Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Summary
We know how things are at the start of 2024, and the long term future? That's anyone's guess. But what might the not-so-distant future look like for User Research? That's a horizon that's just around the corner—and one that you start planning for now. Join us for a free discussion with some UX research thought leaders who have some opinions you'll want to hear about the near future of our profession—and bring your own! We'll be hearing from Sam Proulx of Fable, Lija Hogan of UserTesting and Milan Mijatovic; moderated by Lou Rosenfeld. This Talk is Sponsored by Fable, an #AR2024 Virtual Sponsor.
Key Insights
-
•
AI-driven user experiences are becoming non-deterministic, producing different user outcomes for the same input.
-
•
Traditional UX research methods need to adapt because every user will increasingly have a unique experience.
-
•
Designing for edge cases is now designing for the new norm, as all users are effectively edge cases in AI systems.
-
•
Long, 100-page UX research reports are becoming obsolete due to faster research cycles and larger data volumes.
-
•
Mixed methods research combining qualitative depth and quantitative scale is essential for understanding complex data sets.
-
•
Data fluency and coding skills (e.g., Python, R) are becoming critical for UX researchers to analyze large-scale data and leverage AI tools.
-
•
Understanding assistive technology and accessibility trends provides insight into future mainstream UI paradigms.
-
•
Ethical considerations around data collection, especially privacy for vulnerable user groups, are urgent in modern UX research.
-
•
Macro-economic pressures and shrinking teams increase reliance on AI augmentation to keep up with data volume and insight generation.
-
•
Regulatory environments (like AI governance and accessibility laws) are increasingly shaping UX research practices across industries.
Notable Quotes
"If you ask ChatGPT the exact same question twice, you get two slightly different answers."
"Now everyone is an edge case; we must research edge cases because they are the new average."
"The era of 100-page reports is going away because we need faster, more actionable communication."
"Researchers will become heavy-duty sense makers not just data collectors or transcribers."
"Learning to code helps us understand the assumptions built into APIs and tools engineers use."
"Assistive technology innovations today are the foundation for tomorrow's mainstream user interfaces."
"It's not about having the most data but the best and right data for ethical and meaningful insights."
"Teams are shrinking and budgets cut, so AI is no longer a toy but a necessary augmentation tool."
"Design problems, not technical ones, are holding back AI interfaces like chatbots and AR."
"We need to embrace our humanity and connection to each other to create resonant user experiences."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Story points should apply to UX work as well as development, helping make UX time and effort visible and planned for."
Jack MoffettSAFe or Sorry? (Videoconference)
May 29, 2019
"I care about three magic quadrants from now — I want the analysts chasing me, not me chasing documents."
Tricia WangSCALE: Discussion
June 15, 2018
"Designers have to be part business, part political, and part technical to influence big system changes."
Fredrik MathesonFirst-time users, longtime strategies: Why Parkinson’s Law is making you less effective at work – and how to design a fix.
June 8, 2016
"If something was unclear or uncomfortable by just one person, that was an indication it had to be edited."
Laine Riley ProkayHow DesignOps can Drive Inclusive Career Ladders for All
September 30, 2021
"VOC enhances but does not replace user research; it captures the nuggets that would otherwise get lost."
Shipra KayanHow we Built a VoC (Voice of the Customer) Practice at Upwork from the Ground Up
September 30, 2021
"Grinding momentum is a shared mental model that drives forward decision-making due to pressure and timelines."
Kristen Guth, Ph.D.Out of the FOG: A Non-traditional Research Approach to Alignment
March 28, 2023
"Without diverse perspectives at senior levels, we have a myopic view and limit the potential of our insights."
Joi FreemanA New Vantage Point: Building a Pipeline for Multifaceted Research(ers)
March 30, 2020
"Cross-functional teams aren’t just a trend—they’re essential to innovation."
Victor UdoewaTheme One Intro
March 27, 2023
"You need the courage to say no: I’m not going to spread my team so thin that we cannot deliver quality."
Peter MerholzCustomer-Centered Design Organizations
June 8, 2017