?? User research is about telling stories

?? Hope your week’s going well! I’ve been thinking a lot about AI in UX research lately— more than usual. It’s been a recurring theme in this newsletter since ChatGPT 3.5 dropped at the end of 2022, and I’ve noticed that we’re starting to see more practical and responsible applications emerge. Feels like we’re hitting a tipping point. If you’re interested, I’d love to hear about your experiences (un-)successfully applying AI in your work—feel free to grab some time with me here for a 15min coffee chat!

?? In this week’s newsletter, I chatted with Daniel Pidcock, the creator of Atomic UX Research - a framework I've covered multiple times in the past and have applied in my own work. He dives into the state of the UX industry, where we need to be louder about the value we bring, and even shares a wild story about running user tests with people who were “under the influence” at Just Eat. There are also some great reads on communicating user insights, AI’s role in UX research, and using storytelling to connect deeper with users. And heads up—UserWeekly’s exclusive sponsor, Maze, is hosting their annual Disco Conf 2024 next week. Tickets are free and it’s shaping up to be a great event!

Happy Researching, Jan Ahrend ??

?? Humans of User Research with Daniel Pidcock

Hi Daniel, tell us a little about yourself!

I am a UX designer and researcher who started with graphic and web design before I knew that UX was a thing (it wasn’t really when I started) but always used research to guide my work. I’m best known for creating the research methodology called ‘Atomic UX Research’ and have worked with big names such as Just Eat, Clarks, and Royal Navy, with small startups and even founded and sold a few of my own companies.

What's a pressing challenge in today's user research landscape?

The last couple of years we've seen the UX industry wracked with redundancies. Some companies have even wiped out entire UX teams. We know that these companies need what we do, but the fact that businesses aren't understanding the value is our fault and we need to change that. My provocation is that we need to bring back the ego: Good UX people tend to be low ego and high empathy, as that helps us listen deeply without bias. But the problem is we’re not doing enough as an industry to show the value we bring to the table. We've spent so much time listening we're not shouting loud where we need to.

What’s one unconventional method you’ve used in your research that surprisingly worked well?

When leading accessibility at Just Eat I recognised that a great deal of our users suffered by situational self-afflicted impairments: They were ordering drunk. Of course this means they have impaired vision, cognitive ability, motor functions among many more.I wanted to start drunk testing our products but we couldn’t morally or legally get people deliberately sloshed. Instead we hit the streets in the evenings and found people who had a few jars and offered them free pizza or whatever they wanted to order in exchange for user testing. It was enlightening and a great deal of fun.

What would you like to talk about with other researchers and how can they find you?

Atomic UX Research is my particular passion: It is a synthesis method designed to help process research to make it possible to connect different sources of data and make knowledge management scalable in an organisation. I really believe it is incredibly simple but effective and I would encourage people to look up one of my talks or read an article on the subject.

Thank you, Daniel!

?? Articles of the Week.

To communicate user insights more effectively, use the framework of pain relief. Show, don’t tell, how your design relieves user pains to influence decision-makers. Christopher K Wong 10/02

5 UXR AI-ethicist theories. How can UX research shape AI and machine learning model creation and deployment? Ensure ecological validity by aligning models with real-world problems and collaborate with ML professionals throughout the process for effective outcomes. Dawn E. Procopio 10/06

User research is about telling stories: why it matters and how it works. How does user research parallel storytelling to enhance product design? Gather hidden user details, foster empathy to design for real-life contexts, and turn challenges into opportunities for innovation, all while using visual storytelling to convey insights effectively. Tannu Tanwar 10/03

Next week is Disco Conf 2024 ?? (Sponsored). DISCO CONF returns next week—dust off your dancing shoes and dive into a day of inspiration and energization. Hear how product experts shaped research, product, and design at orgs like Google, LinkedIn, Shopify, Dropbox, and more. Count me in ??

?? Video of the Week.

AI's impact on the future of UX research: a conversation with Andrea Knight Dolan. What is AI's impact on UX research, and how can researchers integrate it effectively? Leverage AI tools for desk research, usability testing, and data analysis, but ensure ethical practices, data accuracy, and maintain human oversight and critical thinking. YouTube 09/30

?? Audio of the Week.

Introducing SUPA: The service you should be offering. What is SUPA, and how can UX teams use it to influence project success? SUPA (Strategic User-Driven Project Assessment) evaluates projects early to prevent costly missteps, align with user needs, optimize resources, and improve ROI before major investments. Spotify Apple 10/03

?? UserCalendar: Upcoming Events.

Disco Conf 2024 (Free). October 17 All dayDisco Conf 2024 focuses on research and discovery, offering a global, free, and online experience for UX professionals seeking to deepen organizational learning. Lear more

?? Discover more events on UserCalendar.com