Raquel Félix的动态

Handling emotional moments in remote UX research interviews is something every researcher encounters, but it’s not often talked about. I recently came across a thoughtful post that sparked a lot of reflection on this topic, and I wanted to share a personal story from my time at ShareChat in 2019 and early 2020. Back then, my team and I were conducting remote research to understand the “next billion users” (NBU) in India. Most of our target users were in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, so remote interviews were essential to our work. We were focused on exploring creators’ motivations and the unique challenges female creators faced, including hesitance and security issues on this vernacular app. During one call with a female participant, she began to share not only her usage and creative process on the app but also deeply personal motivations. Midway through, she started crying. I realised that I was not just gathering data; I was witnessing a human story unfold. Handling this emotional moment was crucial. I paused the interview, offered a break, and reassured her that we could continue whenever she felt ready. It struck me how often, to even speak with female participants, I had to go through male family members and provide proof of why I was calling. These were not minors but adult women, many married, yet cultural sensitivities added layers of complexity to each interaction. This experience made it clear that understanding cultural nuances, empathy, and human-centred design (HCD) are essential in research. The interactions I had back then still resonate with me today, reminding me that user research is so much more than usability testing or collecting feedback. It is about connecting with real people and their stories. But there are gaps that need addressing: 1. Handling Emotional Responses: In our industry, we need to better prepare researchers to handle emotionally charged moments in interviews. Providing researchers with training on empathy and active listening could be invaluable in these situations. 2. Cultural Sensitivity: Many researchers still overlook cultural nuances, especially in diverse regions. Research teams must invest time in understanding the cultural context of their users, not just their product interactions. We need more discussions around this in the UX community. 3. Accessibility to Voices: Often, getting direct access to female users or those from marginalised groups is a hurdle. As researchers, we need to find ways to break down these barriers and create safe spaces for these voices to be heard. User research goes beyond mere usability studies; it’s about diving into the human experience behind interactions. It requires us to approach participants with a mindset of openness and a willingness to adapt based on their emotional and cultural contexts. Every story we hear is a reminder that we are designing for people with rich, complex lives, not just for “users.” Let’s value empathy and the real lives behind the data. #UX

Some great tips by Raquel Félix on handling emotional moments in remote UXR interviews!

Fully remote UX jobs are real Go get yours now! My client Jacob sent me the message below just two sessions into our coaching. He uncovered his unique value as a designer by looking at his past work experience and found surprising parallels to UX design from jobs he thought to be completely unrelated. Finding his WHY also helped him rewrite his case studies to very clearly communicate the impact he had on each project and the value he added to them by taking the reader through an engaging journey consisting of key information that support his design decisions and show his reasoning behind them. We haven’t even started marketing his services, or reaching out o his dream companies yet, and he is already being approached by recruiters. If you want to land your own fully remote dream UX job, you can do the same. Everything Jacob and I have covered is part of the UX Career Accelerator and I have one last spot to give away as part of the early-bird offer. Save 600€ and get a free 60-minute consultation with me for free if you opt-in now. ?? Send me a DM to get the link! This offer will end tomorrow, or when the last spot is taken. Be quick and see you inside the UX Career Accelerator!

As a UX Designer, my user-centric approach extends beyond screens. In my remote work, I use these key principles: Iteration & Adaptation ????I treat my workspace as a constant work-in-progress, always adjusting it for better flow and productivity. Contextual Design ????Whether I'm in a busy cafe or a quiet space, I set up my environment to help me stay focused and creative. Empathetic Collaboration ????I work closely with my team, no matter where we are, to keep things running smoothly. Work-Life Balance ????Just like a good design balances function and style, I make sure my remote life mixes work with time for personal fulfillment. Remote work has its challenges, but my UX approach helps me improve continuously and enjoy a balanced remote experience.

Remote usability testing is a great way to connect with users where they are—in their real lives, outside of the design bubble. This isn’t new. In the early 2000s, UX teams would mail prototypes and wait days or weeks for feedback. With just a few pages and a bit of patience, they uncovered insights that no app could ever reveal. Today, remote usability testing is even more powerful. So how does it work? Here’s the secret: the simpler, the better. You send your user a task. Give them something to complete and observe how they interact. Set up a call if you need to, but keep it short and to the point. This is all about watching where they pause, struggle, or smile—things you’d miss if you were focused on running a flashy demo. 1?? Common Challenges (And How to Fix Them) Remote testing has its hiccups. Without face-to-face connection, it’s harder to build rapport. Sometimes, tech glitches make it awkward, and users can feel distanced. Here’s the workaround: be human. Start the session with a friendly intro and set the stage for them to be honest, even if it’s critical. Encourage them to “think out loud” as they go. And then? Just listen. 2?? Why This Works (And When to Use It) When you’re working with users from different backgrounds, time zones, or tech levels, remote usability testing is a game-changer. It’s especially powerful for projects that need real-life feedback on a tight timeline or budget. I’ve seen it in action with companies like Chambers, who used remote testing to develop their new website for an audience from every corner of the world, and HMRC, which uses it to reach users all around the country for many projects. These examples show that remote testing isn’t just convenient; it’s essential for reaching diverse audiences and getting genuine feedback. 3?? The Takeaway: Listen More, Click Less In the rush to design and prototype, it’s easy to focus on tools and overlook the users themselves. Remote usability testing reminds us that UX isn’t about Figma or Photoshop; it’s about understanding people. When we drop the tools, we reconnect with the core of UX: empathy, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. Ready to give it a shot? Follow us for new UX methods every week! #whenuxgoesofftool #uxresearch #userexperience #remoteusability #uxdesign #userinterface #productdesign #ux #ui #webdesign #userresearch #interactiondesign #userinterfacedesign #uxdesigner #digitaldesign #testingmethods #userinsights #designresearch #uxprocess #humancentereddesign #empathyindesign

?? 8 Tips For Running Remote Usability Testing Remote usability testing is any testing that happens when the participant and the researcher are in separate locations.?The sessions are normally carried out through a usability testing platform that records people completing a series of tasks, collects?&?analyze?their input, and generates insights that the product team can put?into action. 1?? Pick the right type of test. There are two types of usability testing: moderated and unmoderated. Generally, if you focus on gathering qualitative insights, go with moderated remote testing. For quantitative insights, try unmoderated remote testing. 2?? Start searching for test participants as soon as possible. Finding test participants is the?biggest?potential bottleneck for remote testing, especially if you need users with a particular background. So start looking for the?right?candidates as early as possible (i.e., a month before testing). 3?? Narrow your scope.?With remote testing, it's better to focus on testing specific flows rather than?ask?the user to complete every possible scenario in your product.?Remote?tests shouldn't be?longer than seven or eight tasks?to keep test participants engaged and motivated. 4?? Ensure that tasks are clear to your users. The premise of usability testing is to learn if users can complete tasks using your product. Clarity of test assignments is?especially important?for unmoderated tests, as you can't be there to guide the progress.?If test participants misunderstand instructions, you will get biased results.?So, once you prepare tasks, it's recommended to have a pilot run with one or two participants to ensure that instructions are clear. 5?? Give test participants one?task at a time.?Avoid grouping tasks together—this will likely create lengthy and complicated instructions. Let participants?fully?focus on one task before giving them another one. 6?? Start with a simple task and gradually increase task complexity. The first task that you ask participants to complete shouldn’t require more than a few clicks. It will help test participants to look around and have a context before diving into more complex tasks. 7?? Write actionable tasks. Use actionable verbs in your tasks to encourage users to interact with your product. An example of an actionable task is: Book a doctor’s appointment. 8?? Ensure that tasks resonate with?the?real?users's?goals. Tasks shouldn't be abstract; they should represent real?scenarios of interaction?with your product.?To write such tasks, you should?have a clear understanding of?users' goals and how your product helps them achieve?those goals. ?? Guides: ? Quick guide to remote usability testing (by Maze) https://lnkd.in/dBxyZRQJ ??Collection of videos and articles about conducting user testing remotely (by Kate Moran) https://lnkd.in/dRiVtNRn ?? Usability testing by Krisztina Szerovay #design #productdesign #ux

I landed my first California-based remote UX design job for $$$$, not by showcasing my portfolio on Behance or posting shots on Dribbble. The job offer came as a complete surprise—they found me on a platform I didn’t expect at all. After completing a 3-month unpaid internship, I became addicted to learning the fundamentals of design. I was particularly curious about one thing: what makes bad design bad? At the time, my only guide was The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman, which I read twice. I enjoyed the process of learning, but something interesting happened—I started spotting design flaws in websites and other interfaces. This inspired me to write on Medium about the design issues I noticed. I published articles on topics like Dribbble’s usability issues, YouTube’s obscuring scrolling, and Samsung Galaxy S Fold’s display issue that caused damaged to the display because users thought that it was a screen protector. To my complete surprise, a recruiter—who also happened to be a designer at PayPal—reached out to me. They sent me a few links to my articles and asked if I was the author. I replied, “Yes.” Within four days, they hired me and offered a salary far beyond what I had ever expected for someone at my level of expertise. It in $,$$$. The takeaway? It’s not about how beautiful your designs look; it’s about your perspective as a designer. Repost if you think this might inspire or help others. Cheers!

Scaling UX Research in Remote Teams: Lessons from the Frontlines by Kamz:

?? ?? If you're looking for a new design job, one of the best things you can do is join job boards and newsletters. Saving time sourcing roles means more time to craft your CV & portfolio. So here's our Top 11 Design Job Boards: ? We Work Remotely A top remote job board for various fields, including design. ? Uxcel Specialized UX/UI design job board with educational resources. ? UX was Here Niche UX job board in beta, focusing on UX professionals. ? Remotive Remote work platform featuring a variety of design roles. ? RemoteOK Popular remote job board with a dedicated design section. ? No Fluff Jobs Clear, concise listings for IT and design roles. ? Design List Jobs Job board dedicated to various design roles. ? DesignX Community Community-driven platform for UX, design, and research jobs. ? Early Stage Design Jobs Focused on new designers and early-stage startups. ? Product.Jobs Specialized in product-related design roles. ? Design-Jobs.com Land your dream design job with our free job board and weekly newsletter. Click the link below to read the full blog article! ????

?? 5 Tips for Conducting Effective Research Interviews in UX ?? Research interviews are a cornerstone of UX design, offering deep insights into user needs, behaviors, and motivations. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just getting started, mastering the art of the user interview is essential to creating products that truly resonate with your audience. Here are five key tips to ensure your UX research interviews are as insightful as possible. ?? Prepare Thoroughly, But Stay Flexible A solid interview starts with great preparation. Develop a structured plan: create an interview guide with open-ended questions that probe your users’ thoughts and behaviors. The goal is to cover key areas relevant to your project while leaving room for organic conversations. However, don’t be afraid to deviate from your guide if your participant shares something unexpected. Follow interesting leads to uncover deeper insights! ??? Choose the Right Tools for the Job The tools you use can significantly affect the quality of your interviews. Consider the needs of your research project when selecting the appropriate methods. Will you conduct in-person interviews, remote sessions, or both? For remote interviews, ensure your technology—video conferencing tools, screen-sharing apps, and recording software—is reliable and familiar to both you and your participant. ?? Create a Comfortable Environment User interviews are only as good as the participant’s willingness to share. It’s crucial to make your participants feel comfortable from the start. Begin with casual conversation to break the ice and establish rapport. Let them know that there are no right or wrong answers—it’s their experiences and thoughts that matter most. An empathetic approach fosters trust and encourages openness. ?? Listen More, Talk Less Active listening is your most valuable skill during a UX research interview. Your role as the interviewer is to facilitate conversation, not dominate it. Give your participants space to talk, and avoid interjecting too soon. Silence can be uncomfortable, but it often leads participants to fill the gap with valuable insights they might not have shared otherwise. ?? Document Meticulously Recording your interviews is essential, but it’s just as important to take real-time notes on things like emotional reactions, body language, or moments of confusion that might not come through in a transcript. After the interview, summarize key insights while they’re still fresh. These observations will help you identify patterns and themes that may inform your design decisions. Conducting effective UX research interviews requires a blend of preparation, flexibility, and empathy. By creating a comfortable space, using the right tools, listening intently, and meticulously documenting your findings, you’ll gain insights that lead to more user-centered designs. ?? #UXResearch #UserInterviews #DesignThinking #EmpathyInDesign #UserExperience #ResearchMethods