By far, the most frequent question I get asked is, “how should I write a user research case study?” The second most frequent question I get asked is, “what should I include in my case study?”
Case studies are difficult and stressful. I have spent hours sweating and crying while…
I always get asked about how I conduct research interviews, and each time I do my best to explain my techniques. I mention research plans, TEDW techniques, not asking about the future, and being careful not to ask leading questions.
However, I constantly struggle with how to describe my research…
Since I was young, I had my sights set on becoming a vet or a psychologist. My parents laughed at the thought of me being a vet. If I saw an animal even stub their paw, I’d be in tears. I spent a brief time shadowing a vet when I…
The other day I was invited to an informal product meetup as an informal speaker. My fiancé (yes, we got engaged!) is a product manager in Berlin, and he meets about once a month with a group of about ten other product managers. They swap stories and experiences, discuss tools…
I had just joined my second full-time job in user research at a company called Olapic. I was bushy-eyed and excited. A few weeks in, I was doing a good job learning and absorbing all the information I could. I was proud to have recently learned how to write research…
When I was first starting as a user researcher, I had no basis of understanding how projects worked in tech companies. The only mental model I had of research was academia. I was unable to find examples of research projects online and had no idea how they worked. Eventually, I…
There is no right way to get into user research or one perfect next step on the journey. Whether you are just starting or have been in the field for years, there is no “correct” place for a given level of experience. There is no template for the perfect career…
There are a few reasons I love card sorting so much. The method is simple, effective, and fun to participate in (for both the moderator and the participant). I was surprised when I realized I hadn’t written an article solely on card sorting. It deserves it’s time to shine.
I…
A company’s expectations of user researchers are high. It is a competitive world out there, especially for people looking to break into the user research field. My heart sinks when I view intern or junior positions that require experience (stop doing this!) or act as though applicants should already be…
The first time I was asked to create a research report, I was lost. After spending my life writing academic reports, I was used to the long-winded, endless vocabulary in these presentations. Producing a report like that, as a user researcher, would prompt a lot of blank stares. And when…
