What tools are essential for a user interaction research professional?

4 Data Communication Tools

Data communication tools are the ones that help you share your research findings and recommendations with your stakeholders, such as clients, managers, or designers. They can be verbal or visual, depending on the format and audience you need. Verbal data communication tools are usually used to present and discuss your research results, while visual data communication tools are used to create and display your research reports, dashboards, or stories. Some examples of data communication tools are PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, and Storytelling.

5 Collaboration Tools

Collaboration tools are the ones that help you work with your research team and other colleagues throughout the research process. They can be synchronous or asynchronous, depending on the time and location of your collaborators. Synchronous collaboration tools are usually used to communicate and coordinate in real-time, while asynchronous collaboration tools are used to exchange and store information at different times. Some examples of collaboration tools are Zoom, Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

6 Learning Tools

Learning tools are the ones that help you improve your user interaction research skills and knowledge. They can be formal or informal, depending on the source and style of your learning. Formal learning tools are usually used to acquire certifications or degrees in user interaction research, while informal learning tools are used to access resources or communities that can help you learn from others. Some examples of learning tools are Coursera, Udemy, Medium, and UX Research Collective.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?