Opening Remarks
Summary
Maria Alexander guided attendees through the final day of Advancing Research 2023, reflecting on the conference's three core themes: research as a transportation force, researchers as organizational changemakers, and transforming the craft. She highlighted essential logistical details such as adjusting for local time zones, utilizing Slack for community interaction and support, and accessing both main and sponsor sessions without overlap. Maria thanked sponsors like Dovetail, Fable, Great Question, Medalia, and UserTesting for their valuable contributions, including free, high-quality sessions and digital swag bags accessible via QR codes or links. She also praised Lauren Cantor, the conference librarian, for organizing session resources to keep attendees focused. Maria emphasized the importance of kindness, respect, and adherence to the code of conduct to maintain a positive and safe virtual community experience.
Key Insights
-
•
The conference emphasized three key themes over three days, culminating in transforming the research craft.
-
•
Slack is the primary platform for community interaction, with designated channels for questions, sponsors, and cohort groups.
-
•
Sponsor sessions are free, do not overlap with the main program, and offer high-value content without being sales pitches.
-
•
Digital swag bags replace physical conference swag, accessible via QR codes or short URLs for a virtual experience.
-
•
Session resources like sketch notes, videos, and slide decks are posted promptly after presentations, removing the need for note-taking.
-
•
Lauren Cantor serves as the conference librarian, curating and organizing all session resources for easy access.
-
•
Time zone customization on the conference platform is critical to avoid missing sessions.
-
•
Cohorts are private, small group channels within Slack that encourage deeper community engagement.
-
•
The conference team offers robust tech and non-tech support through Slack channels and email.
-
•
A strong code of conduct ensures a respectful, safe environment for all virtual attendees.
Notable Quotes
"We are on our third and final day of Advancing Research 2023."
"Please be sure to make sure you change your conference itinerary to your local time zone."
"Sponsor sessions are optional but offer incredibly high content, and they are not sales pitches."
"If you want to participate in the conference’s general vibe and community, it is essential to join Slack."
"There is no need to take notes. Our session notes, resources, videos, and slide decks will all be shared on the website."
"Lauren Cantor keeps all those links and other resources so we don’t have to be googling while listening."
"If you have a question at the end of a presentation, please put that question in the thread associated with the talk."
"Cohorts are a super duper fun way to engage with more of our community."
"We’re obligated to treat each other with kindness and respect."
"If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe engaging in this community, we want to know about it."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"It is impossible to survive in this industry by pushing against the current all the time; you must put yourself in positions to leverage the current."
John CutlerOxbows, Rivers, and Estuaries: How to navigate the currents of change (without burning out)
December 3, 2024
"If you’re generating buy-in, don’t forget what it will mean for your difficult stakeholders—they may have external pressures you don’t know about."
Darian DavisLessons from a Toxic Work Relationship
January 8, 2024
"You don’t have to sit through two hours a day; we’ll spend about 15 minutes on setup then you’ll pair up and do the exercise."
Dave GrayGroup Activity: Making Sense of DesignOps
November 7, 2017
"Executives only like things in threes, but if you do a three by three, you can get away with nine boxes—that's the max executive information processing."
John CutlerThe Alignment Trap
November 29, 2023
"Providing alternative content is often a kinder gesture than any lengthy alternative text could be."
Abby CovertStuck? Diagrams Help
October 27, 2022
"Up to 90% of time in work streams is delay or waiting time, not active work."
Mark InterranteCollaboration Flows in Product Development
June 9, 2017
"If I do a project today on 2025, you’re not going to be in that chair in 2025 and neither am I."
Devon PowersImagining Better Futures
March 9, 2022
"The best teams I know are a quarter ahead of the product roadmap, seeking out impactful strategic research projects themselves."
Prayag NarulaHow to Empower Your Designers to Do Good Research – And Why You Want To
June 10, 2022
"We need to dramatically change the hats, the walls, and the workflow of how we work together in design and development."
Peter Van DijckHands on AI #3: Claude Code for UX people
October 22, 2025
