My company thinks UX Research is only about validating ideas, what can I do?

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.

Have you explored the periphery lately?

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.

Are you riding your bike with your eyes closed?

by KarynZ | Oct 22, 2023 | NextGEN UX

Episode 1, 2 mins
Imagine trying to ride your bike with your eyes closed. Crazy, right? But are you steering your product strategy that way? Are you stuck in a need-for-velocity-feature-factory rut? Is your roadmap merely a reaction to what customers and stakeholders say they want?

In this short (2 min) video, I suggest that Strategic UX research is your escape from that rut. It will also propel your UX and product teams from transactional to strategic.

Find Breakthrough Innovation Opportunities Through Strategic UX Research

by KarynZ | Oct 20, 2023 | NextGEN UX

Episode 0, 10 mins
Karyn Zuidinga, a pioneer in the field of UX research, welcomes you to NextGenUX. In this episode, she delves into the transformative power of strategic UX research and how it can be your ticket to achieving groundbreaking innovation.