S6E33 Bryant Foster | Design For Human Factors & User Experience Being An Engineer podcast

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S6E33 Bryant Foster | Design for Human Factors & User Experience

2d ago 51:30

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Join us for an in-depth conversation with Bryant Foster, a human factors expert who's worked with industry giants like Google to make complex products simpler and safer. With a background in cognitive psychology, Bryant shares insights on designing user-friendly products, from surgical systems to smart thermostats, all while keeping the end user at the center of the design process.

Main Topics:

What drew Bryant into human factors and user experience design
How to define and achieve simplicity in product design
Advanced usability testing tools: eye tracking, pupilometry, and facial emotion analysis
Why users don't always give honest feedback and how to work around it
Providing critical design feedback without demoralizing teams
Cost-effective approaches to human factors testing
Safety considerations in medical device design
Use-related risk analysis and task analysis methodologies
Lessons learned from working at Google X
Building successful human factors consulting teams

About the guest: Bryant Foster is the Vice President of Human Factors and User Experience at Research Collective, a user-centered research consultancy serving clients from startups to major companies like GE Healthcare, Microsoft, and Medtronic. With over a decade of experience in applied psychology and usability research, he specializes in ensuring products are safe, intuitive, and user-focused.

He holds a Master’s in Applied Psychology (Human Factors) from Arizona State University and began his career at the Cognitive Engineering Research Institute, later working at Google X as a UX researcher. At Research Collective in Tempe, Arizona, he leads a team that uses methods like ethnography, eye tracking, and biometric analysis.

In addition to his consulting work, Bryant mentors students and supports local entrepreneurs through programs like LEAP, blending scientific rigor with empathy in fields from medical devices to consumer tech.

Links:

Bryant Foster LinkedIn

Research Collective Website

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Chapters

1. Bryant Foster's Background and Introduction to Human Factors (00:00:00)

2. Challenges in Product Design and Usability (00:03:07)

3. Approaches to Human Factors and Usability Testing (00:07:39)

4. Tools and Techniques in Human Factors Research (00:14:23)

5. Critical Feedback and Collaboration with Engineering Teams (00:25:37)

6. Cost-Effective Practices in Human Factors Research (00:28:42)

7. Safety and User Experience in Medical Devices (00:31:29)

8. Lessons Learned from Working at Google X (00:37:59)

9. Building a Successful Human Factors Team (00:43:25)

10. Engaging with Research Collective and Career Advice (00:51:18)

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