The Best of People Nerds 2023

2023 has taken us all in unexpected directions. Our annual roundup offers guides for every winding road and pitstop you can think of.

Is it really almost 2024?   This year we've engaged in all kinds of discussions from approaching GenAI and adapting to an ever-changing market, to UXR's role when it comes to team structures and ethical product production.   Thanks to this incredible community, we've had the opportunity to collaborate with excellent thinkers and leaders, get inspired and share fresh strategies and tactics, and create more spaces to connect with one another.   Thank you for sharing your ideas and learning with us this year, we wish you a warm and happy new year and look forward to continuing these conversations in 2024.   Until then, we wanted to share some of the highlights of 2023.🎉🥂🪩 Prove impact and secure stakeholder buy-in Your research only goes so far if you can't influence stakeholders to take action on your findings. The highlights from this year will ensure your insights come to fruition. Investing in ethical research can have a return on investment. This webinar explores some of the tensions you may have to navigate. Everyone has to deal with constraints in their work—this research budget template makes it easier. What do product managers actually understand about research? Their FAQs may surprise you. C-Suite. Customer support. Engineering and product. No matter the team, this guide shows you how to collaborate across departments. If your stakeholders aren't engaged, consider conjuring up some FOMO. Dive headfirst into AI 2023 brought the rapid rise of AI to the forefront—along with a host of questions and unknowns. We explore the different facets of this development, including how to ensure UXR has a seat at the table. What is an LLM and NLP in the world of AI? Kevin Johnson (Head of AI at dscout) breaks it down. dscout CEO, Michael Winnick, shares why GPT needs UXR in its corner. Researching GenAI isn't straightforward, but you can approach the endeavor with some guiding principles. See how UX researchers at Duolingo are incorporating AI into their product. There are risks that come with moving too fast with GenAI—so let's take a good look at them. After 18 months specializing in the AI field, a former Google employee breaks down what she's learned. Build your team and foster a flexible research practice The job market came with some unexpected swings in 2023, meaning teams had to be agile and roll with the punches. Here are some key takeaways you can bring with you into the new year. Rome wasn't built in a day—which is why we have this handy guide to show you how to build and scale your own UX team. The current work climate may require more sustainable, lean team building. research leader Loi Sessions Goulet shares some tips. No more putting UX in a corner. Salesforce's Yakaira Núñez shares why the future of research is integrated across teams. How do you keep your team flexible? It all intersects with the anatomy of your team in the first place. Don't let democratization give you the scaries. These four steps will make the process smoother for everyone. Get creative with your research  It's easy to get stuck in a research rut, but even more important to embrace your creative side and shake up the routine. These fresh ideas will get you going. It's time to evolve your usability testing—starting with some innovative approaches. Approach research as if it's a financial portfolio and watch your investments grow. Microsoft wanted to seek out opportunities with video content creators, making some valuable research practices in the process. When you want to make your research more inclusive, terminology is key. Check out how to activate your insights through ideation and co-creation. High quality research participants can make or break a study. Here's how to recruit the cream of the crop. Brush up on what dscout's got cooking Usability testing, GenAI, Co-Lab, oh my! We've stayed busy this year with new developments and we want you along for the ride. Where is dscout heading in 2024? A sneak peek. We launched usability testing for more flexible and collaborative research. We are finding responsible ways to integrate AI that still puts your team front and center.  What is the current state of UXR, and where will AI take us? This Co-Lab answers some pressing questions. dscout was named a Leader in the Forrester Wave™. See what it means that we earned the highest criteria. Ready to scale your research program? Successfully scaling research requires effective stakeholder collaboration, flexible methods, and insights designed for impact. See how dscout can help you with all three. dscout, 222 North LaSalle St, Chicago, IL Unsubscribe Manage preferences

Retail and shopping researchers, this one’s for you

With four different customizable templates, you'll be on the path to launch your next research project in no time.

Hi Wanto,   "What is the experience really like for our customers while they're shopping?"    "How does the public view our brand?"    "What is the best way to position our company for growth?"   Conducting unmoderated retail and shopping research can answer these questions—and many more—with specificity.    Whether that results in launching a new product or challenging previous assumptions, the options are endless.   This free guide includes… Why retail brands should conduct research How remote research is particularly beneficial Best practices with specific examples Four templates you can apply to your own studies Whether you use dscout or another tool, these tactical tips will help set your retail and shopping research in the right direction. READ THEM HERE Ready to scale your research program? Successfully scaling research requires effective stakeholder collaboration, flexible methods, and insights designed for impact.   See how dscout can help you with all three. dscout, 222 North LaSalle St, Chicago, IL Unsubscribe Manage preferences

UXR 🤝 GPT: How we can support one another

Plus, get a list of ways to approach GenAI with confidence and explore our new guides and resources.

GenAI has dominated the conversations for months now, but how exactly does it apply to user research? This week, we explore a few perspectives on how GenAI can and will impact our work.    From a thought-provoking GPT Needs UXR (and vice versa) to a tactical guide on How to Study the New Properties of GenAI you'll have a variety of assets to bookmark and keep handy while your org continues to explore this new tech.   Plus with Co-Lab Continued sessions wrapping up this week, be sure to join the conversations about AI, orthodoxies, and the UXR landscape in our People Nerds Slack community. - The People Nerds Team   dscout's CEO, Michael Winnick, takes us through why UXR should be a key player in GenAI product development and why this time of tech change brings a lot of opportunity for our industry. TIME TO TEAM UP KEEP READING - MORE ON THIS TOPIC GenAI adds tension to UXR—but can also bring opportunity. Understand the new properties of GenAI (and how to study them) Approach AI with confidence: 15 things UXRs can do today.   Which parts of the research project life cycle would you most like to see improved or augmented by Generative AI?   1. Study design (planning and drafting) 2. Participant management (calendaring and communications) 3. Assisting in moderation 4. Qualitative analysis/synthesis 5. Quantitative analysis/synthesis 6. Secondary research   We'll post the results next week in our Slack community! Explore our guides and resources to watch sessions from Co-Lab Continued, see webinars you may have missed, and find a variety of templates and guides to help elevate your practice. RESOURCES READY TO ROLL Nordstrom is looking for a UX Content Designer and a Director of Product Management. Gitlab is hiring for UX research, product design, and a few other roles (always all remote roles, some are for EMEA-based folks). Hinge is hiring for product design roles as well as a UX researcher safety role.   "The best option is human, but what's the beta? As UXRs, we can define the beta with constraints. Authenticity might not be possible with this tech right now—and maybe that's okay. We don't need a one-to-one human-to-AI relationship, because it can be weird. But what we can do is build a relatable experience." Meredith McDermott Staff UXR at Duolingo   READ MORE in "dscout's First Co-Lab Explores UXR's Most Pressing Questions." Ready to scale your research program? Successfully scaling research requires effective stakeholder collaboration, flexible methods, and insights designed for impact.   See how dscout can help you with all three. dscout, 222 North LaSalle St, Chicago, IL Unsubscribe Manage preferences