Summary
In this engaging fireside chat, Mike, a design lead at Kraken, shares his insights on the evolving relationship between research and design, emphasizing the necessity of integrating research into the design process. Drawing from his extensive experience at Twitter and Kraken, Mike reflects on how the research landscape has transformed over the years. He argues for the equal valuation of researchers alongside engineers, promoting the idea that a strong research team is essential for effectively meeting user needs. Mike encourages a culture that treats research as a tool for saving time and enhancing product efficiency rather than as a cumbersome process. He provides strategies for advocating for research within organizations, highlighting the importance of finding high-level support and properly scaling research teams. Ultimately, Mike underscores the significance of valuing diverse perspectives in research to foster innovation and improve user experiences across the globe.
Key Insights
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Research is a critical part of the design process and should be treated as a tool to save time rather than impede it.
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Equitable compensation for researchers is essential, as they bring valuable skills comparable to engineers.
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Advocating for research requires champions within an organization, ideally at the executive level.
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Building a successful research team involves hiring strategically and ensuring effective onboarding.
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All team members should be encouraged to contribute to areas outside their primary roles, fostering a collaborative culture.
Notable Quotes
"I'm living in fear of being stumped during this half hour."
"Working on an international product opened my eyes to the ways that companies are failing their users."
"We thought we were doing really good work, but chances are we probably weren't."
"Research saves so much time and so much labor."
"It's not just the engineers doing technical things all day; designers need to be technical too."
"We have to treat research with the same respect engineers have historically received."
"You want an answer for why are we doing it this way; you don’t want to just have conviction around it."
"Find your champion as high up in the company as possible; it makes a big difference."
"Research should report to the organization that will make the most use of it, not just design."
"If you go a day without making a decision, that means all decisions in your team have been made correctly."
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