🗞 Bringing up inconvenient feedback

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😌 Humans of User Research with Rajasi Desai

Hi Rajasi, tell us a little about yourself!
Hi everyone, I’m Rajasi (pronounced Rah-juh-see). I’m a Senior UX Researcher at MathWorks, based in Massachusetts, USA. I started my career as an engineer in India but quickly discovered that it wasn’t my calling. Through a blend of experimentation (a tech consulting job and a master’s degree halfway around the world at UC Berkeley) I found my passion in creating user-centered experiences with a strong focus on inclusivity. Today, I craft user experiences for engineers and scientists by leveraging my engineering background. Additionally, I lead the Inclusive UX Team at MathWorks to empower diverse user groups. My work is driven by the belief that thoughtful, inclusive design can break barriers and create meaningful impact.

What advice would you offer to your younger self about a career in UX Research?
I’d tell my younger self to embrace mistakes and not let the fear of perfection hold her back. Early in my career, I hesitated to share ideas worrying they weren’t “perfect,” but learning to see failure as a stepping stone opened doors to growth. By sharing my vision for inclusive user experiences with my management team, I started an initiative that evolved into the Inclusive UX Team, which I now lead. Over the last four years, we’ve grown to a team of seven, driving awareness about inclusion, creating resources for intentional research and design practices, and improving the diversity of research participants.

In what ways do you think UXR can contribute to broader societal issues?
With technology advancing rapidly, today’s product landscape looks vastly different than it did 10-15 years ago. However, not everyone has equal access to these innovations, and UX Researchers play a crucial role in bridging this gap. For example, I’ve seen older members of my family struggle with using social media platforms, making basic tasks frustrating or inaccessible. Similarly, the assumption that everyone has stable internet access or high-end devices overlooks users in rural or underserved areas. Dimensions like geographic location, culture, language, age, disability, gender identity, etc. can influence how products are consumed. By bringing these diverse user perspectives to the forefront, UXR helps ensure technology is designed to serve everyone equitably.

Share a valuable lesson you learned from a research mishap
I have an Indian accent, and often interact with participants from around the world. Early in my career, I realized some participants had difficulty understanding my accent and how quickly I spoke at times. Over the years, I learned to slow down to make communication easier for everyone. A couple of years ago, I faced a situation where I had trouble understanding a participant’s accent, and I wasn’t sure how to proceed with the usability study. I tried using the in-built transcription feature during the session, but it did a poor job transcribing both of our accents. After taking a 5 minute break to gather my thoughts, I shared with the participant that my goal was to understand their feedback as accurately as possible and that I might ask them to repeat statements or confirm my understanding back to them. Since then, I always let participants know that they are welcome to ask me to repeat myself if anything is unclear, and that I might do the same if needed.

What would you like to talk about with other researchers and how can they find you?
I’m excited to talk about how we can make UX practices more inclusive. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned in this space over the last four years and I’m eager to hear from others who have tackled similar challenges. Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or email me at rajasidesai8@gmail.com. If you’re attending UXPA International 2025, come find me! I’ll be delivering a talk on Empowering UX Change Agents and would love to connect.

Thank you, Rajasi!

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📚 Articles of the Week.

How to bring up inconvenient feedback, or when user insights aren’t about design
If you see something, saying something can help your team immensely. Christopher K Wong 01/15

The risks of “insight trackers” and how to avoid them
Researchers shouldn’t be judged on the impact of each and every insight they generate. Jake Burghardt 01/15

Matchmaking emerging technologies and user needs
A four-step process for uncovering the most promising use cases for innovative technologies. Lawton Pybus 01/12

UX research briefing template
How can you ensure a successful UX research project? Define clear research objectives, align on budgets and deadlines, plan recruitment, and collaborate with stakeholders using a structured briefing template. Maaike Mintjes 01/09

ResearchOps in 2024: the year in review
How did ResearchOps evolve in 2024? Expanded global content in multiple languages, new leadership, impactful community calls, and a mini-conference highlighted the year's focus on tools, accessibility, and recruitment strategies. Jonathan Richardson 01/07

Streamlining UX Research Recruitment with AI
Imagine cutting your UX research recruitment time by hours. Using AI, this is becoming a reality. Matt Wallens 01/21

Understanding Autoethnography: A personal lens in research
Reflecting on my S-Bahn journeys to explore urban mobility and the use of autoethnography as a research method. Gulshamar 01/20

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🎥 Video of the Week.

Awkward Silences #158 - Leading Design as a Researcher with Emily Wurgler of McDonald's
What unique value do researchers bring to design leadership? Foster strong design-research partnerships, adapt approaches for scale, prepare teams for future UX trends, and prioritize curiosity and adaptability in new hires. YouTube 01/15

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🔉 Audio of the Week.

7 years of growth in UX research with Basel Fakhoury
What drives the growth of research in industry? Embrace scalable research practices, leverage recruitment platforms, and address persistent challenges to align research impact with organizational goals. Spotify Apple 01/08

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🗓 UserCalendar: Upcoming Events.

Where to use AI in the UX research process (Free)
January 28 @ 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm EST
Learn where to wisely integrate AI in UX research, assess its trustworthiness, and develop essential skills for leveraging AI effectively in your workflow. Learn more

Beyond just research: expanding the researcher role (Free)
January 29 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
Explore how researchers can adapt and expand their role by leveraging their skillset in a landscape where non-researchers increasingly conduct research. Learn more

AMA with Nicolas: Early insights from a new ReOps leader
January 30 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Gain insights from a new Research Ops leader on setting priorities, building systems, fostering collaboration, and navigating the transition into leadership roles. Learn more