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
"The day I no longer have to convince you is the day I've failed."
Kristin Skinner Kamdyn MooreGroup Activity: A Deep Dive Into Value and Outcomes
October 23, 2019
"The goal is not to take notes; the goal is to think effectively."
Jorge ArangoThe Best of Both Worlds: How to Integrate Paper and Digital Notes (1st of 3 seminars) (Videoconference)
April 5, 2024
"The synthesis process is about finding order in chaos."
Prabhas Pokharel Mayo NissenOrder and Chaos: New Ways of Collaborating on Synthesis and Storytelling
March 10, 2022
"Mobile offers greater customizability, allowing users to adapt the device to their specific needs."
Sam ProulxMobile Accessibility: Why Moving Accessibility Beyond the Desktop is Critical in a Mobile-first World
March 10, 2022
"Think about the end goals of your research at the very beginning."
Roberta Dombrowski Sam Duong WoloszynskiMaking Research a Team Sport
March 11, 2022
"We're creating a kind of paralysis through hyper complexity."
Josina VinkNavigating the pitfalls of systems thinking in service design
December 4, 2024
"The facade of user-centric design is often contradicted by exploitation patterns in the tech world."
Angelos ArnisNavigating the Rapid Shifts in Tech's Turbulent Terrain
October 2, 2023
"The more that we can do with our current platform to test and prove that we will see the kind of margins we want, the better."
Ted NewardTheme 4: Enterprise Organizational Journey
June 4, 2019
"When they see a better way to do things, they’re more likely to buy into that change."
Maria SkaadenPanel Discussion: Methodologies and Work Environments
November 8, 2018
