User Research

Working in an agency environment means that I am always working with new problem space. Therefore, I want to be able to build empathy with the users quickly. Research has always been the first thing in my toolkits for informing my design decision and building alignment with my team.

When I joined This Place 3 years ago as the 2nd designer, I saw an opportunity to leverage my training in user-centered design practices and user research into client projects as well as growing the internal discipline across the studios in Seattle and London.

Some examples of research method that I've used in our projects:

• Competitive research

• Heuristic evaluation

• User interviews

• Moderated and unmoderated usability studies

• Participatory design & concept testing

• Card sorting

• Guerrilla research

• Surveys

• Focus groups

• Contextual inquiries and field research

For all of our projects, I am responsible for planning and overseeing research projects. I help to identify problem areas, define target audiences, and choose the right techniques within the constraints that we are working with. When there are opportunities to work with the user research team from our client team, I also find ways to include them more as part of the design process. It helps me build a strong relationship for future engagement.

To empower the team to be comfortable with running research, I also created workshops and templates that help the team to jump-start their own research project.

I also helped hire our first UX manager. I worked with him and our project management team to further refine our practice. For example, we created easy to digest method cards for the team to use in their practice.

When I first started, it was challenging to advocate time and resources for scoping in research in our project plan. Now, research integrates in our day-to-day practice and is a required phase in all our projects.