Lots of people talk about the importance of doing UX research, but it can be hard to see how to get started. This talk shares some tips that are useful whether you work with UX researchers, you are one, or you’re DIY. I’m a UX researcher, and in the last 6 months I’ve started the UX research function at notonthehighstreet.com, in a new UX team. The challenges that I’ve faced getting UX research off the ground here are common to many organisations that are trying to focus - or re-focus - on users. When your organisation has rapid growth, several products, fast pace, new UX team - how do you position UX research in the organisation, and get started running it effectively?

1. 10 TIPS
Michelle Lotia, Senior UX Researcher
@mblotia
FOR GETTING
UX RESEARCH
OFF THE GROUND

2. 1Define “UX research”.

3. Observing how and why
people interact with products
so we can make products
more usable and
more valuable

4. WHAT PEOPLE DO
HOW MANY &
HOW MUCH
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
WHY & HOW
BEHAVIOURS
ATTITUDES
QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
http://www.nngroup.com/articles/which-ux-research-methods/Adapted from Christian Rohrer,

5. WHAT PEOPLE DO
HOW MANY &
HOW MUCH
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
WHY & HOW
BEHAVIOURS
ATTITUDES
QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
http://www.nngroup.com/articles/which-ux-research-methods/Adapted from Christian Rohrer,
UX RESEARCH OPTIMISATION
MARKET
RESEARCH

6. 2
Collaborate with
market research
on strategic work.

7. 3
Create an
optimisation
feedback loop.

8. ALTERNATIVES
HOW MANY &
HOW MUCH
QUANTITATIVE
OPTIMISATION
WHY & HOW
QUALITATIVE
UX RESEARCH
http://www.nngroup.com/articles/which-ux-research-methods/Adapted from Christian Rohrer,
REASONS

9. 4
Start small and
achievable with a
current pain point.

10. 5
Research light.
Insight, not
deliverables.

11. 6
Get your team
involved in
the research.

13. 7
Prioritise.
You can’t do
research on
everything.

14. 8
Shift from
making it usable to
making it valuable.

15. 9
Some research is
better than
no research.

16. 10 Empathise.

17. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Define “UX research”.
Collaborate with market research on strategic work.
Create an optimisation feedback loop.
Start small and achievable with a current pain point.
Research light. Insight, not deliverables.
Get your team involved in the research.
Prioritise. You can’t do research on everything.
Shift from making it usable to making it valuable.
Some research is better than no research.
Empathise.

19. QUESTIONS?
Michelle Lotia
@mblotia