Jillian K Hudson, UXC’s Post

Join Jared Spool for tomorrow's Talk UX Strategy live discussion: The Future of Research Participant Recruiting. (Hint: It's not AI.) Monday, April 29 at 2pm ET (18.00 GMT) Recruiting research participants is still a significant challenge for many teams. It constrains your research, forcing your peers and stakeholders to guess what your users need, increasing the risk of delivering a poorly designed product. It shouldn't be this way. You can't conduct UX research without participants. So, why isn't this fixed by now? (And, no, AI won't fix it. It'll just make it worse.) In many cases, the team has the wrong mindset about recruiting participants. They see recruitment as a transactional activity. They try to find someone they can hire as a temporary employee to extract information and insights. But that's not how you should think of your users and customers. You're not employing them. Instead, you should have a long and healthy relationship with them — a relationship that both sides find mutually beneficial. In this session, Jared Spool will explore what happens when UX leaders treat participant recruitment as relationship-building. You'll discover how you'll grow an endless pool of willing and excited participants to power your research efforts without taxing your budget or relying on AI or tarot cards (the same thing, really). Uncover how you'll… … Take advantage of the best participant recruitment team: your company's sales force, account managers, and support team. … Grow deep relationships with trusted users into essential advisors happy to answer all of your team's questions, even those you haven't considered yet. … Develop richer insights by integrating the recruitment process into your research process, taking advantage of what you learn as you screen. RSVP & Connection instructions: https://lnkd.in/ewZpJibW #UserExperience #UX #UXStrategy

Join Jared Spool for Monday's Talk UX Strategy live discussion: The Future of Research Participant Recruiting. (Hint: It's not AI.) Monday, April 29 at 2pm ET (18.00 GMT) Recruiting research participants is still a significant challenge for many teams. It constrains your research, forcing your peers and stakeholders to guess what your users need, increasing the risk of delivering a poorly designed product. It shouldn't be this way. You can't conduct UX research without participants. So, why isn't this fixed by now? (And, no, AI won't fix it. It'll just make it worse.) In many cases, the team has the wrong mindset about recruiting participants. They see recruitment as a transactional activity. They try to find someone they can hire as a temporary employee to extract information and insights. But that's not how you should think of your users and customers. You're not employing them. Instead, you should have a long and healthy relationship with them — a relationship that both sides find mutually beneficial. In this session, Jared Spool will explore what happens when UX leaders treat participant recruitment as relationship-building. You'll discover how you'll grow an endless pool of willing and excited participants to power your research efforts without taxing your budget or relying on AI or tarot cards (the same thing, really). Uncover how you'll… … Take advantage of the best participant recruitment team: your company's sales force, account managers, and support team. … Grow deep relationships with trusted users into essential advisors happy to answer all of your team's questions, even those you haven't considered yet. … Develop richer insights by integrating the recruitment process into your research process, taking advantage of what you learn as you screen. RSVP & Connection instructions: https://lnkd.in/ewZpJibW #UserExperience #UX #UXStrategy

Is your UX research being hijacked by well-meaning superiors? 👩💼👨💼 - You're not alone. Many others experience this common situation where colleagues express a desire to be involved in UX research. 📊 And while this can be seen as a positive sign of engagement 👏, the issue often arises with feedback quality. Think about it: Would you openly share team issues with HR if your manager were in the room? 🤔 Probably not.... feels awkward right? 😅 So, the next time someone tries to insert themselves into your test sessions or experiments, remember this: You are in charge. 🎯 If you're comfortable with them observing, establish boundaries and assign them certain tasks - but be sure not to let them steer the ship. 🚢 If you're not comfortable with their presence, explain your reasons and suggest alternative ways for them to stay informed. 🗣️ Remember, maintaining open, honest communication makes for a healthier work environment. 🏢 👍 Like if you found these tips helpful ♻️ Don't forget to repost this and follow for more UX insights! 🚀 #ux #uxresearch #userexperience #userresearch #productdesign #product

Q: “How long does it typically take a student to get to a point where they have a #UX portfolio they can showcase to employers?” A: Having a UX or #ProductDesign portfolio in good enough shape to show to prospective employers is mostly dependent on having real work to talk about. You’ll learn all you need to know about writing compelling case studies and how to present them in my case studies course (link at bottom) — but in order to be considered by a recruiter, those case studies have to be REAL-WORLD WORK for employers or clients — not student projects. Despite what anyone tells you, most recruiters will simply walk on by if they see this theoretical class work. The good news: if you have a work history in a tangentially related profession, it’s highly likely you can use that, by revisiting those stories and asking yourself if they make sense from a UX lens: how did the work you did solve problems or create opportunities to improve the experience customers or users had with that company, or its products or services? Remember, UX is about MUCH more than just software or technology; it's the sum total of ALL experiences users or customers have related to a product or service. So when you expand your definition like this, you may be surprised just how much UX work you have in your previous roles — that up until now you didn't realize was there.

Q: “How long does it typically take a student to get to a point where they have a #UX portfolio they can showcase to employers?” A: Having a UX or #ProductDesign portfolio in good enough shape to show to prospective employers is mostly dependent on having real work to talk about. You’ll learn all you need to know about writing compelling case studies and how to present them in my case studies course (link at bottom) — but in order to be considered by a recruiter, those case studies have to be REAL-WORLD WORK for employers or clients — not student projects. Despite what anyone tells you, most recruiters will simply walk on by if they see this theoretical class work. The good news: if you have a work history in a tangentially related profession, it’s highly likely you can use that, by revisiting those stories and asking yourself if they make sense from a UX lens: how did the work you did solve problems or create opportunities to improve the experience customers or users had with that company, or its products or services? Remember, UX is about MUCH more than just software or technology; it's the sum total of ALL experiences users or customers have related to a product or service. So when you expand your definition like this, you may be surprised just how much UX work you have in your previous roles — that up until now you didn't realize was there.

🔍 Conducting Internal User Research: Insights from My Experience In several companies, I’ve had the opportunity to conduct internal user research when external access to users was limited. While this approach can be effective in many ways, it also comes with its unique set of challenges. Here’s what I’ve learned through these experiences: How I Approach Internal User Research: 1. Focus on internal teams who are closest to the product, such as customer service, sales, or marketing. They often have insights into customer pain points and behaviours. 2. Encourage participants to use the product in a way that mimics how actual customers would. This ensures feedback is grounded in realistic contexts. 3. Use qualitative methods like interviews or focus groups to gather nuanced feedback. Internal users might offer more candid insights since they’re familiar with company goals. 4. Internal user research often allows for quicker feedback cycles, making it easier to iterate on designs faster. 🟢 Pros: ✔️ Quick access: No need for external recruitment—feedback can be gathered quickly. ✔️ Domain expertise: Internal users often understand the product or service deeply, providing knowledgeable insights. Internal UX research ✔️ Cost-effective: No additional costs for recruitment or incentives. ✔️ Collaborative culture: Engaging internal users can foster cross-team collaboration and alignment. 🔴 Cons: ✖️ Bias risk: Internal users might be too familiar with the product and not represent true customer behavior or needs. Overcoming bias ✖️ Limited perspective: Employees may not have the same challenges or objectives as external users, leading to feedback that misses critical external pain points. Avoiding bias in research ✖️ Over-reliance: Relying too much on internal feedback can prevent teams from seeing the bigger picture of the user experience. While internal user research can be a valuable tool, balancing it with external validation is key to ensuring your product truly resonates with the people it’s designed for. #UXResearch #InternalResearch #UserExperience #ProductDesign #ResearchInsights #ProductDevelopment #DesignThinking

Q: “How long does it typically take a student to get to a point where they have a #UX portfolio they can showcase to employers?” A: Having a UX or #ProductDesign portfolio in good enough shape to show to prospective employers is mostly dependent on having real work to talk about. You’ll learn all you need to know about writing compelling case studies and how to present them in my case studies course (link at bottom) — but in order to be considered by a recruiter, those case studies have to be REAL-WORLD WORK for employers or clients — not student projects. Despite what anyone tells you, most recruiters will simply walk on by if they see this theoretical class work. The good news: if you have a work history in a tangentially related profession, it’s highly likely you can use that, by revisiting those stories and asking yourself if they make sense from a UX lens: how did the work you did solve problems or create opportunities to improve the experience customers or users had with that company, or its products or services? Remember, UX is about MUCH more than just software or technology; it's the sum total of ALL experiences users or customers have related to a product or service. So when you expand your definition like this, you may be surprised just how much UX work you have in your previous roles — that up until now you didn't realize was there.

Here's what's going on in April! 🌟 Working for a Manager Who Doesn't Get UX As your career grows, you'll likely report to someone who doesn't understand UX. You must communicate the value your UX efforts deliver to the organization. How do you show that your great work helps them be excellent at their job? Monday, April 1 at 2 pm ET (18.00 GMT) 🌟 Why Strategic UX Research is the Next Big Thing The world of UX research is undergoing a massive transformation. Organizations need research that influences executive decisions and leads them to become innovative market leaders. UX leaders must adapt, or they'll be left behind. Monday, April 8 at 2 pm ET (18.00 GMT) 🌟 UX Researchers: Shifting from Tactical to Strategic Research Strategic UX research is an entirely different approach from conventional practices, requiring new techniques, skills, and mindsets. Discover the journey to becoming a strategic UX researcher. Monday, April 15 at 2 pm ET (18.00 GMT) 🌟 Leading UX Through A Major Organization Transformation Digital transformations require massive change everywhere in an organization. All that change must improve employee, customer, and stakeholder experiences. Discover how your UX expertise can make you an essential leader in your organization's transformation. Monday, April 22 at 2 pm ET (18.00 GMT) 🌟 The Future of Research Participant Recruiting. (Hint: It's not AI.) Accessing users and recruiting research participants remains a significant challenge for UX researchers. We'll explore new recruiting approaches that deliver long-term benefits to research teams that make continuous UX research easier. Monday, April 29 at 2pm ET (18.00 GMT) RSVP and connection instructions are in our Leaders of Awesomeness community (https://lnkd.in/e2fwcZA). (It's free to join and attend. We ask people to register to keep spammers out of our community.) #UX #UXStrategy #UXLeaders #UXDesign

Q: “How long does it typically take a student to get to a point where they have a #UX portfolio they can showcase to employers?” A: Having a UX or #ProductDesign portfolio in good enough shape to show to prospective employers is mostly dependent on having real work to talk about. You’ll learn all you need to know about writing compelling case studies and how to present them in my case studies course (link at bottom) — but in order to be considered by a recruiter, those case studies have to be REAL-WORLD WORK for employers or clients — not student projects. Despite what anyone tells you, most recruiters will simply walk on by if they see this theoretical class work. The good news: if you have a work history in a tangentially related profession, it’s highly likely you can use that, by revisiting those stories and asking yourself if they make sense from a UX lens: how did the work you did solve problems or create opportunities to improve the experience customers or users had with that company, or its products or services? Remember, UX is about MUCH more than just software or technology; it's the sum total of ALL experiences users or customers have related to a product or service. So when you expand your definition like this, you may be surprised just how much UX work you have in your previous roles — that up until now you didn't realize was there.

By default, humans are easily expressing their wants and expectations, but, not the underlying need. As a user researcher, it is a critical skill to dig deeper and read between the lines when you are talking to users. Sometimes, users do not express directly due to some inhibitions like fear of retaliation (office setups) or self-doubt on what value they are adding. Always make the user comfortable with you in the environment. Make it absolutely clear that what they are sharing will not be told to anyone outside. This way you can gain their trust and get to the real challenges. For remote research, try to ask as much as possible about how they go about their day (portion of the day where they interact with the product/service you are researching for). You should always ask - "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲?". Based on the answer for this, you can ask follow up questions about where the product/service features in it and others. For in-person research, try to observe them using the product/service in the original environment, without any interference. Follow this with your questions at end of day or next day to dig more information. This is vital for successful adoption of the product and your career in that organization as a result. Do not miss it! Dr Nick Fine / Michele Ronsen ... anything you can add with your deep UXR expertise will be great help. #uxdesign #research #career ------ Follow me Makrand for more such UX insights. Happy to help all! 🙂