Karen Manhas

My first blog post! Take a look at the similarities between goldsmithing and user research 👩‍🏭 👩‍💻  I'd love to hear your thoughts

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📘 ‘The Materials of Service Design’ - A new book from Johan Blomkvist, Simon Clatworthy & Stefan Holmlid that explores the materials of #ServiceDesign, discussing these materials as a means to explore what service design is and could be. https://lnkd.in/eKwjQWAn https://lnkd.in/ef_k-W-R

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Our Senior Product Designer Rosie Dent-Spargo held a superb session in February with the Product Design team to create values and principles. Using guidance from Dan Makoski's book Uplifting Design, the session was dynamic and layered. The focus wasn't solely on creation, but also how we might embed principles and values into daily work. This write up is the Rolls-Royce of "How to"s, and is a very valuable read for those looking to create and instil values and principles within any team. https://lnkd.in/e7DXm_Ca #productdesign #principles #values

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Interesting article on rethinking the role of UX Teams. https://lnkd.in/eN7SQHEm #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui

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It doesn't matter how good your design education is, if the business doesn't understand design, or why it needs you! Frustratingly, organisations just don't seem to understand that when they want to change something, or do something new, they are embarking on a design process, not a build process. Design shouldn't be seen as an operational cost, it's an investment in future outcomes, and that process requires the effective product management of designers, developers, architects, analysts, and business SMEs all working together! Even developers are are part of the design process because until it's in production, there are still unknowns, and challenges. I often say, if your business was a hotel, would you employ your operational staff to build it for you? Or would you buy bricks, and hire bricklayers and give them a fixed deadline? Or would you want to hire expert designers, and architects, surveyors, engineers, electricians etc etc?! #design #productmanagement #strategy #whatisproduct

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It’s been so exciting to see way more UXR jobs this year than there were last year. It’s a change in the right direction! I’ve been re-sharing lots of researcher roles directly from my network on the UX Outloud page. If you want a hand in keeping a lookout for the latest UXR jobs, check it out. On that note, let me know what other resources, events, and content would be most helpful to receive from me to support your job search! I’m all ears👂🏾 #JobResources #JobHunt #UXR #Researchers #LookingForWork #CareerSearch #CareerCoach

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Five brilliant articles for designers I found while doing research for my upcoming book: 1. Being right vs. being effective https://lnkd.in/e8tTj3Pf by Cate Huston 2. The three questions I ask every designer I interview https://lnkd.in/e7ndapwk by Michael McWatters 3. On Quality — A practical framework for evaluating design work https://lnkd.in/eu6ZBmBB by Darrin Henein 4. The Perfect Company — what to do when you feel not valued https://lnkd.in/emhucFhf by Cap Watkins 5. Bottom Line Up Front: write to make decisions faster https://lnkd.in/e5HUJ_ih by Matthew Ström-Awn

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Another interesting article on the topic of User Research, and the relationships to establish with Stakeholders which further propel both its applicability and reach. https://lnkd.in/eQETRC9T #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui #ai #genai 

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Struggling to level up as a designer? Companies I work with have design teams eager to be heard and secure a spot at the 'grown-ups' table. BUT… 1. They don’t lead teams to success. 2. They neglect problem-solving and results. 3. They focus on delivering outputs. How do I build trust and get heard? I listen and diagnose problems. My best work comes from an 80% understanding of the problem and 20% uninterrupted work. How do I tap into the specifics? 1. Get the right people involved early. 2. Complete a detailed product spec. → Why are we doing this? → Who are we targeting? → What evidence or data do we have? → How will we measure success? → What are the key risks? → Are there any known limitations? 3. Focus on solving problems and delivering results. Without a deep understanding of what we are designing, I would waste company time, money and effort, not building the trust I need to get heard. It's 10x harder that way! --- 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲? ♻ Repost this post and comment "SPEC" (I'll send it to you)

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In most organisations, research is a way to test if a feature or service is built right, rarely influencing the product roadmap. It’s time to shift gears to a proactive approach. By embedding research early, you can ensure your team is solving the right problems and aligning closely with business goals. Discover how proactive research reduces risks, boosts confidence in decision-making, and drives innovation in enterprise settings. Let’s make UX research a strategic powerhouse! 🚀 Here's a peek into the article: "Every business has its method for prioritising items on the roadmap, often based on a version of value/effort-based metrics and frameworks. Each of these frameworks relies on making estimates of the value offered to businesses and clients and the effort required to develop them. In all these frameworks, there is always a confidence factor, and the success of such prioritisation always depends on the accuracy of the estimates. Through proactive UX research, researchers can enhance confidence in these estimates by providing robust data-driven insights. This approach minimises the risk of investing in low-value features or missing out on high-impact opportunities. Hence, in mature UX-driven organisations, features only make it to the product roadmap with prior research. It enables enterprises to invest resources in feasible solutions aligned with user needs and business goals." #uxresearch #proactiveresearch #userexperience #businessstrategy #innovation

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A user interview starts well before anyone starts talking. Earlier this week, a friend—customer of a big UK fintech—told me about a UX research session where she was the participant. Let's just say it wasn’t great. She logged into the video call to face 15 silent observers. Not exactly the setup for an honest chat about money. The weary researcher admitted it was his 12th call that day. He kicked off with generic questions she’d already answered on the screener: “What does your business do? How long have you been doing that?” Unsurprisingly, she didn't reveal any deep insights about herself on that call. I get that we’re all pushing for stakeholder buy-in, but don’t treat participants like lab rats. To me, every choice leading up to an interview shapes its success. I’m hands-on with every touchpoint. Here’s how I put that into practice: ✉️ The invite email Craft it yourself—it’s part of the conversation. Make it feel personal (no excuses with CRM/AI tools), introduce yourself, explain why they’re well-positioned to help, and recognise the value of their time. If it reads like a marketing template, expect a low conversion and quality of participant. 📋 The screener Ask a reasonable number of relevant questions (don’t be cheeky and turn it into a survey). DO NOT repeat the same questions in the interview—if you couldn’t be bothered to read their answers, what does that signal? Refer back, show interest, and make them feel like they’re not just one of 35 participants this week. ✅ The consent form/info pack This is a trust-building opportunity, not just a data protection formality. Use it to set expectations—who’ll be on the call, what you’ll be covering, and, if it’s a sensitive topic like money or health, let them know upfront. They should feel fully assured their data will be secure. 🖥️ Arrival on the call Imagine how it feels to dial in and see multiple faces already on screen, with recording or AI transcription already on. I insist on one observer max. If more people want to watch, gather them in a room or pay £30 for a broadcast tool (letting participants know, of course). At the very least, bring in observers after the participant’s had a warm welcome. I’ll stop here! In the past, we’ve written guides on opening a research call and making participants comfortable, you can find these over on Muir Wood & Co: Research and Strategy company page. I’d love to hear from other researchers—where do you go the extra mile to put participants at ease before the interview? And get in touch if you’d like feedback on your pre-interview process and materials. (Cartoon by Dall-E because my iPad battery was flat!)

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Rethinking Design System Management: Insights from a Product Designer As a product designer passionate about design systems, I've been exploring innovative approaches to tackle the complexity that often plagues these crucial tools. After a thought-provoking conversation with Samantha Gordashko about frustrations in design system management, we discussed a strategy that I believe could simplify how we approach this challenge. The proposal involves separating sub-components from their parent components in Figma and organizing them on dedicated pages within the file. Key benefits of this approach: 1. Enhanced control and faster debugging 2. Clearer organization for end-users 3. Improved scalability and future-proofing 4. More efficient problem-solving While this method does increase maintenance efforts, when combined with robust documentation, it significantly reduces complexity for users and creates a more adaptable system over time. I'm excited about the potential of this method to create more manageable and evolving design systems. Interested in learning more about my approach to design systems? Check out my detailed blog post: https://lnkd.in/eQuD8Eq7 Open to new opportunities in design systems! Let's connect if you're looking for a passionate design system specialist. #DesignSystems #Figma #UX #ProductDesign #DesignOps #TokensStudio

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FREE UX AUDIT - Extended for 1 week! ⚡️ We’ve had so many enquiries about the free UX audits I posted last week, and I haven’t had enough slots. So I’ve decided to extend the offer for an extra week! I have LOVED doing these. I have LOVED seeing into so many companies I might not necessarily have seen prior to putting out this offer. Have a product you know could be better, but not sure where to start? This is your chance to get a fresh perspective. I’ll dive into your user experience, call out where improvements can be made, and give you actionable feedback that drives real growth. ⏳ Limited slots available for this final week, so don’t wait. Drop a comment or message to grab your spot - first come, first serve! Book your Free UX Audit here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eSuEksRX #uxaudit #userexperience #productdesign #growth #designthinking #startups #freeaudit #anyday Expand North Star GITEX GLOBAL Largest Tech & Startup Show in the World

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UX voices from the world of design agencies — where are you? The UXers I respect and follow on here are wonderful sources for insight and experience — of working in-house, or in product/tech companies. But the people I’ve struggled to find are those doing great UX in design agencies or consultancies, and talking about it. Where are you? Who are you? (and to the agency UXers I follow, or have connected with, I love you but I need more, sorry) #UX

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I have some capacity for new UX projects between now and August. Never worked with me before? Here's a quick insight into how I can help you and your organisation. I help tell product stories through captivating product visions that deliver impactful outcomes by translating strategic goals into compelling user experiences. I can help you and your team: Uncover hidden user needs Leveraging research to create solutions that resonate with your target audience. Visualise complex ideas Crafting captivating product experiences that bring your vision to life. Design for measurable success Designing products that deliver on business objectives. Build high-performing teams Fostering collaboration and empowering your team to deliver exceptional user experiences. Are you ready to design a brighter future? Let's schedule a chat to discuss how I can help you and your organisation create impactful digital products and services.

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Worth revisiting this article on the topic of Design Audits. https://lnkd.in/e7t4FUV #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui

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What you need to know if you’re a designer thinking of getting into management → https://lnkd.in/eaH4jFae Design manager or design lead? 🤔 Here’s what it really looks like to take on a management role. From resourcing and stakeholder wrangling to the dreaded paperwork, this is a breakdown of the role and realities of the job. Is design management your next step? 📌 Team performance & stakeholder management 📌 Resourcing talent 📌 Crafting objectives 📌 Report performance & career progression 📌 Team cadence & schedule 📌 Meetings, meetings, & more meetings 📌 Admin

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Very interesting article on the process of showcasing the results of research to stakeholders. https://lnkd.in/eyzx_4Sg #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui

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