Summary

In this episode of the Web Usability podcast, host Lucy Collins speaks with UX researcher Hannah Knowles, who shares her unique journey into the field of user experience research. They discuss the common excuse of not having enough time for research, emphasising that time is often just a symptom of deeper issues. Hannah introduces her innovative research sprint approach, which allows for quick insights without compromising the quality of research. The conversation highlights the importance of user-centered design and the need for flexibility in research methods to adapt to different organizational contexts. In this conversation, Lucy Collins shares her extensive experience in user research, focusing on the importance of foundational research methods, optimizing usability testing sessions, and the balance between in-person and remote research. She discusses the strategic versus tactical aspects of research, emphasizing the need for effective delivery of insights to product teams. Lucy also highlights the challenges of managing research workloads and offers practical advice for implementing weekly sprints in research processes.

takeaways

• User research is essential for product development.
• Time constraints are often an excuse for not conducting research.
• Hannah's journey into UX research was unique and tailored.
• Research should be exploratory and adaptable.
• The UX field is not dead; it is evolving.
• Flexibility in research methods is crucial for success.
• Understanding the specific needs of a project is key.
• A research sprint can yield quick insights.
• Effective recruitment is vital for research success.
• UX research should be embedded in product teams. The flow of questions in research interviews tends to be consistent.
• Shorter usability testing sessions can lead to more focused insights.
• In-person research provides valuable context that remote sessions may lack.
• Strategic research often requires longer timelines than tactical research.
• Delivering insights in an actionable format is crucial for product teams.
• Balancing multiple research projects can be challenging but necessary.
• Weekly sprints can be effective for iterative research processes.
• Preparation and organization are key to successful research sprints.
• Gamifying research processes can make them more engaging.
• Experimenting with research methods can lead to innovative solutions.

• "We just don't have the time."
• "Time is just the symptom and an excuse."
• "I always fell into research."
• "We need to find a way around that."
• "Let's fix how we work as a team."
• "I don't run one hour conversations."
• "I work in a weekly sprint."
• "What do you need to know right now?"
• "A base method is a base method."
• "I do try to stick to five if I can."
• "I think that's really hard."

00:00 Introduction to Web Usability Podcast

01:08 Meet Hannah Knowles: The Barbie of UX Research

03:56 The Importance of User Research

06:07 Hannah's Unique Journey into UX Research

12:07 Challenging the Norms of UX Research

17:58 The Research Sprint Approach

28:19 Foundational Research Methods

31:08 Optimizing Usability Testing Sessions

33:22 In-Person vs Remote Research

36:06 Strategic vs Tactical Research

40:19 Delivering Insights Effectively

44:47 Balancing Research Workloads

48:28 Advice for Implementing Weekly Sprints

More from Hannah

https://www.workieticket.com/resources

https://www.workieticket.com/our-method