Summary
The most successful UX researchers Mackenzie has had the gift of working with traverse some of the most non-linear, seemingly meandering career paths and life journeys imaginable. Yet job requirements and research career ladders, if they exist at all, seem to expect and even demand a linear trajectory, all too often focused on tenure as a main criteria for growth. This session will suggest new criteria for evaluating the maturity of one’s research practice as well as propose a focus on one’s researcher identity. Mackenzie wants to explore how we might better recognize transferable skills and capabilities and explore more inclusive frameworks that can house the wide variety of lived experiences that so clearly leads to success in the UX research space.
Key Insights
-
•
Many successful researchers have non-linear career paths that enrich their perspectives.
-
•
The UX research field is at a crossroads, potentially losing diverse talent by relying on traditional entry methods.
-
•
The 'stamp' needed for entry often oversimplifies individuals' experiences and skills.
-
•
There is a disconnect between job requirements, performance reviews, and what truly drives success as a researcher.
-
•
Inclusive recruiting must go beyond traditional channels to find candidates who might be overlooked.
-
•
Encouraging a design thinking approach in recruitment can lead to more effective and equitable hiring practices.
-
•
Supporting newcomers is crucial; their growth shouldn't be limited to entry-level roles based on traditional expectations.
-
•
Reflecting on and redefining research identities at both individual and team levels can help recognize diverse contributions.
-
•
Apprenticeship models could offer pathways for career changers to thrive and grow into leadership roles.
-
•
The field should continuously evolve to remain open, inclusive, and responsive to new challenges.
Notable Quotes
"We're missing out on talented people, and as a result, we are a homogenized field."
"The most successful researchers I’ve worked with had traverse some of the most non-linear career paths possible."
"I want to remind us, the front door was under construction when many of us got inside."
"Not everyone can become a great UX researcher, but a great UX researcher can come from anywhere."
"People who can be great UX researchers are gravitating towards certain things, roles, activities."
"We must continue to support folks to translate their skills and experience beyond the application process."
"It's important to ensure that people are recognized and rewarded for adding richness and challenge."
"Our job is to reach back out again, maintaining connections that are critical to what we do."
"Let’s look at the complex, the non-linear, the messy, the human."
"We can intentionally take control and design a better future."
More Videos
"Participatory research can surface insights that would be difficult to obtain through traditional methods."
Nidhi Singh Rathore Amber DavisEmbracing participation to unlock deeper truths in commercial research
March 12, 2025
"If we don't diversify our teams, we risk creating products that don't resonate with a wider audience."
Dantley DavisLeadership & Diversity—A Fireside Chat with Dantley Davis
September 17, 2020
"My fervent wish is that everybody will walk away thinking differently about your customers with disabilities."
Sheri Byrne-HaberThe Importance of Accessible Design Systems
January 8, 2024
"Defensive design principles can help navigate the uncertainties of AI-driven experiences."
Josh Clark Veronika KindredSentient Design, AI, and the Radically Adaptive Experience (1st of 3 seminars)
January 15, 2025
"Our work can't be evaluated in the same way that engineering work can."
Asia HoePartnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design
November 29, 2023
"Benjamin Rial is going to tell a really awesome story about wayfinding."
Alana WashingtonTheme 3 Intro
October 1, 2021
"Our inclusion in the product life cycle allowed for strategic insights that weren’t previously accessed."
Nalini KotamrajuResearch After UX
March 25, 2024
"Leadership requires courage to challenge the status quo."
Kevin BethuneGatekeepers and Servant Leadership
January 30, 2020
"If there's one thing we've learned from writing this guide, there are a lot of stories in this community that need to be represented."
John Calhoun Rachel PosmanBring your DesignOps Story to Life! The Definitive DesignOps Book Jam
October 3, 2023
