Empowering designers and the role of democratizing research
In the fast-paced world of product development, the quest for user-centric design has become paramount. Teams are on a mission to craft products that truly click with their audience, and that’s where the “democratization of research” comes into play. This idea is all about giving more team members, such as designers, access to research tools and methods, not just the folks who specialize in research.
On the bright side, spreading the research love around means everyone gets a slice of the insight pie. Designers get to dive deep into user habits and preferences, making our design decisions much smarter. But, you know how it goes — every rose has its thorn.
Sometimes, when designers put on their Sherlock hats, they might miss out on the tried-and-true methods and tricks of the research trade. Without a bit of training and some wise guidance, the research quality could take a nosedive, leaving us scratching our heads over some wonky results. Plus, let’s not forget the time and effort it takes to get designers up to speed — the struggle can be real.
But hey, despite these bumps in the road, we’ve seen some real magic happen by letting designers loose on usability tests and light generative work. By arming them with the right tools and know-how, we’re tapping into a goldmine of user insights. Not only does this free up our research pros to tackle strategic research, but also fosters a culture of collaboration and shared ownership of the research process.
\We have developed some principles through our research ops programs that can apply to other designers looking to carry out research. Our approach focuses on equipping team members with the knowledge and skills to conduct research thoughtfully. Here are the general steps that can be applied in any workplace:
- We start with ethics because understanding UX research and how consent should be brought in is fundamental. Designers should also familiarize themselves with best practices for conducting research in real-world settings. This foundational knowledge ensures that research is conducted respectfully.
- As part of onboarding, designers should learn about the team’s research playbook, tools, and how to effectively use the repository of past insights. It’s also crucial to understand when to collaborate with researchers, whether the researcher is leading a project or the designer is spearheading their own initiative.
- Shadowing research sessions is a key component. Designers should accompany researchers during studies in order to build empathy for users and gain firsthand experience in the research process. This practice should continue beyond onboarding, with designers attending at least one moderated session if a researcher is investigating insights related to their product focus. This encourages close collaboration within teams, as product managers and engineers should also be brought along for the ride shadowing sessions.
- We see training in usability testing as essential to this overall process. By empowering designers to master this method, designers can take the lead on gathering actionable feedback on product prototypes and iterating quickly to improve the user experience.
In conclusion, while the democratization of research presents its challenges, we have found that enabling designers to conduct research can lead to more informed design decisions and a deeper understanding of our users. At our company, we lead a program to train designers in research, further facilitating this process of empowerment and skill development. By providing designers with the tools and training they need to succeed, we can leverage their expertise to drive innovation and deliver exceptional products and in turn remarkable user experiences.
