What are the most common problems solved by UX Researchers?

Identifying user needs is one of the premises of UX research. Putting yourself in their shoes when using an app or platform will help them find solutions more accurately.

Understanding users' needs is a fundamental aspect of UX research. UX researchers strive to gain insights into what users require from a product or service. UX researchers understand user needs through methods like interviews, surveys, and testing, ensuring products align with user expectations and provide value in a user-centric design process.

Identifying user needs being a crucial part of any work, could be more challenging than one can expect, as we tend to put ourselves in the users shoes and listen only to those points that validate our beliefs/assumptions. Researchers may be conscious about such biases and may play the devil to filter out and identify the actual need gaps, thereby targeting the right problem

UX researchers focus on understanding user needs, fixing usability issues, testing designs, creating user personas, analyzing data, ensuring accessibility, prioritizing features, and staying ahead of competitors to enhance user experiences.

Entender que as necessidades dos usuários a serem consideradas são as necessidades de TODOS os usuários já é um excelente começo. Muitas vezes a instituição não entende que seus colaboradores, fornecedores e outras pessoas presentes em seu ecossistema são tão importantes quanto seus consumidores e que devem ter uma boa experiência de uso para que o produto ou serviço seja relevante!

UX research provides insights into the questions a product team has regarding user problems. The most fundamental being, are we solving the right one.

UX researchers play a crucial role in validating assumptions made by the product team regarding user problems, solutions, and the market. They test hypotheses, prototypes, and features with real users, using methods like A/B testing and analytics to measure feedback, satisfaction, and outcomes. This helps ensure the usability, desirability, and feasibility of the product or service.

The question is, what is the most common problem solved by UX? Validating assumption is the most common however, it is a narrow perspective. It suggests we have explored ALL the possible behaviors and the current ones are observable, when we have likely only observed those within the context of what we envisioned the tool to do. Sure there are some surprises and insights to be gained but they are anticipated behaviors within the realm of possibility. It is the unintended consequences, the wild, or absurd behaviors, the ones users will not show you in a user test that escape us. Validation is a good thing but we must ask, 'what does this design afford the user to do' then we will design something better, or at least, know where it will fail.

Validating assumptions is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. It takes constant interaction with real users, analyzing their feedback, and being ready to revise assumptions and designs based on new insights to validate assumptions. This approach allows you to develop a product that connects with your users and meets their needs.

I always keep in mind that I might A user, but not THE user. In order to know what the user needs, we have to conduct interviews and surveys with open-ended questions. This approach allows users to freely contribute without the influence of biases.

Sharing insights with teams, stakeholders and other relevant groups of persons are essential for making right decisions. The insights make potentials and opportunities visible that were not even on the table yet. In inspiring others to solve problems in creative ways lies the power of UX research.

UX researchers excel in communicating valuable insights and recommendations derived from user research and testing to the product team and stakeholders. They create reports, dashboards, and stories using techniques like storytelling and data visualization, summarizing key findings and actions for the product or service. This ensures a clear understanding of the user voice and the value it brings.

A elaboração da documentação no campo de UX apresenta desafios notáveis, pois demanda uma comunicação precisa e técnica, aliada à validação das informações coletadas. Uma solução para aprimorar esse processo é adotar uma abordagem clara e concisa, utilizando ferramentas que sejam claras de apresentação. Relatórios finais , apresentações painéis e board Discovery , e histórias que condensem as descobertas essenciais, suas implicações e as ações sugeridas. Incorporar elementos visuais e exemplos concretos pode facilitar a compreensão e aceitação das recomendações pela equipe, promovendo uma colaboração mais eficiente.

Storytelling is the primary skill a UX researcher needs to have when communicating insights. Here is why: - It helps to communicate research findings engagingly and memorably. - It can bring research participants and their experiences to life. - It helps create a more cohesive and compelling narrative around the research findings. - It helps identify gaps in the research or areas that require further investigation. - It helps identify opportunities for innovation and growth by highlighting unmet user needs or pain points.

The most crucial part of communicating insights in UX is ensuring that the information is not only accurate but also presented in a way that is easily understandable to diverse stakeholders. Clarity and relevance are key to driving informed decisions and facilitating meaningful changes in the design process.

In my perspective and experience, collaboration in UX research brings together product, engineering, marketing, and support teams to improve product decisions and promote a user-centric culture. By involving stakeholders and users in interviews and testing, we can gain a deeper understanding of user needs and enrich our daily work with real-world impact. Shared tools and communication ensure cohesive data integration, leading to informed decisions. This collaborative, iterative approach not only improves the product but also fosters user empathy across teams, strengthening overall product strategy and workplace culture.

UX researchers excel in collaborating across various roles in the product development process, including designers, developers, product managers, and marketers. They align on research goals, share insights, and co-create the product or service. Utilizing tools like Slack, Miro, Figma, and Google Docs, UX researchers enhance communication, coordination, and seamless collaboration.

O trabalho de UX envolve uma equipe multidisciplinar e isso inclui a integração com designers, desenvolvedores, gerentes de produto e profissionais de marketing, garantindo a harmonização de objetivos, escopo e métodos de pesquisa. Uma solução prática é o uso de ferramentas como Slack, Miro, Figma e Google Docs, que facilitam a comunicação, coordenação e cocriação. Essas plataformas permitem o compartilhamento ágil de dados e insights da pesquisa, promovendo uma colaboração sinérgica para aprimorar o desenvolvimento do produto ou serviço.

UX researchers are chameleons. We adapt and work with many different people from several teams and departments. We are flexible and easygoing. We collaborate across the board. We must align the goals of our team with the goals of the business and the needs of the user. We use several tools to reach agreements and consensus. We document and establish processes.

If you start working closely with cross-functional teams, including designers, developers, product managers, and marketers, this will further facilitate future workshops and collaborative sessions to ensure a shared understanding of user needs and design goals.

UX researchers proficiently manage resources for effective user research and testing. They plan budgets, timelines, and participant recruitment, selecting tools and environments, and organizing research data. Using frameworks like Lean UX, Agile UX, and ResearchOps, UX researchers optimize processes and ensure impactful outcomes.

A integração dessas ferramentas em colaboração com a equipe é crucial, gerando impactos positivos no projeto. No contexto das metodologias ágeis, promover treinamentos e estabelecer uma comunicação eficaz em torno dessas técnicas é fundamental para alinhar toda a equipe, contribuindo para o sucesso do projeto.

UX researchers also manage the logistical aspects of conducting user research. This includes scheduling and coordinating research sessions with participants, ensuring that the research environment is suitable and conducive to the research objectives, and providing necessary incentives or compensation to participants. Overall, managing resources in user research is about ensuring that the necessary people, tools, and infrastructure are in place to conduct the research effectively and efficiently. This includes budgeting, planning, coordination, and collaboration to optimize the research process and outcomes.

Planning and managing research projects, including budgeting time and resources effectively should go hand-in-hand with the priority of research activities, based on project timelines and goals.

From how I see it, handling resources in UX research can be tricky. It's about planning the budget, timeline, and scope, and doing things like finding participants and choosing tools. I think using frameworks like Lean UX and Agile UX is smart because they make the research process work better. For me, the important part is finding the right balance between making things efficient and getting good results in UX research.

UX researchers consistently tackle the challenge of learning and improving their skills. They stay updated on UX trends, methods, and tools, seek feedback and mentorship, and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. Engaging with resources like blogs, podcasts, books, courses, and events, UX researchers foster ongoing professional growth.

There’s no doubt that self improving is a must in all aspects of life, including both in professional and personal life; however, ‘Learning and improving’ in UX should involve a continuous cycle of gathering feedback, analyzing user behavior, and iterating on designs. It's about staying open to insights, adapting to user needs, and refining the user experience over time to update and or create more effective and user-friendly products or services.

Staying updated on industry trends, new research methodologies, and emerging technologies, while iteratively improving research processes based on feedback and outcomes.

In UX research, continuous learning is key. I've enhanced insights by combining surveys with advanced techniques like eye-tracking, uncovering deeper user motivations. Peer feedback has been crucial; for instance, collaborative reviews have helped me enrich user journey maps with emotional touchpoints. Reflecting on each project, I ensure a diverse application of methods, moving beyond comfort zones to embrace new approaches. This commitment to growth, collaboration, and innovation keeps my work at the cutting edge of UX excellence.

Imagine being the eyes and ears of the company, where every click, swipe, and tap holds a clue to creating a world of delightful, seamless user experiences. As a UX researcher, you dive into the human side of tech, turning confusion and frustration into intuitive, joyful interactions. You’re not just helping with making changes to the product; you’re helping create a product that resonate with users. Your insights don’t just shape products; they shape happiness and success. By listening to the user’s voice, you drive innovation, foster loyalty, and make the digital world better.

Suppose during UX research, you express having a very positive experience with a banking mobile app. This positive feedback becomes an additional layer of insight, showcasing that certain aspects of the app, perhaps the intuitive navigation or clear interface, contribute to a satisfying user experience. Integrating such user perspectives helps UX researchers identify and reinforce successful design elements while addressing any potential challenges for a holistic understanding.

Find the usability and accessibility related issues through testing and observation. Try to point out areas where users get confused, make errors, encounter obstacles during interaction with the product. Organizing information in a logical and user-friendly way to make it easier foe users to find what they need. Ultimately, UX researchers should understand user need, user behavior, product performance, accessibility and contribute significantly to business success and customer satisfaction.

From a mass consumption and brand building experience, UX helps brand owners, activity creators and commercial experts, to understand if brand value really engages or delivers value to different types of users. It helps us fail fast or prove in a much more faster and safer way. The issue is that this types of capabilities are not developed in this traditional organizations and to get to do something of that, the path of transformation is long and painful.