Rosenverse

This video is only accessible to Gold members. Log in or register for a free Gold Trial Account to watch.

Log in Register

Most conference talks are accessible to Gold members, while community videos are generally available to all logged-in members.

Closing Plenary: The Crisis of Digital
Gold
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 • Advancing Research 2020
Share the love for this talk
Closing Plenary: The Crisis of Digital
Speakers: Leah Buley
Link:

Summary

IDC forecasts that companies will spend $2.3 trillion a year on digital transformation efforts in the next four years. That money will pay for new technology investment, professional services firms, and the salaries of people like us. This massive industry is driving tremendous new value, but also creating inequality and downstream social effects that we can barely predict. What should researchers’ responsibilities be in this digital transformation economy? And are we fully living up to them? In this talk, Leah Buley will explore what the field of research looks like today and how our skills will need to evolve for tomorrow.

Key Insights

  • The evolution of animation under Walt Disney demonstrates the rapid change in creative fields; similar advancements in research practices are necessary.

  • Research methods have evolved but may not be keeping pace with technology's growth. Emphasis on diverse methodologies is crucial for future progress.

  • Digital channels are overtaking traditional methods; organizations must adapt their research to focus more on digital realities.

  • Most service design work is now digital-centric, reflecting a shift in the industry towards online experiences and platforms.

  • Greater emphasis should be placed on long-term impacts and systems thinking in research to understand broader societal changes driven by digital.

  • New research methods need to borrow techniques from various disciplines (e.g., journalism, ethics, urban planning) to better predict outcomes.

  • The pandemic highlighted the necessity of effective digital services and design, emphasizing their role in fostering community support and information sharing.

  • Organizations must consider both positive and negative consequences of their digital solutions on various communities.

  • There's a critical need for researchers to embrace a broader curiosity about how digital influences human experience.

  • Companies should focus on validating that their products genuinely benefit users, moving away from purely functional metrics.

Notable Quotes

"Disney was all about theme parks but he had a massive impact on the craft of animation."

"Traditional research hasn't advanced as quickly as the technology it supports."

"The majority of service design work today is pointed towards digital solutions."

"Our responsibility is to help ensure that digital channels are used appropriately."

"Research practices must evolve to encompass predicting the impact of digital on real life."

"We may need to borrow from other fields to better understand future changes."

"The digital crisis complex is driving frenetic purposelessness in many organizations."

"We have seen digital services become a lifeline during the pandemic."

"Digital innovation now impacts everything from individual products to large-scale economic changes."

"Human-centered design must remain at the forefront as we navigate digital advancement."

More Videos

Jennifer Kong

"Traditional prototyping methods were ineffective; we learned through incremental pilots instead."

Jennifer Kong

Journeying toward AI-assisted documentation in healthcare

June 5, 2024

Uday Gajendar

"We are really lucky to have someone that kind of heavy hitter gathering all the really good resources."

Uday Gajendar Louis Rosenfeld

Day 2 Welcome

June 5, 2024

Erin Weigel

"The conversion design cycle is the engine of how businesses function."

Erin Weigel

Get Your Whole Team Testing to Design for Impact

July 24, 2024

Jill Fruchter

"Using consistent intro and outro questions helps capture macro themes across studies."

Jill Fruchter

Inconvenient Insights: The Researcher's Role is to Stay Curious

March 29, 2023

Sarah Auslander

"There's a big tension and paradox between urgency and the potential need to slow down."

Sarah Auslander Betsy Ramaccia Gordon Ross

Insights Panel

November 18, 2022

Edward Cupps

"Every professional's career path can be unique, and we should encourage exploration."

Edward Cupps

The Principal Path: Journeying from Management to Individual Contributor

June 11, 2021

Sean McKay

"If it can't be recognized, it can't be valued."

Sean McKay

Coexisting with non-researchers: Practical strategies for a democratized research future

March 11, 2025

Indra Klavins

"What I first experienced was pure joy and delight. Everyone was excited to be an emission-driven company, to make a life not just a living."

Indra Klavins

A Design Ops Girl in a Dev Ops World

October 23, 2019

Kristin Skinner

"Technology can revolutionize how we think about education."

Kristin Skinner

Five Years of DesignOps

September 29, 2021