I haven’t sent a newsletter in 2024 yet. It might seem odd to say Happy New Year on the 23rd of Jan, but hey, Happy New Year! I wish you all the success you aspire toward this year.
🥁Drumroll, please! 🥁
I now officially hold the job title of ‘UX Researcher’ as I recently became a Staff UX Researcher at work. It’s been a path I’ve wanted to immerse myself in fully for a while, and I’m so grateful that I can do research 100% in my current role.
I’ve been trying to renew my passion & interest in the product design field for years. Yes, that’s a long time, and finally, I have a position where I can focus on high-level generative research and product strategy. It’s truly a dream come true.
In summary, UX research is the backbone of user-centred design, making sure that products are aesthetically pleasing, functional, relevant, and genuinely useful to the end-users.
This is a section where I highlight a sponsor in the future. You know, when this newsletter reaches thousands of subscribers. [one can dream]
For now, I sponsor myself because I closed a chapter in my life as I enter a less ‘pixel-pushing’ role, which I’ve loved for many years. So, here’s my book you can download for free if you haven’t already. It’s about my journey to becoming a UX practitioner. Enjoy!
Speaking of UX and user research, I want to share 3 of my favourite UX research podcasts with you. I’d highly recommend these and hope you’ll find them valuable, too.
#1 – Awkward Silences by UserInterviews
‘Listen as we geek out and interview the people who interview people—the leaders, doers, and curious minds shaping the fields of User Research, Ops, Product, Design, and Customer Experience.’
Why I like it
I love the conversational style of the podcast of 3 people instead of the usual 2. I like how they allow me to look into other companies through an insider's eyes and experiences (the interviewee).
#2 – UX Research Club by Dr. Emmanuelle Savarit
‘UX Research Club is a podcast dedicated to the rising field of User eXperience Research. ’
Why I like it
I like this podcast and recommend it to anyone who’s an absolute beginner to UX research, as Dr. Savarit explains things for them. Also, it’s available in English & French.
#3 – UX Research Geeks by UXtweak
‘Interviews with inspiring researchers from all around the world. Hosted by researcher and strategist Tina Ličková.’
Why I like it
I like the host, a non-native English speaker conducting research in foreign languages. We need more representation of people like us (like Tina) to show people can learn a language proficiently. Tune into any episode, and you’ll learn something from it; I can guarantee that.
As we wrap up this edition, I want to leave you with a thought by our one and only Steve Jobs, guiding many designers (me included): ‘Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.’
In our journey as UX designers and researchers, we aim to create solutions that look beautiful and function seamlessly for those who use them.
Our work is not just about aesthetics; it's about understanding and solving real problems. So, as you go about your week, think about how you can bring simplicity, usability, and joy into the experiences you create, and if you don’t know what problems your users have, ask them, watch them, and study them. And if you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time to do so for more insights and inspiration.
Did you enjoy this newsletter? I'd love to hear your thoughts!