vlog

NextGEN UX

Transforming Product Development: A Guide to Strategic UX Research Integration

Transforming Product Development: A Guide to Strategic UX Research Integration

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.

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Rapid Journey Mapping

Rapid Journey Mapping

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.

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

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

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.

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Have you explored the periphery lately?

Have you explored the periphery lately?

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.

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Are you riding your bike with your eyes closed?

Are you riding your bike with your eyes closed?

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.

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blog

Articles

Fractional Design Leadership: a solution to the vicious cycles of product design.

Fractional Design Leadership: a solution to the vicious cycles of product design.

Most software companies struggle to define a business strategy that matches what their customers are really looking for – but it doesn’t have to be that way.

It’s time to change our thinking, and our approach.

We’re thrilled to announce a new family of services designed to help you break through endless design cycles and shift to a culture of data-driven decision making to design products that keep your customers wanting more:
Fractional Design and Innovation Leadership.

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Systems: The Sixth Element of User Experience

Systems: The Sixth Element of User Experience

In the light of the shift that’s taken place since the beginning of UX from designing software-like interactions on the web to building web-based software and services, and seeing the impact these have on the wider world, it’s time to update the elements of User Experience to include a new element: systems.

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A Systems Thinking Approach to Understanding the Value of UX

A Systems Thinking Approach to Understanding the Value of UX

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.

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Unlock Your Potential With User-Research-Led Innovation

Unlock Your Potential With User-Research-Led Innovation

You are the product manager's product manager. You are smart and effective and crush problems daily. You hit your numbers. You get shit done! But now leadership adds to the pressure, "we need an innovation that is going to make our customers [investors, clients,...

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Seven tactics to supercharge your idea generation

Seven tactics to supercharge your idea generation

You can see the negative turbulence on the horizon. You know you need to do something, but right now, you and your team can't seem to generate anything fresh or useful. You are in a brainstorming rut, and the pressure is mounting. Faced with this pressure, I've seen...

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Podcast

Positive Turbulence Podcast

The Positive Turbulence Podcast is about innovation, creativity, leadership, and change. It is a product of AMI and is co-hosted by Karyn Zuidinga, NextWAVE Innovation founder and lead digital innovation strategist. 

Step into the extraordinary world of The Positive Turbulence Podcast as we embark on a curious expedition to the outskirts of innovation. Join us as we dive deep into the minds of the fearless turbulators, those remarkable individuals transforming the world with their beautiful tales of positive change.

This podcast is for you if you crave inspiration and seek a fresh perspective on making a difference. Uncover the untold stories of our remarkable guests, who have fearlessly challenged the status quo and blazed new trails to create a brighter tomorrow.

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