How can UX Researchers work effectively with designers?

Designers doesn't mean blind designers. Designers should know the background and research insights collected from user research. UX researchers and designers should be align together. Both the skill has it's own process of work. But the similarity is they should know the design process as well. Without knowing design process no one can help each other.

As a UX designer, the methodology I have is to develop a UX strategy that involves principles and recommendations and insight tools such as wireframes, personas, journey maps, etc. This is given to the design team so that they understand the reasoning behind what I am proposing and also have recommendations that they could follow. They don't do everything, but they do a lot of them and also have the flexibility as designers to adapt the recommendations. I like this process as it gives them the how/why and a path forward. Ultimately, I don't control the design team, so I need to give them a helpful tool.

A design process is a systematic approach used to solve problems or create solutions in various fields such as graphic design, product design, or user experience design. It typically involves stages like research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation to ensure a thoughtful and effective outcome.

From my experience, the most efficient collaboration between UX researchers and UX designers happens when there is an understanding of each other's processes and goals during the research and the design phases. This does not mean that a UX researcher needs to be able to design, but they do need to understand the core aspects of the design process to help ensure they are providing the right information for the designer to make informed design decisions when building the UI. At the same time the designer needs to understand core aspects of the research process to know when to provide their feedback and how to ask relevant questions to research to uncover the foundational information they need to make informed design decisions.

The design process involves ideation, prototyping, and refinement. It begins with understanding the problem, followed by brainstorming solutions, creating prototypes, and iterating based on feedback. Collaboration, user feedback, and attention to detail are integral to a successful design process.

I’m fortunate to have been trained as a designer prior to becoming an UXR. I believe that lens really informs how I can best support & partner w/ UXDs & UIDs. Understanding the constraints of not only your discipline, but those of others really enables you to empathize & creatively problem solve together to find solutions. When I collaborate early in the concept stage of a user flow, I’ve found it empowers UXDs to surface any questions they may have regarding user’s interactions. By communicating often, this ensures I am infusing their curiosities into my research protocol prior to user testing. I’ve found that my UXR studies are most rich when I include all of my cross-functional colleagues perspectives.

I'm always amazed by designers' willingness to take part in Research ! I think that the real challenge here is not "how to involve designers in the process" but rather "where to draw the line" and do some push back. I've often seen designers who want to be more involved in UXR : it's great because you generate enthusiasm for your Research, but it can become a hassle sometimes when you have stakeholders meddling up with your research protocols and analysis. So to sum it up : always involve your stakeholders, but keep the ownership of your projects at all times.

As a UX Researcher, I always pre-test my protocols. What's a better way than to do it with your designer? Not only does he feel involved in the UXR, he can also give valuable feedback and improvement suggestions. For me, I see it as a double win. Furthermore, when I create surveys or interview guides, I always ask my Designer if he wants to add questions.

A pesquisa n?o é apenas do pesquisador, mas de todos os envolvidos no tema que está sendo pesquisado. Nesse sentido, é indicada a participa??o de designers e até mesmo outros profissionais no processo de realiza??o da pesquisa. é possível usar o contexto da pesquisa, inclusive, para construir a confian?a do designer em realizar algumas pesquisas menos complexas com autonomia. Convide para o planejamento da pesquisa, para participar da coleta, apoiar na análise, deixando claro o quanto o conhecimento do designer pode agregar naquela pesquisa.

To begin with, articulating research goals, methods, findings, and recommendations in a clear and concise manner is imperative. Recognizing the diverse skill sets and perspectives within the team, my communication strategy emphasizes clarity. This involves distilling complex research concepts into digestible insights that resonate with designers. Utilizing a variety of channels, such as emails, chats, calls, and meetings, ensures that information is disseminated in a manner that aligns with the preferences and needs of the design team.

Clear communication has been the key differentiator for me to gain the trust & support of my design team. If you think objectively, a Researcher is a 'fault-finder' for their design. So, how can we make the designers our ally? By effective communication - Not just by communicating the insights but also aligning them with research planning e.g. what, why & how are you planning to test. - High-lighting the positive feedbacks as often as possible - Articulating the insights as clear actionable but without leading them. The last one is the toughest but the most important one to achieve. You can try to frame it as Users' need. e.g. Instead of saying 'Add info as hover' say - 'How can user see more information upfront on this screen?'

What I like to do is to send a few "key highlights" at the end of the week. --> A short email, with the main insights, quotes, links to videos and / or you research repository. Just enough data to keep them updated AND stimulate their curiosity for your project.

Establish clear, ongoing communication channels with designers. Regularly share research findings, insights, and emerging patterns. Use visualisations, reports, and presentations that are easily digestible and actionable. Effective communication helps in making sure that research findings are integrated into the design process seamlessly.

I’ve had the great fortune of working with researchers who are excellent in their work, and have a desire to understand the problem space and nuances of designs, if applicable. Do that leg work to clarify your needs. I pride myself on building strong rapport with colleagues on my team regardless of our project interactions, so I state all that to say - it’s worth cultivating strong collaboration interpersonally. That said, clarifying the objectives of user research, aligning on key problems and hypothesis to dig in to, and overall mutually agree upon the outline of the study prior to users being in the chair. Validate everyone’s ideas, lead with the strongest ideas, learn and iterate.

Collaboration here is key and should be present at every stage of the process. Involve your designer in as much as you can - find out what they need to know, the questions they have, invite them to the research sessions and take feedback on the research activities you are planning. Don’t be afraid to ask their opinion on how they think their designs should be tested and the tools you might use. This can lead to much better sessions and help make sure that the insights gained will lead to impactful iterations. And you never know, you might even get some help taking notes!

Para construir un producto eficaz, es necesario el trabajo en equipo. Debe haber una simbiosis, entre los dise?adores. Luego es muy necesario hacer métricas, para observar el éxito o fracaso de la funcionalidad del producto. Esto ayudara a las dise?adores para enfocar donde se deben hacer las mejoras.

Todo producto debe pasar por una fase de pruebas en diferentes momentos de la construcción, las cuales se dividen en las siguientes etapas : ?Exploratorias: se realizan en procesos de definición de contenido y flujos ; en esta etapa no se necesita tener algún prototipo por que enfoca totalmente en lo conceptual y sobre el proceso . ? Valoración: Son capaces de valorar el producto desde un enfoque estético y visual, desde sus preferencias y como el contenido convive con ello. ? Validación: se enfoca en la Usabilidad, midiendo la armonía entre la forma y la función en relación a la actividad del usuario y un modelo mental extraído.

Treating designers as partners rather than clients or suppliers is fundamental to successful collaboration. Recognizing and respecting their domain knowledge and creative insights forms the foundation of a symbiotic relationship. This mindset fosters an environment where the unique strengths of both UX researchers and designers are leveraged to achieve shared goals.

I am quite fond of task management tools. I chose notion as my go to tool for this because it offers tons of flexibility without it being overwhelming. It helps us collaborate better and also work on simultaenous processes with ease.

At the heart of it all is trust and connection when working with designers. It's about building a solid relationship grounded in respect, understanding, and mutual appreciation. Prove your worth as a researcher by showing how your insights can be the secret sauce for designers' success. Be a reliable and honest teammate. Support and empathize when things get tough. Celebrate victories together and learn from the bumps. It's not just about what you find but how you collaborate. When trust is the foundation, the work becomes not just a job but a shared journey towards excellence.

As a UX researcher, I have often experienced resistance from designers whenever we talk about some insights that might potentially deviate their thought process from the existing/planned designs. Being in agile setups, they continue to deliver designs based on gut rendering the UX research useless. As researchers, we are open to discussing, minimize the deviations and improve collaboration, however the project timelines/agile setups don't allow designers to pause and rethink solutions.

The cornerstone of this collaboration is the establishment of a strong, positive relationship grounded in mutual respect. Recognizing the expertise and creativity that designers bring to the table, I approach our interactions with an open mind and a genuine appreciation for their craft. This lays the groundwork for a partnership where both parties feel valued and understood, setting the stage for effective collaboration.

Develop a relationship based on trust and respect with the design team. Acknowledge the designers' expertise and perspective, and be open to their input on your research methods and findings. A strong rapport leads to more effective teamwork and a user-centered approach that is genuinely integrated into the product development process.

Encouraging designers to stay abreast of the latest trends, tools, and methodologies empowers them to bring fresh perspectives to their work. This commitment to continuous learning not only enhances individual growth but also contributes to the overall innovation and adaptability of the entire team.

Consider the power of storytelling. Numbers and facts are crucial, but weaving them into a compelling story can make your research resonate. Share anecdotes or real user experiences to add a human touch to the data. Embrace curiosity. The best insights often come from unexpected questions. Encourage a culture where both researchers and designers feel free to ask the quirky, out-of-the-box questions that could lead to groundbreaking ideas. Flexibility is key. In the ever-evolving world of design and research, be ready to adapt. Stay open to trying new methods, tools, or approaches. What works today might need a tweak tomorrow.

Remember to stay adaptable and flexible in your approach. The dynamics of the project or team may change, requiring adjustments in your collaboration methods. Also, advocate for a user-centered culture where the contributions of UX research are valued and understood across the organization. This broader support can significantly enhance the collaboration between UX researchers and designers.