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Hopeful Futures for UX Research
Summary
UX research is going through a turbulent time. AI and ‘research democratisation’ are challenging how we work. Layoffs, fear of layoffs and ‘doing more with less’ can add to the pressure. Researchers are questioning their role and their value. And yet… hopeful futures are possible. In fact, the current moment of churn and change offers a window of opportunity for us to address some of the existing issues in our field. Drawing from 50+ articles and insights from 100+ UXRs and tech professionals, this talk reveals clear trends. Amidst all the challenges, there’s reason to believe that our skills have never been more in demand. This event will explore career evolutions for researchers, discuss principles all product team members can apply, and identify actionable steps to shape your future. Join James in rejecting doom, embracing agency, and building hopeful futures together.
Key Insights
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The opposite of doom scrolling is active hope, which means reclaiming agency in uncertainty.
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The current tech hiring downturn is largely driven by economic factors such as rising interest rates making headcount expensive.
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Democratization has increased non-UX researchers doing UX research tasks at a 4:1 ratio compared to those with formal UX research titles.
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UX professionals bring enduring creative and analytical skills beyond their current job titles, which remain valuable even if roles change.
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New roles and adjacencies like research ops and knowledge management are emerging organically within UX research.
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The dominant productivity paradigm shifting from hiring more people to using AI tools and cross-functional collaborators.
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It is essential for UX professionals to proactively start new initiatives rather than wait for organizational permission.
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Explore-exploit is a useful adaptive model during times of volatility: now is a time to explore new skills and directions.
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Job titles are lagging indicators during paradigm shifts, and many current titles will likely change in 5-10 years.
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Investing in AI capabilities and adjacent skills can differentiate UX professionals in a challenging employment market.
Notable Quotes
"The opposite of doom scrolling is hope. Hope is active. It’s about claiming our agency in a moment that may be difficult."
"Many of us have followed zigzag paths to get where we are today, and that’s one of the wonderful qualities of the UX field."
"Right now, tech hiring is down because interest rates are high and headcount is expensive, not because the skills aren’t needed."
"Democratization means people without 'UX researcher' in their title are doing the research work—a 4:1 ratio compared to formal researchers."
"Next generation tools are being built not for specialists but for the broader population, like product managers and engineers."
"That productivity revolution—the idea we don’t need more headcount but better tools—is more aspiration than reality at the moment."
"You don’t want to wait for permission. If you see something valuable, start doing it and demonstrate its worth."
"Your agency is the thing that can’t be taken away from you. It’s your means to navigate this moment and keep your sanity."
"Job titles are a lagging indicator—it will take a while before the industry renames roles in line with actual work changes."
"This moment is an explore moment. Focus on breadth skills and learning new adjacent capabilities rather than just depth in one area."
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