Let's Do Design Research Right!

What do you do when you want to build the right thing well, and you're having trouble getting attention or facing pressure to take shortcuts? You don't try to make your case with data. You start by understanding your own organization and the people you work with.

It doesn't matter how much research you do, if you're asking—or being asked—the wrong questions and rushing ideas into production instead of participating in functional collaboration to gain real understanding.

You can help your team make better-informed decisions faster, if you start from the right principles.

You’ll learn how to:

• Approach design research in challenging and chaotic times
• Identify what you really need to know
• Formulate and prioritize your questions
• Understand how to use quantitative and qualitative data together
• Choose research methods, activities, and tools
• Improve collaboration across disciplines
• Avoid shortcuts that lead to more wasted time and money
• Get stakeholders to listen to you

This workshop will give you a strong conceptual foundation that will improve your approach to any specific technique. We'll explore how to select the most effective methods to get the insights you need and avoid wasting time with research theater.

It's good for seasoned specialists as well as anyone just starting to think about design research. Because in the real world we all have to work together across disciplines and levels of experience.

This is an interactive, participatory session with a limited group size. WE DO NOT RECORD THE SESSION. This allows everyone to speak freely. We do distribute slides and notes to attendees afterwards. If you sign up, but don't attend, you don't get the materials.

The event happens in Zoom.

What past participants say:

“Truly one of the best things I've done for myself in the past decade."

Really cuts to the essence of what UX professionals need to focus on and gives really solid, wise advice for everyone doing research.”

“I really liked hearing about the organizational research part, which is something I think goes undervalued at most organizations but seems critical for being able to effectively collaborate.”

"Erika is hilarious. Designers, bring your Product Managers, Engineers, Marketing and other stakeholders. They'll learn a lot."

Who is this workshop for?

Anyone who participates in the design and development of any type of product, service, or communication will benefit. This includes non-profit organizations! Designer, developer, writer, product manager, researcher, founder—whatever your role you'll learn how to fit more reality into your work.

If you're an independent consultant or freelancer, you'll learn how to get your colleagues and clients to understand the value of asking the right questions. For a taste of what we'll cover see A Design Research Framework.

About Erika

Erika Hall is the co-founder of Mule Design Studio and the author of Just Enough Research and Conversational Design. She has a lot of stories.