Awkward Silences9 Juli 2024

#152 - The Future of Research in Three Trends with Jo Widawski of Maze

Erin and Carol are joined by Jo Widawski, founder and CEO of Maze, to discuss the major findings from their "Future of User Research" report, which unearthed three trends animating researchers, PMs, and founders alike: 1) the demand for research is growing, 2) research democratization empowers stronger decision making, and 3) new technology—like generative AI—allows teams to scale their research.

Erin, Carol, and Jo unpack each of these trends, flagging what they mean for both the work of researchers and the value of research more broadly. For example, these trends signal a rise in importance of the research generalist, the critical value of stakeholder influence, and the skills tomorrow's successful researcher must build today. Together, these trends and skills help create a roadmap for how researcher's can grow from a tactical resource to a strategic partner.

Episode Highlights

03:57 The nature of research in organizations
11:01 Transitioning researcher roles: from operational to educational
18:01 The importance of democratization in design
22:43 Overcoming resistance to research in design
30:25 AI's impact on user research trust
37:59 Understanding competitive landscape in building products

About Our Guest
Jo Widawksi is the Founder and CEO at Maze. He’s a veteran Product Designer & former UX teacher. As a UX lead working with clients like McKinsey, Rocket Internet & PSG, he saw first-hand how hard it is for product teams to get the data, insights, and feedback they need to make confident design decisions. Now he’s co-founded Maze, the continuous product discovery platform for user-centric teams.

More Resources

Read the 2024 State of User Research Report (from UI)
Read the Future of User Research Report (from Maze)
Learn how to create stronger stakeholder relationships

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(198)

#192 - Slowing Things Down to Speed Up Research with Jared Forney of Okta

Erin May talks with Jared Forney, Research Operations Principal at Okta, about how the role of research and research operations is shifting as AI accelerates product development. Jared explains why sc...

1 Juli 56min

#191 - Throwback: UX Lessons from a Decade Researching AI with Jess Holbrook of Microsoft

This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes.Much of the conversation around AI in UX involves how it will shape and change researchers' work. This episodes's guest, Jes...

9 Juni 49min

#190 - How to Navigate the Constant Change in UX Research with Learners CEO Alec Levin

Erin May sits down with Alec Levin, CEO and Co-Founder of Learners, to explore how researchers can navigate the rapid changes reshaping their field. Alec shares his vision for how AI and automation ar...

26 Maj 39min

#189 - Throwback: Quantifying Research Impact with Ruby Pryor of Rex

This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes.This episode welcomed Ruby Pryor, founder of Rex, a consulting firm specializing in UX research and strategic design.This ep...

12 Maj 47min

#188 - Why AI Can't Replace Qualitative Research with Sam Ladner of Workday

Erin May sits down with Sam Ladner, Senior Principal Researcher of Strategy at Workday, to explore the evolving role of AI in qualitative research. Sam brings a refreshingly balanced perspective on wh...

28 Apr 49min

#187 - Throwback: Harnessing AI For Better Insights with George Whitfield of MIT and Google

This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This episode welcomed George Whitfield, an expert in applying AI to the analysis of qualitative data. George discussed the ...

14 Apr 40min

#186 - Positioning Your Portfolio for AI Skills with Aneta Kmiecik of Be Your Own Design Team

Erin May sits down with Aneta Kmiecik, founder of Be Your Own Design Team, to tackle one of the biggest questions facing designers today: how to position AI skills in portfolios and resumes. With 15 y...

31 Mars 42min

#185 - How to Use AI Without Losing Your Research Soul with Nikki Anderson of Drop in Research

Ben Wiedmaier sits down with user research consultant Nikki Anderson to explore how researchers can stay relevant when budgets are tight and stakeholders are stressed. Nikki runs Drop in Research wher...

17 Mars 52min