Finding detailed specifications for implementing user research methods is easy - but matching specific methods to your particular needs can be a challenge. We’ll outline an underlying framework for research approaches so you’ll understand why each method works as well as when to use i

1. UX Process Improved Integrating User Insight SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Aviva Rosenstein Lead Usability Analyst, Salesforce.com @uxresearch [email_address] Steve Portigal Principal, Portigal Consulting @steveportigal www.portigal.com [email_address] #UXsxsw

3. We Uncover Needs but Also Reveal New Opportunities SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein

4. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein

8. User research throughout the product lifecycle SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Beta Alpha Stage of product lifecycle Simplified waterfall Regardless of the development process used, different phases of the product lifecycle benefit from different types of insight. General Prototype

9. The idealized product lifecycle (according to a user researcher) SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein What do we build? How do we build it? How well did we build it? Regardless of the development process used, different phases of the product lifecycle benefit from different types of insight.

10. How do the insights from user research fit into the UX process? SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein

11. The Right Insight at the Right Time SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Ideate & Plan Refine ideas, prototype, build Launch Iterate and improve

12. The Right Insight at the Right Time SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Take a fresh look at people What do we build ? Refine ideas, prototype, build Launch Iterate and improve

13. The Right Insight at the Right Time SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Iterate and improve Use existing ideas as hypotheses Refine ideas, prototype, build What do we build ? Launch

14. The Right Insight at the Right Time SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Is it working like we hoped ? Refine ideas, prototype, build What do we build ? Launch Iterate and improve

15. The Right Insight at the Right Time SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Iterate and improve History provides context to explore new opportunities What do we build ? Refine ideas, prototype, build Launch

16. Get to the answers that matter, and match resources required with risk SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Resource intensive techniques: Quick, low cost techniques: Rapid iterative studies, Online card sorts, Live testing Being able to generalize the results of a study usually requires more money and time. Ethnographies, Diary Studies Segmentation surveys, UX evaluations and benchmarks , Eyetracking

17. Method selection framework SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein More Resources Fewer Resources More Descriptive More Quantifiable When risk is high, consider more resource intensive approaches

18. Different Methods Work Together SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Start with descriptive research, then validate hypotheses or Look at abstractions, patterns – then go look at individuals experiences to develop explanations, understanding

19. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Different Methods Work Together

20. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Different Methods Work Together

21. The UX Community Offers the Promise of Mastery SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein

22. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Muscles vs. methods

29. Listening Body Language SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Yes! Not so much.

34. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Noticing helps you to notice later

35. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Noticing helps you to notice later

36. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Noticing helps you to notice later

37. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Noticing helps you to notice later

38. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Noticing helps you to notice later

41. Wrap It Up SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein

42. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein “ Methodology should not be a fixed track to a fixed destination, but a conversation about everything that could be made to happen.” John Chris Jones, Design Methods (1992)

43. SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein One new thing I learned today is… I’ve got a tip (that you didn’t cover) that works well for me… Yeah, I’ve got a question for ya…

44. Thank You! SXSWi Portigal & Rosenstein Aviva Rosenstein Lead Usability Analyst, Salesforce.com @uxresearch [email_address] Steve Portigal Principal, Portigal Consulting @steveportigal www.portigal.com [email_address]