?? 7 Tips for Successful Discoveries

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with ?rsan Berkay Tülüce , Senior Manager of UX Research & Design Strategy at Akbank. He shared insights on how empathy drives his design process, his passion for creating meaningful product experiences, and even the historical figure he’d design for—Alexander the Great! Check out how ?rsan would use design to reshape history and his work on UXR Playground, a hub for elevating UX professionals.

?? In this edition, we’re covering the complexities of asking “Why?” in UX research, using visual cues when words fall short, and seven tips for smoother discovery sessions. You’ll also find guidance on accelerating research with AI, fixing common research mistakes, and optimizing usability with tree testing. Plus, there’s a must-watch video on how AI is transforming UX research and a podcast on organizing user interview notes efficiently.

?? On the personal front, I just returned from a weekend in Lausanne, where I competed in the Swiss Slow Coffee Challenge. In the competition, everyone uses the same beans, and the judges choose the best-tasting coffee from three contestants each round. The winner moves on to the next round. I was excited to make it to the semi-finals—my first time using the Hario Switch after only competing with the Aeropress before. It was a great learning experience and I picked up some new techniques along the way.

Happy Researching, Jan Ahrend ??

?? Humans of User Research with ?rsan Berkay Tülüce

Hi ?rsan, tell us a little about yourself!

Hello everyone! I’m ?rsan Berkay Tülüce. I orchestrate cross-functional collaboration to drive impactful design outcomes and cultivate a culture of evidence-based design within the organizations. In my current role as Senior Manager of UX Research & Design Strategy at Akbank, I lead high-impact projects and guide my team. Alongside my work at Akbank, I share my industry expertise as a lecturer at various academic institutions with the next generation of UX professionals. I also convey my passion for design through UXR Playground, a dynamic platform that I founded for design and research professionals.

What aspect of your current job brings you the most satisfaction?

I’ve always been captivated by the idea of defining rituals and behavioral models around a product in the simplest way. For me, product design is a translation process, resulting from well-crafted interactions that are aligned with context and driven by empathy—our most powerful design tool. My passion remains focused on materializing contextual solutions for evolving problem spaces and transforming technology into meaningful experiences. This pursuit continues to bring me immense satisfaction in my role.

If you could design a product for any historical figure, who would you choose and why?

I’d choose Alexander the Great. I offer him a psychologist’s sofa—an enchanted object designed to help him process the deep emotional traumas stemming from his relationships with his family and influential elder figures. This sofa would serve as a therapeutic space where Alexander could confront his inner conflicts, gain deeper psychological insights and navigate his complex feelings, perhaps even allowing him to reshape the course of his decisions.

How can people learn more about you and your work?

I founded UXR Playground, a platform where design and research professionals can elevate their skills and advance their careers. It’s a hub for practical insights and hands-on learning, where I share templates, tactics, and best practices to support the local UX community. If you’re interested in how I approach design and research, probably UXR Playground is the best place to start. Also, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and ping me to chat further!

Thank you, ?rsan!

?? Articles of the Week.

Beyond the surface: the double-edged sword of asking "Why?" in UX. Uncover the strengths and weaknesses of probing users for reasons behind their actions and preferences. Dr Maria Panagiotidi 09/27

Beyond words: how visual cues and props can transform user research. How can researchers better capture participants' emotions and experiences when language fails? Use non-verbal cues, explore metaphors, and employ techniques like emotion mapping to bridge gaps in verbal communication. Asatika Hardianti 09/26

Don’t get left behind—Disco Conf 2024 is next month! ? (Sponsored). Hear from product leaders with experience at LinkedIn, Dropbox, Google, Asana, Lyft, Shopify and more—sharing knowledge and practices on how you can maximize user insights to instill confidence in every product decision. Claim your free spot

7 tips for successful discoveries. Discovery is challenging; it can be hard to know what to research, how to do discovery as a team, and how to get buy-in. Follow these 7 tips for smoother discovery efforts. Maria Rosala 09/27

Accelerating research with AI. AI can speed up certain research tasks but is currently most helpful in the planning and analysis stages. Kate Moran & Maria Rosala 09/27

Common research mistakes (and how to fix them) Whether you’re not asking for feedback or being inflexible, it’s easy to slip up—but learning from your mistakes makes your work even better. Nikki Anderson-Stanier 09/27

How trees can improve your research. How can tree testing improve navigation and content hierarchy in websites or apps? Evaluate content labels, test category structures, and identify problem areas where users struggle to find information for better navigation. Daniel Pidcock 08/05

Actual usability VS perception of usability. How redesigning the worlds most profitable menu taught me that users sometimes prefer less usability. Daniel Pidcock 01/04

8 things I’ve learned building a UX knowledge repository. How can Atomic UX Research help scale knowledge management and uncover hidden insights? Focus on capturing broader context, connect insights across projects, and avoid tunnel vision to make insights accessible and actionable across teams. Daniel Pidcock 07/11

Complete guide to SUPR-Q: evaluating usability. How can SUPR-Q improve e-commerce site performance and conversions? Assess usability, trust, appearance, and loyalty to identify friction points and optimize the customer experience for smoother checkout and higher conversion rates. Disha Mod 09/20

?? Video of the Week.

How is AI changing UX Research? With Pete Fleming . How is AI transforming UX research and what are the implications? Leverage AI to automate repetitive tasks, enhance collaboration with tool providers, and maintain user control while driving deeper insights into customer needs. YouTube 09/23

?? Audio of the Week.

Efficient note-taking and post-IT organization for user interviews. How can UX researchers efficiently capture and organize user interview data? Use the '5-Minute Rule' for quick note-taking, leverage AI transcription tools, and transition insights into structured, actionable post-it notes for impactful research outcomes. Spotify Apple 09/27

?? UserCalendar: Upcoming Events.

AMA with Fatimah: From research maturity to research intelligence – strategic research requires strategic support systems (Free). October 3?@?12:00 pm?–?1:00 pm?EDT. Join Fatimah Richmond, Sr. UXR Strategist at Google, to explore research maturity, strategic support systems, and evolving research roles for broader organizational impact. Learn more

Enhancing Insight Impact (Free). October 4?@?12:00 pm?–?1:00 pm?EDT. Learn a framework to boost insight consumption within your organization, increasing the awareness, impact, and value of UX research. Learn more

Disco Conf 2024 (Free & Sponsored). Happening on October 17, 2024, Disco Conf is the industry conference designed for organizations that learn. Global, free, and online-by-design—all you have to do is register. Learn more

?? Discover more events on UserCalendar.com