Reclaiming the Promise of UX Research.

The disconnect between technologies’ promise and their failings is more stark than it’s been in decades. New technologies like voice UIs, connected products, AR, and AI have extraordinary promise to improve users' experiences at the same time the news is filled with stories of tech companies’ ethical lapses. We want to build a better future, to disrupt and innovate, but we won’t accomplish those goals if all we do is ‘test & iterate.’ While usability testing and prototype explorations are critical, there is a suite of methodologies we can bring to bear to solve the more substantive problems confronting tech.

In this talk, I’ll review how emerging technologies require methodologies that focus more on context, time, and ethics. I’ll also provide specific suggestions for how to influence your organization to adopt the less common UXR methodologies that will break us out of this rut. Do you want to participate in company-focused incrementalism or push for user-centered design practice? Now is the time to disrupt the disruptors. It’s time to reclaim the promise of UX research.