by KarynZ | Apr 16, 2024 | Thought Leadership
Recently, I’ve encountered a wave of skepticism from senior leaders in product development circles. They’re posing some tough questions: Why invest more in UX? What’s the value of UX? Can’t product managers handle research? Why can’t product managers do the research? Yet, amidst these “anti-UX” questions I’m seeing and experiencing a completely different on-the-ground reality: product teams champion UX. They see both the tactical and strategic value of a solid UX practice. In this article, I’ll dive into why that gap exists, how to bridge it and how to respond to the “anti-UX” questions in a meaningful way using a systems-based approach. If you’re navigating the challenges of trying to deliver a complex product or argue for the value of UX, let’s connect to explore the power of a systems-based approach in driving product success.
by KarynZ | Nov 23, 2023 | NextGEN UX
Episode 5, 3 Minutes
Product managers, researchers and designers tell me they’d like to shift to more Strategic UX Research but often aren’t really sure how. As with most transitions, it can be hard to know where to begin, and it is easier if you break it down into smaller chunks. In this video, I explore where Strategic UX Research fits into the product development process and provide a quick assessment tool to help you think about where your research practice is.
by KarynZ | Nov 13, 2023 | NextGEN UX
Episode 4, 3 minutes
Journey Mapping is a potent and popular tool to better understand your customer’s current state, uncover some unmet needs and even identify fresh ideas that lead to innovation opportunities.
BUT… they can take a long time to produce. 🙁
That’s why I’m so keen on Rapid Journey Mapping. A technique I learned through Rob Brodnick of Sierra Leaning Solutions. Instead of one-on-one interviews, Rapid Journey Mapping gathers groups of users and guides them through a session using remote sticky note magic!
Why it’s 🔥:
Speed: Groups mean you can connect with a lot of people very quickly
Group Power: Get collective insights without the groupthink
Great Data: Because it’s so direct, users feel heard and tend to offer impactful contributions.
by KarynZ | Nov 8, 2023 | NextGEN UX
Episode 3, 2 Minutes
Have you ever found yourself stuck in the loop of only validating ideas and usability testing in your UX work? It’s a common challenge that I’ve encountered time and again. As UX Researchers and Designers, we want to level up and have a more strategic product development conversation but find ourselves stuck doing tactical research. That’s not to say that the tactical research is not important. But UX often gets brought into the conversation only after the idea is already pretty baked. How might we break that cycle? One of the things I like to do is say “yes…and” and add some strategic UX research into the tactical mix. In this short (2-minute) video, I discuss how I did that at Copperleaf and discovered a new product pillar. (YAY!) I also share a couple of cautions if you are going to do this yourself.
by KarynZ | Oct 22, 2023 | NextGEN UX
Episode 2, 2 mins
Forget thinking outside the box; let’s venture into the periphery – that messy, magical edge where breakthrough innovation thrives.
Amidst the pressure cooker of velocity, customer demands, and stakeholder expectations, it’s easy to lose sight of the periphery. So, how do you juggle your existing workload and explore the periphery for game-changing innovation? Strategic UX research is the answer, transcending tactical inquiries like usability testing and diving deep into user understanding.
