Hello, SFO!

Unearth User Insights - Master UX Fieldwork in the Age of AI

Go beyond the algorithms and connect with your users in their world. This workshop dives deep into the essential practice of UX fieldwork, equipping you with the skills to gather rich, contextual insights that AI alone can't provide. Learn how to plan, conduct, and analyze impactful field research to build truly user-centered products and services.

Workshop Goal:

To empower participants with the knowledge and practical skills to effectively conduct UX fieldwork, gather authentic user insights, and integrate those findings into the design process, complementing and extending the capabilities of AI-driven research methods.

Why This Workshop? The Enduring Power of Fieldwork.

In an era increasingly reliant on AI and quantitative data, the art and science of observing and interacting with users in their natural environments are more crucial than ever. Fieldwork uncovers the unspoken needs, latent desires, and contextual nuances that data dashboards often miss. This workshop champions the human element in research, showing you how to harness the power of direct observation and interaction to build empathy and drive innovation.

Key Topics Covered:

The "Why" of Fieldwork: Understanding its unique value proposition alongside AI and analytics.

Planning Your Expedition:

Defining clear research objectives for fieldwork.

Choosing the right fieldwork methodologies (e.g., contextual inquiry, ethnographic studies, shop-alongs, diary studies).

Participant recruitment strategies for diverse user groups.

Crafting effective discussion guides and observation frameworks.

Logistics, ethics, and safety in the field.

In the Field: Mastering Observation & Interaction

Making Sense of Your Findings: From Field Notes to Insights:

Organizing and synthesizing qualitative data from the field.

Affinity diagramming and thematic analysis.

Identifying key patterns, pain points, and opportunities.

Crafting compelling user stories and personas based on fieldwork.

Integrating Field Insights:

Communicating fieldwork findings effectively to stakeholders.

Translating insights into actionable design recommendations.

The role of fieldwork in validating AI-generated hypotheses.

What You Will Learn & Take Away:

A strong understanding of when and how to employ various fieldwork techniques.

Practical skills to plan, execute, and document field research studies.

Confidence in interacting with users in diverse contexts.

Methods for analyzing qualitative data to uncover deep insights.

The ability to translate field observations into actionable design and product strategies.

A framework for integrating fieldwork with other research methods, including AI tools.

Templates and checklists for planning and conducting fieldwork.

This will be an interactive and hands-on workshop. Expect a mix of:

Presentations and case studies.

Group discussions and brainstorming.

Practical exercises and role-playing (e.g., mock interviews, observation practice).

Opportunities to plan a mini-fieldwork study.

Target Audience:

• UX Researchers (Junior to Mid-level)
• UX/UI Designers
• Product Managers
• Startup Founders
• Anyone involved in product development who wants to gain a deeper understanding of their users.

A basic understanding of UX principles and the product development lifecycle is helpful but not mandatory.

An open mind and a curiosity to learn about people/ Exciting times ahead, Welcome Aboard!