With over eight years of experience in design research, my journey began during my bachelor’s studies in 2016 as part of a university usability lab and design research group. I hold a master’s degree in design research and have multiple publications in the field.
I believe research is integral to design, particularly during the exploration and testing stages. I meticulously approach my research process, recognizing the value of understanding scope and context. I strive to conduct just the right amount of research, ensuring it’s sufficient but never excessive.
I always start by thoroughly understanding the product, service and user. This initial stage is crucial as it helps define the scope and goals of the research. With a strong foundation in project management methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, Agile, and Lean, I first establish a schedule and outline each research stage.
Once I understand the topic, I prepare a research protocol. This step is indispensable as it sets the goals, hypotheses, methods, metrics, tools, and samples. Depending on the methodology, I define each activity in the protocol and ethics. I have used various methods, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, statistical tests, user diaries, and usability tests etc. I always choose the right method based on the research goals and metrics.
Research metrics are a critical part of protocol definition. I have trained many designers in this area. Hence, for me metrics fall into three categories: Business and Marketing, UX, and Statistics. Business and Marketing metrics, such as CES, NPS, and CSAT, focus on quantitative data and overall product performance. UX metrics, divided into effectiveness, efficiency, and accessibility, help obtain both quantitative and qualitative data. I have experience using tools like product reaction cards, UX score, Nordic questionnaires, Task-level satisfaction, the Google HEART framework etc.
I am empathetic and excel in engaging with diverse users. A well-prepared research plan simplifies implementation, ensuring clarity on goals and delivery. Leading focus groups, I use my leadership skills to create a comfortable environment, valuing every user insight.
My approach to result analysis varies by method but generally involves separating qualitative and quantitative data. I focus on identifying insights and patterns in user comments and behaviors. Collaborating with a team for analysis provides multiple perspectives. I use platforms like Maze, Optimal Workshop, and UX Tweak to streamline quantitative data analysis.
Delivering research results is a challenge I approach by considering my audience. For project executives and managers, I emphasize quantitative data, charts, and key metrics, explaining the process succinctly and focusing on results and next steps. For users or my team, I highlight qualitative data and the research process, emphasizing its impact on them. Tailoring the presentation to the audience ensures effective communication of research findings.
To document UX research effectively, I start by defining the research objectives. I also describe the chosen methodology, such as interviews, surveys, or usability tests, and explain the rationale behind these choices. I Include participant details, ensuring anonymity and confidentiality, and outline the research process, covering preparation, execution, and tools used. I also detail data collection methods and present key findings using visual aids to highlight patterns and insights. Then, I explain the analysis process and discuss the implications of the findings, providing actionable recommendations based on the research. I prioritize organizing the documentation clearly with headings and bullet points, and I also include appendices with supporting materials like raw data and transcripts.
