Research readouts are a vital part of a UX designer's job. However, the findings presented during readout sessions sometimes carry a challenging message. In such situations, stakeholders can misunderstand your intention and feel offended by the presentation. But you are just delivering the facts, aren't you? Well, if prepared in advance and done strategically, every designer can tell a compelling research story and transform skeptical stakeholders into UX advocates. Come and learn techniques of how to prepare in advance, anticipate pushback and deliver successful research readouts. 1) You will learn how to anticipate challenges before and during research readouts and will be able to address them skillfully. 2) You will discover how to transform UX challengers into UX advocates. 3) You will be equipped with the best practices that will help you to illustrate the benefits of UX research during the readout.

1. Don’t kill the
messenger
How to successfully deliver research
readouts?
JUSTYNA BELKEVIC
justyna-belkevic

2. What UX designers
expect clients to say
during research
readouts:
My assumptions
were incorrect.
Let’s follow our UX
team’s guidance
on this.
I never knew
that our users
had those
challenges.
Users think
differently to
me and I
accept it.
Justyna Belkevic
Stakeholders
Intro

3. VS what really
happens: This can’t be
true because it
doesn’t match
my opinion.
The research
must be flawed
because the
findings are too
negative.
I know how to solve it
(proceeds to speak
about a solution,
which doesn’t
address the problem).
Stakeholders
Justyna Belkevic
Intro

4. So.. is there
anything you
can do?
Justyna Belkevic
Intro

5. Intro
Yes! Absolutely.
Let me show you
how🔥
Justyna Belkevic

6. Hello!
Justyna Belkevic
Sr. User Experience
Designer, Founder,
Experience Clients
Intro

7. Today’s journey
What’s the goal of
research
readouts?
Take off
What and who
might pose a
challenge?
Turbulence
What can I do to
mitigate those
challenges? 5 tips!
Cruising
Bonus material to
prepare you for any
situation.
Landing
Justyna Belkevic
Intro

8. Take off
01
Justyna Belkevic
What’s the goal of
research readouts?

9. Research Readout 101
A great time to present your findings
to keep project’s momentum going is
right after the main user research
activities are done.
Invite all major stakeholders from the
client’s side to the meeting. Keep your
own team’s numbers low.
Choose any presentation medium you
prefer. Remember to focus on the
problem and not the solution.
When?
Who?
What?
Take off
Justyna Belkevic

10. What’s the goal?
The goal of user research
readouts is to:
Take off
Justyna Belkevic
Are we speaking
about the same
dog?
01 Build user empathy within
the wider team
Have everyone on the same
page about the challenge at
hand
Raise the project
momentum through
communicating the research
findings
02
03

11. Seems great! What
could possibly be a
challenge?
Take off
Justyna Belkevic

12. The turbulence
02
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What and who
might pose a
challenge?

13. Potential challenging personas
“Why only 5 people
per user group? I am
sure it’s not enough to
determine anything.”
“These findings are
too negative. Do not
include them in the
presentation.”
“I know what is the solution
here, and I am going to tell
everyone what to do.”
Confused Chris Nervous Nancy
All-knowing Alex
Justyna Belkevic
Turbulence

14. Cruising
03
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What can I do to
mitigate those
challenges? 5 tips!

15. It’s important to understand why
stakeholders are pushing back on user
research and uncover what business goals
and metrics are most important to them.
Using that, you can then create a research
plan that both mitigates their worries and
shows how research can impact the
metrics they care about.
Before presenting research readout
Justyna Belkevic
01. Understand the ‘whys’ of main stakeholders
Cruising

16. 02. Show them what UX design is about
Before presenting research readout
Justyna Belkevic
– Formal & informal meetings – don’t
underestimate the power of 1:1 relationships
with stakeholders.
Meetings
Collaboration
- Offer to take part in the research (joining video
calls, coming along on ethnographies, debriefing after
each session, etc.).
Updates
- Give updates, show enthusiasm or invite them to
your product team meeting in which you discuss the
research planning.
Rehearsal
- Present/share the findings before the big
presentation.
Cruising

17. 03. Communicate the right message to the right people
Before/During presenting research
readout
Justyna Belkevic
“I love numbers”
“Did you help
any other big
brands?”
“I am a visual
person”
Some stakeholders are
motivated by numbers. Include
them into your presentation.
Other stakeholders are motivated
by social proof, so you can
demonstrate how other brands
they look up to use UX
techniques.
Others, prefer visual communication.
So, paint the picture. Be flexible - ‘Let
me just show you, it is easier to
visualise it.’
Cruising

18. 04. Bring your results to life
During presenting research readout
Justyna Belkevic
Show don’t tell
Use a narrative structure with relatable
heros
Don’t try to do too much at once
Use lots of high-quality pictures and vide
01
02
03
04
Cruising

19. During presenting research readout
Justyna Belkevic
We instinctively want to fix problems
quickly. Especially when they are clearly
spelt out in a presentation. However...
Remind everyone that the
purpose of the research
readout is not to fix but to
listen.
05. Remind that you aren’t discussing solutions yet
Cruising

20. Bonus Tips
● Why are you speaking only to so few
people?
● Can I write the questions for you?
● I am afraid that you will find a lot of
negative responses.
Justyna Belkevic
5 people
uncover 85% of
insights
I’ll share
interview
topics with
you
If the
comments are
negative, it
means that
your users
care. We can
fix it.
You
Cruising

21. Landing
04
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Bonus material to
prepare you for any
situation.

22. How does the room feel?
Justyna Belkevic
Landing
If after your research readout presentation
the stakeholders feel the rush of adrenaline
and ask you questions like: ‘How do we
solve this?’ or ‘What do we do now?’ - you
know you conveyed your message
successfully.

23. Be an effective communicator
Check your emotions at the door
01
Partnership is key
Speak their language - make it simple
Don’t take it personally
Justyna Belkevic
Landing
Are we speaking
about the same
dog?
02
03
Remember:
04
05

24. If you
remember
one thing..
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25. Justyna Belkevic
No one challenges
without a reason
1) Uncover and 2) address that reason
3) early enough through 4) building a
relationship with stakeholders and you’ll
become the most successful messenger
in the room.

26. Thanks!
Now you know how to deliver
successful research readouts.
Go and rock it! (and tell me how
it went)
JUSTYNA BELKEVIC
justyna-belkevic