“Research is a Slow Process, but Valuable” – Theo Johnson

The Aligned Podcast Show

“Research is a slow process, but valuable” – Act 02 – Scene 37 – Theo Johnson

Summary

In this episode, Naresh Shan speaks with Theo Johnson, a senior UX researcher at Microsoft. They discuss the challenges and intricacies of UX research within large corporate organisations, the importance of storytelling in presenting research findings, and the evolving role of AI in the research process. Theo shares insights on how researchers can better integrate their work into product development and the necessity of maintaining active research repositories. The conversation also touches on the potential of synthetic users in research and the ongoing struggle researchers face in demonstrating their value throughout the product lifecycle.

Takeaways

· UX researchers often struggle to pitch their value in organisations.

· The process of UX research can be slow, but it is essential for product development.

· Storytelling is a crucial skill for UX researchers to communicate findings effectively.

· AI tools can enhance the efficiency of UX research, but should not replace human insight.

Maintaining active research repositories is crucial for ongoing product development.

· Researchers need to advocate for their work to be integrated into product backlogs.

· The reality is that much of the research conducted may not make it into production.

Synthetic users present a fascinating yet uncertain future for UX research.

· Data analysis skills are increasingly crucial for UX researchers.

· Building relationships with stakeholders can help researchers gain visibility and influence.

Chapters

00:48 - Setting the Stage for UX Research

02:07 - The Role of UX Research in Corporate Structures

05:12 - Challenges in UX Research Implementation

08:15 - The Importance of Continuous Discovery

11:20 - Leveraging Repositories for Research

14:09 - The Value of Storytelling in UX Research

25:14 - Understanding Stakeholder Needs

28:16 - Turning Insights into Action

31:21 - The Reality of Research Implementation

33:42 - The Role of Data in Research

37:50 - AI's Impact on Research

44:19 - The Future of User Research

Keywords

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