What lies ahead for UX [Feb 27, 2024]

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February 27, 2024: It’s an exciting (and turbulent) time for UXers right now. From recent layoffs to the big boom of AI, it can be hard to know what’s next for us as we step into the future. In this issue of the Rosenfeld Report, we dive into unknown—whether that means embracing ambiguity in the name of creative pursuits or engaging curiously with AI/LLMs.

Upcoming events

Discussion: Coffee with Lou: Should You Write a (UX) Book?

? March 7, 2024 | 3-4pm EDT

Everyone feels like they have a book in them—and UX designers, researchers, and (of course) writers are no exception. But having an idea and making it into a book are entirely different things. If you've ever wondered what's involved in the process, how it differs from other types of writing you've done, whether your idea even merits book treatment, or other authorial considerations, well... here's your opportunity to have an informal conversation with a real live publisher and author of UX books. Learn more ?

Discussion: QuantQual Book Club: Small Data

? March 8, 2024 |11am-12pm EDT

In a context dominated by conversations about AI and big data, it’s a great moment to revisit the concept of “small data,” and discuss the significance of small observations and intimate details in understanding consumer behavior and its impact on making successful business decisions. Martin Lindstrom’s classic book Small Data sheds a bright light on how sometimes big data and big decisions stand firm on small data nuggets. Join iulia C. for a discussion of Martin’s work—even if you’ve not yet read Small Data (but extra credit if you have!). Bring your questions and experiences to share. Learn more ?

Discussion: Whole Product Thinking: Expanding beyond problem and solution space thinking

? March 14, 2024 | 11am-12pm EDT

Why is it so hard to align everyone so we can deliver products that our customers love?It’s a question that will steal your soul (and your job) if you let it. Sean McKay believes it’s more important now than ever that we transcend the nagging industry debates, power struggles, and process wars that are blocking us all from doing our best work for our customers.Join us on March 14, where Sean will share a new “Whole Product Thinking” framework intended to help structure conversations and align teams around the fundamental concepts needed to deliver human-centered products that are meaningful to users and effective for business. Learn more ?

Conference: Advancing Research 2024

? New York City, March 25-27

SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED!

Advancing Research 2024 is giving out full scholarships to attend the conference—virtually and in-person! This scholarship is aimed at full-time students and those unemployed in the UX field. We have a limited availability for both in-person and virtual experiences. Apply by March?8. Learn more ?

Conference: Designing with AI 2024

? Virtual, June 4-7

Introducing Rosenfeld’s newest virtual conference! At Designing with AI 2024, you’ll learn from and be inspired by cutting-edge case studies, demonstrations, and expert panels that showcase AI applications in UX and enable proactive anticipation and mitigation of unintended consequences stemming from AI in our field. Stay tuned for our full program announcement. Register now to secure your spot! Learn more ?

Catch up on recent events

Discussion: What’s Next for ICs: Exploring Staff and Principal Designer Roles

? February 22, 2024 | 4-5pm EDT

At some point in your career, you’ll likely have to choose between Senior Individual Contributor (IC) and Design Management roles. The manager’s path is clear, and the tradeoffs have been well-considered. But what if you don’t want to manage others? What if you’d rather continue as an individual contributor? Will you get bored and find your career stalling out? Or is there an IC role that will help you continue to grow?

In this panel led by ?? Catt Small ?????? , we will hear from Staff and Principal Designers who’ve managed to stay on the IC track while growing their careers. We’ll get into some of the day-to-day nitty-gritty of what it means to be a Staff Designer or Principal Designer, and how to make this role a reality within your organization. Learn more ?

Discussion: Bridging Design and Climate Science

? February 14, 2024 | 12-1pm EDT

The third in a series of discussions centered around Climate UX. To make an impact on the climate, many different audiences will need to understand and use climate science. But the science is complex and evolving rapidly. How might we best approach it as translators and facilitators? Through case studies and discussion moderated by Victor Lombardi, you’ll learn how four designers are doing this today. Learn more ?

Don’t want to miss out on our community videoconferences? Learn more about becoming a Rosenfeld Community member.

???? New episode of the Rosenfeld Review podcast

Listen to Victor Udoewa , one of our featured speakers at #AR2024, as he introduces his perspective on DE&I that challenges current research methodologies. Listen now ?

UX perspectives

If you want to be creative, you can’t be certain

? Ida Persson via UX Collective

Amid the drive for guaranteed results, it’s good to look into what creativity is about: embracing ambiguity. This personal essay by Ida Persson, a former IDEO designer, offers insights into what creativity involves – a courageous ability to wander into the unknown, staying in the question space without rushing to “the answer”... and of course, numerous iterations. It’s not easy, but it is important. Learn more ?

Understanding data: A designer’s field guide

? Tim Sheiner via Medium

This is more of a primer and glossary for designers to form a useful vocabulary to engage with data scientists, as AI/ML and LLMs proliferate. Tim Sheiner covers the basics of structured data and unstructured data such as: observations vs stats, arrays, matrices, metadata, and what’s the difference (and cost) of perceiving vs parsing. With this language designers can form a deeper view of computation itself. Learn more ?

Hacking service blueprints

? Cameron Tonkinwise via Medium

Cameron Tonkinwise cautions on the utility of a service blueprint as a deliverable, as it’s meant to serve as a tool as part of service designing. Cameron offers ways to “hack” a blueprint by considering vital elements around the people and organizations, such as visibility lines across service workers and customers. Coordination and knowledge transfer are critical when designing a complex service – thus the need for feedback loops, failure recovery, and sufficient timespaces. Learn more ?

To unify or not to unify

? Dave Malouf via Substack

On the common challenge of design operations, Dave Malouf points out that it’s not really about unifying tools and methods – but identifying the principles, values, and goals that sustain practices across teams. By prioritizing what matters most, then a team has a better chance to align and connect. And it’s vital to have a playbook to help coach and guide teams along! Learn more ?

The big design freakout

? Robert Fabricant via Fast Company

Whew this one is a doozy folks—but well worth your time and attention, as Robert Fabricant traces recent changes to parse the overall evolution in the design field. There’s the recent onslaught of layoffs and cut design budgets, with loss of executive design leadership roles, but what is really happening? Seems here’s a confluence of issues, including the rise of AI that’s evolving the purpose of design leaders, and maybe an eroded sense of what design leadership is really for, while markets put massive pressure to deliver more growth. Learn more ?

These resources were hand-selected by Rosenfeld Report curator Uday Gajendar

Uday, a product design director at Aurora Solar, has 20+ years of experience designing UX at startups, enterprises, and via consulting. He also speaks and writes on many UX-related topics, especially on strategy, innovation, and leadership.