Nikki Anderson, MA’s Post

In the world of user experience, leadership transcends the act of managing projects; it’s about shaping vision, influencing culture, and driving meaningful, lasting impact within an organization. 1. Crafting a Vision with Clarity and Purpose A seasoned UX leader understands the importance of a clear, shared vision for design within the organization. This vision extends beyond tactical project goals to encapsulate a holistic commitment to user-centered excellence across products and services. Consider Apple’s early approach to UX under Steve Jobs’ guidance. Jobs’ vision was not about individual product features but about creating an emotional connection through seamless, intuitive experiences. As a UX leader, the task is to champion such a holistic vision, advocating for user-centered principles that align with the broader business goals and resonate deeply with users. 2. Embracing Empathy and Mentorship in Team Development Leadership in UX is inseparable from mentorship. A successful leader guides their team to thrive in an environment that values creativity, constructive feedback, and continuous learning. Take, for example, the early days of Amazon’s design philosophy. As Amazon grew, leaders like Jeff Bezos emphasized a relentless focus on customer satisfaction, driving the UX team to innovate based on empathy and user feedback. Today’s UX leaders must similarly nurture empathy within their teams, cultivating a shared understanding of user needs that drives each design decision. 3. Advocating for Ethical and Inclusive Design In an era of rapid technological advancement, UX leaders bear the responsibility of championing ethical and inclusive design, especially as AI and machine learning create new ethical considerations. For instance, a UX leader might set up a review board to assess ethical implications in AI-driven projects or ensure that accessibility is built into the design process, not just retrofitted later. By advocating for such standards, they protect both the integrity of their design practice and the users’ experience. 4. Cultivating a Design Culture of Continuous Evolution A hallmark of effective UX leadership is cultivating a design culture that embraces change. The UX field has seen multiple transformations, from the early graphical user interfaces of the 90s to today’s voice and gesture-driven interactions. A successful UX leader fosters an environment where designers are not only resilient to change but eager to experiment, iterate, and learn. Conclusion: Redefining UX Leadership For experienced designers, UX leadership represents an opportunity to move beyond individual design challenges. In the end, a good UX leader doesn’t just shape products; they shape the organization’s approach to UX itself, leaving a legacy of design excellence that resonates with users, clients, and team members alike. #UCDLabs #UXLeadership #HumanCenteredDesign #DesignVision #Mentorship #DesignEthics #InclusiveDesign #EmpathyInUX #UXCulture

UX Researchers wear a whole lot of hats 👒 ⛑ 🎩 If you’re a UX Researcher working in a small company, a company new to UXR or as a team of one, your day probably looks pretty different from how you imagined it before you became a researcher. In my experience, research, while the core part of our role, only makes up around 50% of what we do overall, although this percentage will vary over different periods and seasons. So what other hats are we wearing when we’re not out there with customers, doing the research? Influencer 👩🎤 We need to get stakeholders on board with research, especially if research is new to the business. We advocate for research, demonstrate its value and use each success as a stepping stone to increase buy-in. Storyteller 📕 Being able to craft narratives around your research is a fundamental skill for a researcher. These stories have to be relevant to our audience - engineers and marketers aren’t necessarily going to relate to the same story. These stories are also purposeful: our colleagues should walk away with a strong understanding of the problems, pain points and needs of our customers. Coach 🏅 Democratisation, ‘amaterising’ research, whatever you want to call it, research is no longer just for researchers. Our role is to coach our colleagues and ensure they understand how to run their own research effectively. This is a good thing: it frees up us to do the sexy, chunky research we all love. Project Manager 👨💼 Related to coaching, we oversee different streams of research. We manage research roadmaps and ensure resources are being allocated to the right research questions. Operations Manager 👷♀️ ReOps is a growing discipline. As solo UXRs, we oversee all the operations that go into research: tool management, recruitment, consent, incentives. It’s all in a day’s work. Customer advocate 👯 We’re in a unique position of being absolutely engrossed in our customers, but from a different perspective from sales, customer success and support (who, as a note, are a wealth of knowledge). We’re the ones who recentre conversations around customer needs and how these can best shape business strategy. Researcher 🔍 And after all of that... we still need to do the actual research. From planning research, running it, analysing results and sharing insights. It’s the job on the box, but it’s just part of what we do. Anyway, here’s a picture of me in a very silly little hat I made at a friend’s bachelorette party to illustrate this very important point 👼 #mlady #UX #UXResearch #designresearch #product #reops #researchoperations #UXR #teamof1 #productdesign #research

Reflecting on My Journey: Teaching UX Research for the First Time As I sit down to pen my thoughts about my recent teaching experience, I find myself enveloped in a whirlwind of emotions - excitement, fulfillment, and a profound sense of accomplishment. Teaching UX Research for the first time has been nothing short of an exhilarating adventure, one that has left an indelible mark on both my professional and personal journey. From the outset, it all began with my deep-rooted passion for understanding user behavior and crafting seamless products. Late last year, fueled by this passion, I embarked on a journey to pursue a certificate in user research on UXcel. This endeavor allowed me to delve deeper into the intricacies of user-centric design and hone my skills in conducting effective research. Little did I know that the knowledge and insights gained from this pursuit would directly inform my approach to teaching. I found myself employing the very concepts of user research that I had learned to guide my students in understanding the importance of user insights in product development. Engaging with my students was undeniably the highlight of my teaching experience. What truly stood out to me was witnessing their 'aha' moments—the instant when complex concepts clicked, and they could see the practical applications in real-world scenarios. Among the many aspects of teaching, one of my favorites was delving into the various methods of user research. I particularly enjoyed incorporating interactive activities into my lessons, such as playing a card sorting game. This hands-on approach not only made learning fun but also allowed me to demonstrate the different types of card sorting and emphasize its significance in user research. Undoubtedly, the teaching experience served as a catalyst for my own growth and development. Preparing each slide demanded a deep dive into the latest research, trends, and methodologies in UX, compelling me to stay abreast of industry developments and continuously expand my knowledge base. In essence, teaching became a journey of self-discovery, propelling me towards new horizons of learning and exploration. As I reflect on this transformative journey, I am filled with gratitude - for the opportunity to impart knowledge, for the privilege of witnessing my students' growth, and for the invaluable lessons learned along the way. Moving forward, I am eager to build upon this foundation, continuing to inspire and empower others in their pursuit of excellence in UX research. In closing, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan for inviting me as one of the speakers for their POLIFIESTA'24 Week. #UXResearch #TeachingExperience #UserExperience #LearningAndDevelopment #CommunityBuilding #ContinuousLearning #LinkedInLearning

Hello dear UX community! 👋 Today, I want to address a topic that concerns many of us: Will UX designers become obsolete due to artificial intelligence (AI)? The rapid advancements in AI technology are impressive. From algorithms that analyze user data to tools that automatically generate design suggestions—it seems AI can take over more and more tasks that were once the exclusive domain of humans. Understandably, this raises concerns. But I am firmly convinced: AI will not replace us but enrich us. 1. Creativity and Empathy Are Irreplaceable AI can process data and recognize patterns, but it cannot feel. The ability to empathize with users, to truly understand their needs, motivations, and pain points, remains a profoundly human quality. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2020, skills like creative thinking, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence will be even more in demand in the future workforce. 2. AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement Instead of replacing us, AI can help us work more efficiently. It takes over repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing us to focus on what matters most. A study by Adobe from 2018 found that 62% of creative professionals believe that AI gives them more time for creative work. This means more room for innovation and quality improvement. 3. Human Judgment in Complex Contexts Design decisions are often complex and require a deep understanding of cultural, social, and ethical contexts. AI lacks this contextual awareness. For example, an interface design that works in one culture may be inappropriate in another. Here, our experience and judgment are crucial. 4. Collaboration Between Human and Machine The best results arise when we consider AI as a partner. Research from Accenture shows that companies focusing on human-AI collaboration can increase their efficiency by up to 66%. Through this symbiosis, we can reach new heights in innovation and user experience. 5. Ethics and Responsibility in Design As UX designers, we bear great responsibility for the impact of our work on society. Ethical considerations, data protection, and inclusion are areas where human sensitivity is indispensable. AI can support us here, but the final responsibility lies with us. Conclusion: Instead of seeing AI as a threat, we should embrace it as an opportunity. It opens up new possibilities for us to improve our work and focus on what truly defines us: creativity, empathy, and innovative thinking. Personally, I use AI tools to create prototypes faster or to evaluate user data more efficiently. This gives me more time to delve deeply into user needs and develop truly tailored solutions. What do you think? Have you already had experiences with AI in your design process? I look forward to your thoughts and an exciting discussion! 😊 #UXDesign #AI #FutureOfDesign #Innovation

💬 A year ago, a senior UXer reached out to me, frustrated. "I've hit a ceiling," she confided. "I'm not growing anymore..." Her design work was stellar. Her team respected her. So what was the issue? We dug deeper. Not into her design process, but into her perception of UX's role in her company. "Walk me through how a major product decision gets made," I asked. As she explained, a pattern emerged. UX was brought in AFTER key decisions. UX was executing, not influencing. "When was the last time you were in a strategic planning meeting?" I asked. She paused. "I... don't think I've ever been invited to one." There it was. The invisible barrier many UXers don't even realize exists. "In mature orgs, UX doesn't just create. It shapes business strategy," I explained. We uncovered a critical blindspot-- 👉 she saw her role as reactive, not proactive. She'd been honing her craft, but neglecting business impact. "Your next challenge is learning to speak the language of business," I told her. Over the next many months, she embarked on a different kind of skill-building: 1. She shadowed the product manager - learning about OKRs and success metrics. 2. She volunteered to present UX insights at all-hands meetings - tying them to company objectives. 3. She initiated lunch-and-learns, and not about design trends, but about how UX decisions impact key performance indicators. Progress was slow, but this wasn't about quick wins. 3 months in, she messaged me: "The CFO asked me to explain how our new onboarding flow might affect customer lifetime value. I actually knew how to answer!" At the 6-month mark, she wasn't promoted. But something more valuable happened. "I'm being pulled into meetings I never knew existed," she shared. "Strategy sessions, long-term roadmapping. They're not just asking how to design features. They're asking if we should build them at all." A year after our initial chat, she reached out again."I've been tapped to lead our new "Digital Ethics Council," she shared. This wasn't about integrating UX into existing structures. It was about leveraging her user-centered perspective to navigate complex ethical territories. "I'm not just pushing pixels or even leading a team," she reflected. "I'm helping shape the ethical framework of our digital future." To all UXers feeling stuck: - Are you fluent in the metrics that drive your business? - Can you articulate how your design decisions impact the bottom line? - Are you waiting for a "seat at the table," or are you building the business credibility to earn it? Your designs may delight users, but understanding business impact will elevate your career! Don't neglect the broader context of your work. In a world obsessed with user-centricity, your most overlooked user might just be your own organization 💥 [This has some details altered for privacy] #uxcareers #uximpact

✨ I asked an LLM: "What is happening in international UX research right now?" Below is the answer. Where is it spot on? And what is it missing out on? "The field of international UX research is currently experiencing a dynamic period of evolution, with several notable trends shaping its landscape: 1. Rise of Remote Research: The pandemic significantly accelerated the adoption of remote research methodologies. This shift has democratized research, allowing practitioners to reach broader and more diverse participant pools across geographical boundaries. Online platforms and tools have made conducting international research more accessible and cost-effective. 2. Emphasis on Inclusive Research: There's a growing recognition of the importance of inclusive research practices, ensuring diverse representation and considering cultural nuances in research design and data analysis. This involves actively recruiting participants from marginalized or underrepresented communities and adapting research methods to be culturally sensitive. 3. Focus on Cross-Cultural Understanding: International UX research increasingly emphasizes understanding cultural differences in user behavior, needs, and preferences. Researchers are employing ethnographic studies, cross-cultural comparisons, and localization testing to gather insights into how cultural factors influence user experiences. 4. Integration of AI and Automation: Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are being integrated into various stages of the research process. AI-powered tools can assist with tasks such as participant recruitment, data analysis, and generating insights, improving efficiency and scalability of international research initiatives. 5. Growing Importance of ResearchOps: Research operations (ResearchOps) is gaining traction in facilitating and streamlining research processes. ResearchOps focuses on establishing consistent practices, optimizing workflows, and managing resources, enabling researchers to conduct international research more effectively. 6. Continuous Discovery: Many organizations are shifting towards a continuous discovery approach, integrating research into their ongoing product development lifecycle. This involves conducting frequent, iterative research activities to gather user feedback and inform product decisions throughout the development process. 7. Ethical Considerations: As international UX research expands, ethical considerations are becoming increasingly important. Researchers are paying close attention to data privacy, informed consent, and cultural sensitivity to ensure responsible and ethical research practices. These trends collectively indicate a move towards more inclusive, agile, and globally-minded UX research practices. By embracing these developments, researchers can gain deeper insights into the diverse needs of users worldwide, leading to the creation of more effective and culturally relevant user experiences."

New Post: The Interaction Design Foundation: What it is and what it does - https://lnkd.in/gNVAhTjR - Do you ever feel lost in a sea of UX resources with no land in sight? Are you struggling to find a structured learning path to hone your design skills? The Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) could be your lifeline. Continuous learning is critical in UX design, especially as tools and standards continue to evolve in digital design and development. Let’s discuss what the IxDF is, see some of its popular courses, and learn more about how to boost your UX career by leveraging trustworthy learning resources. What is the Interaction Design Foundation? Founded in 2002 and with over 175,000 graduates, the Interaction Design Foundation is the biggest structured online design school globally. It offers a one-stop shop brimming with peer-reviewed UX resources including comprehensive courses, handy templates, and a vibrant community buzzing with design expertise. IxDF boasts a faculty of legendary UX rockstars – professors and industry veterans who’ve shaped the field from ground zero: Image source: The People Behind IxDF IxDF promises to cater to your journey, whether you’re a UX newbie or experienced in the field. If you’re new to the game, you’ll get the resources you need to master the fundamentals and get your confidence from zero to one. If you’re an experienced UX professional, you’ll be able to sharpen your skills, stay ahead of trends to become the top percentile of your league. With a mission to democratize design knowledge, the IxDF is working to build the largest free online collection of resources on UX/UI design to educate and empower UX professionals everywhere. But IxDF goes beyond just content. They offer exclusive membership plans to join a design community in your country or region where you can connect, collaborate, and learn from your peers — people who have been there, done that, and have the tales to tell. As a UX mentor myself, I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles of design learners. Finding a structured yet self-paced learning path can feel like a UX challenge itself. Sure, design bootcamps offer a solution, but IxDF stands out through its commitment to in-depth, self-directed learning, empowering you to build your UX skill set at your own pace: Image source: About IxDF Why you should join IxDF Hopefully, you’re already getting the picture: IxDF offers many benefits and helpful resources. Here are 11 specific resources why you should join the community: Unlimited learning — IxDF offers a flat yearly membership fee that gives you access to their entire course library – no nickel-and-diming for each course you take. Check out a specific topic or explore a wide range of UX subjects, the choice is yours! Engaging learning styles — IxDF caters to different learning preferences. Their courses utilize a blend of in-depth reading materials, crystal clear video lectur

There's a delicate balance in UX research between genuinely "moving the needle" and falling into the trap of "productivity theatre." Over my career, I've observed teams on both ends of this spectrum: 🚀 Teams That Excel: Those that use actionable results and guidelines to create user experiences that move business metrics. 😰 Teams That Struggle: Those frustrated with UX, seeing it more as a hindrance than a help. The crux, in my view, lies in the experience of everyone involved, from stakeholders to UX professionals. Yes, communication and meetings are essential, but there's a tendency within our field to overly romanticize frameworks and methodologies. I'll admit, I've been there, too— overindulging in double diamonds, user journeys, and affinity diagrams. But here's what exacerbates the issue: 🦑 The Curse of Knowledge: This phenomenon, where we assume others know what we know, can create friction within teams. I've spoken to teams oblivious to this, where mutual misunderstandings were rampant, yet no one took the initiative to bridge the gap. 🔮 A Tale from the Trenches: Once, a project I was part of almost derailed due to differing interpretations of a "survey." For some, it was about representative in-depth interviews; for others, it meant quick but not representative product questionnaires. This semantic confusion led to mismatched expectations and wasted efforts. So, what's the way forward? ➡ Defining and Refining: Dedicate Time for Definitions: Carve out moments to collectively define key concepts. What do we gain from card sorting or persona creation? Setting clear expectations can demystify these processes. Knowing When to Act: Endless discussions can be as crippling as misunderstanding. There comes a time to transition from planning to execution, ensuring the focus remains on actual research and outcomes. ➡ Embracing Empathy and Action: Remember, empathy is our compass. Don't shy away from revisiting definitions, even if it feels repetitive. And, prioritize action—getting into the field, testing, and learning is where real insights are unearthed.

What’s so great about an analogy? A great analogy is like a bridge. Imagine you live in a quaint little place called “Familiar Town.” You grew up here. Everyone knows you. You know this place like the back of your hand. Across the river there’s a part of town you’ve never been to before—"New Idea City." It looks fun, but it’s also a bit scary because it’s all new to you. There’s a new bridge you can take to “New Idea City. Now it’s just a quick walk away. The bridge makes it easy to cross because it’s something you know how to use. All you have to do is walk. And before you know it, you’re not just looking at New Idea City from across the river… you're actually there. 🤯 --- A great analogy is like a bridge. It closes the gap between something familiar and something new. As you learn about something unfamiliar through the lens of the familiar, it takes you closer and closer to that new idea in a way that’s easy to grasp. Frankie Kastenbaum is at finding UX insights in everyday life and helping people understand often complex ideas through the familiar, mundane things we all experience like cooking a meal or working out. I’m excited for you to listen in on our conversation this week and get all of Frankie’s insights --- 🎯 Here are some key takeaways from our conversation 1️⃣ Use analogies to teach and mentor more effectively: For those new to UX, Frankie's analogies serve as important learning tools. It helps new designers grasp fundamental concepts and apply them in their work. 2️⃣ Explain your role in simple terms: Analogies help make UX concepts more accessible to those outside the field. This can improve how you communicate with product managers, stakeholders, engineers, and even family and friends. 3️⃣ Analogies can bridge the gap between career stages: For those shifting careers into UX design, analogies pulled from previous experiences can highlight transferable skills and may ease the transition into UX Design. 4️⃣ Enhance user empathy with relatable scenarios: By using analogies that evoke familiar feelings and experiences, we can foster deeper empathy within our team for our users. Especially complex enterprise scenarios that might be unfamiliar to the larger software team. 5️⃣ Engage in continuous learning through analogies: Regularly developing new analogies based on personal experiences not only aids in teaching but also keeps your creative processes fresh and relatable. Check out the comments for a link to the full episode. #UXdesign #Podcast #analogies

I think the way the management of #UX researchers works is wrong. There are two issues as I see it. Firstly UX research teams are often led by designers or product managers. This would be fine if they have a properly experienced researcher in between them and the rest of the team. This person should be able to lead the discipline in the organisation. But usually this isn't the case and the designer/PM tries to lead with their idea of what good UX research looks like. This is like an electrician trying to show plumbers what good plumbing looks like. The second issue is the amount of time a line manager needs to invest in each of their direct reports. Unless your direct reports are pretty experienced themselves, you can't develop a UX researcher through a single 1-2-1 meeting each week. Instead you need to work with them and get involved. But most line managers who are UX researchers, are still given research projects of their own to do. This comes alongside 'managing' a handful of other researchers. It doesn't work. Either the manager's own research will be compromised, or their ability to manager their direct reports will be.