Summary
We will be presenting a simple framework or “toolkit” that can be used to align on the “minimum viable participants” for inclusive research when under pressure. Intentional user research often gets classified into two categories. One aims to recruit users based on specific, constraint, or viability-driven criteria, e.g., who is most likely to be an early adopter, most likely to engage, or most likely to find value. This type of research is often seen as “fast,” “focused,” and “targeted,” but may overlook meaningful nuance. The other focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), examining historical frameworks, and patterns of exclusion or injustice, and is viewed as “ethical,” “inclusive,” and “deep” but can also be cumbersome for teams under time or resource pressure. However, fast and inclusive research are not mutually exclusive. Contrary to the popular belief that building DEI principles into user research slows us down or is just a “nice to have,” we propose instead, that it can accelerate insights by efficiently identifying the highest risk use cases and revealing beneficial design for all.
Key Insights
-
•
Inclusive research is not inherently fast and must be approached with ethical caution and reflection on bias.
-
•
Default assumptions in design often invisibly disadvantage marginalized groups, such as women or people of color.
-
•
Highly educated professionals still revert to defaults under pressure, highlighting the persistence of bias.
-
•
A frame is a cognitive structure that shapes what we see and how we interpret research, and underdeveloped frames lead to bias.
-
•
Structured self-reflection on positionality, marginalization, and intersectionality is crucial before conducting research.
-
•
Iterative framing and team reflection help identify which marginalized perspectives are missing and how to include them.
-
•
Including diverse stakeholders early, especially at problem framing, improves research relevance and ethical representation.
-
•
Designing for marginalized intersections often yields insights that improve experiences for the entire population.
-
•
Industry pressure for speed and minimal resources often conflicts with intentional, inclusive research practices.
-
•
Creating deliberate space for reflection, listening, and shifting power within teams fosters more inclusive outcomes.
Notable Quotes
"The title of the talk is a misnomer: this work isn't actually that fast and shouldn't be done without fear of consequences."
"The town of Carlsgo wasn't consciously disadvantaging women, they were just following a best practice that ignored different experiences."
"Women are 70% more likely to walk or use public transit, combining trips that are much harder with snow than driving a car."
"We design from our own lens and intentions but repeatedly create harmful consequences for marginalized groups."
"Highly trained professionals still default to a presumed 'standard' under pressure, revealing how bias persists."
"A frame is extremely hard to dislodge from our brains once triggered, so we have to build inclusive frames deliberately."
"You want to set a learning tone for your team and give space for emotional reactions and reflection."
"We need to reckon with how the lenses of the research team differ from those of the participants to avoid colonialist extraction."
"Findings from marginalized groups aren’t just relevant to them but often improve the experience for many more people."
"Frames are not static; they are tools for continuous discovery, reflection, and change."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Reducing cognitive load on decision makers really helps them work with the data."
Brad Peters Anne MamaghaniShort Take #1: UX/Product Lessons from Your Industry Peers
December 6, 2022
"Creating an environment where people feel safe to try design helps build enthusiasm and psychological safety."
Lona MooreScaling Design Beyond Designers
June 11, 2021
"Radically adaptive experiences bend to your current wants and needs, creating unique, unpredictable journeys."
Josh Clark Veronika KindredSentient Design, AI, and the Radically Adaptive Experience (1st of 3 seminars)
January 15, 2025
"Recruitment is so difficult, especially in B2B where you need to speak to customers using similar products."
Erin May Roberta Dombrowski Laura Oxenfeld Brooke HintonDistributed, Democratized, Decentralized: Finding a Research Model to Support Your Org
March 10, 2022
"When I gave the model my list of interview questions, it actually made for a really bizarre participant experience because the model just went down the line of the different questions."
Tara TresselInvestigating qualitative depth of AI-moderated interviews
March 10, 2026
"It's really about finding a way to link all the different aspects to bring everything together to tell the story."
Charles Lee Jennie YipBuilding a New Home for the Atlassian Design System
October 22, 2020
"Teachers need actionable insights, not just raw data."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"Without adoption, value is zero."
Megan BlockerGetting to the “So What?”: How Management Consulting Practices Can Transform Your Approach to Research
March 26, 2024
"Even the best-designed public-facing tools need operational and policy support to succeed."
Shanti Mathew Natalie Sims Natalia RadywylCivic Design at Scale: Introducing the Public Policy Layer Cake
December 9, 2021
