lade.
I think of myself as a builder. Everything I do is centred around building people, products, experiences, and communities. I started out wanting to be a therapist so I studied Psychology. But in my last year of university, I stumbled into a UX Researcher opportunity and I've been on this path for the 7 years since then. I also spend a lot of time coaching, mentoring, writing, and teaching. I’m most passionate about Jesus, my family and friends, teaching, and helping people. This year, I challenged myself to publish a podcast every day so I’ve been speaking a lot recently.

In your opinion, what's a pressing challenge in today's user research landscape?
Generative AI tools are thriving right now and the halo effect makes people think that AI can do everything. This presents a problem where product teams are planning, conducting, and analysing research with AI without understanding how these tools work and without the skill level to identify when these agents are doing the wrong thing. The worst version of this is the use of AI participants which provides a false sense of having done research meanwhile you're just getting regurgitated stereotypes steeped in bias, (these “insights” may even be the opposite of what real people say. User Research has always had the challenge of being seen as an anyone can do it job they can do it just because bad research doesn't stink not stopping to consider that research is a skill. I don’t mean that only UX Researchers should or can do any kind of research whatsoever. However, I do think that we need to remember that research is a skill: it can be taught and learnt to varying degrees of proficiency. AI tools might be helpful in creating wireframes or identifying basic interface and usability issues but is probably not suited to provide specific insights about your audience, their needs, and how they'll respond to a solution. Most people, so smitten by the possibilities of AI, aren't taking this into consideration and approaching these tools as useful for every use case and in every scenario.

What would you like to talk about with other researchers and how can they find you?
How are they using AI in their own work, how they think AI could impact the industry and our jobs, how they use quantitative methods in their work, how they work with other teams to gather and connect insights (especially for UXR teams of 1)? I’d also like to learn what people are doing around incorporating the user context to adapt research methods. How are we thinking about the sociocultural context of the user as well as things like access to technology and digital literacy levels as we do research and build products. They can find me on LinkedIn.

Thank you, 'Lade!

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📚 Articles of the Week.

Between two bookends: making and measuring UX research impact
This Medium article delves into defining and measuring research impact at Microsoft, offering actionable insights for UX researchers to enhance their influence within their organizations. Lexi Neigel 03/14

It's the end of UX/CX research as we know it (and I feel fine)
Explore the transformative journey of UX and CX research, including the profound impact of AI and key organizational challenges, for actionable insights into maximizing research effectiveness. Alfonso Romay 01/28

Embracing collaboration as a UX researcher Ft. Emma Craig, Miro
Emma Craig, Head of Research at Miro, discusses her journey into UX Research, revealing insights on thriving as an introvert in impactful roles. Emma Craig 03/11

How KEEN built a continuous discovery process that aligned product, design marketing, merch, and insights
With the right approach and an improved research platform through dscout, KEEN unearthed deeper customer understanding than ever before. Kris Kopac 03/11

Struggling to prioritize your research? This will help [+ template]
When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. Read on about how to get more done and keep your stakeholders happy. Nikki Anderson-Stanier 03/11

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🎥 Video of the Week.

5-Day program: Intro to UX Research
Learners have put together a 5-day "Intro to UXR" learning program. Even if you're beyond the beginner stage, this video series is a fantastic resource to share whenever someone asks for guidance on understanding UX research. By Learners (Tara Bassili; Alec Levin) Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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🔉 Audio of the Week.

How is UX Research for AI and machine learning (ML) different from UX Research for design
In a brief Insights Unlocked episode, Lawrence Williams of UserTesting speaks with Dawn Procopio, founder of AI-Ethicist.com, discussing the pivotal role of UX researchers in ensuring the human-centered and ethical development of machine learning models. Spotify Apple 03/18

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🗓 Events of the Week.

Trends defining the user research landscape (free)
March 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT
Join Maze for a live event with UX leaders from Miro, Wise, and Janelle Ward Insights to discuss the trends and results from Maze's Future of User Research Report. Learn more

Advancing Research 2024 ($895+)
March 25 @ 9:00 am - March 27 @ 7:30 pm EDT
Advancing Research 2024 is your opportunity to collaboratively re-assess the state of the practice, consider the increasingly complex demands being placed upon research teams and leaders. Learn more

Happy Researching,
🗞 Jan

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