Summary
Research has to come together somewhere, happen somewhere, live somewhere, and—in order for it to have an impact on product—it has to be effectively shared somewhere. There are more user research tools than ever, and choosing among them can be overwhelming. That’s why the team at User Interviews created the UXR Tools Map, along with a searchable database of over 200 user research tools. We’ll talk about the process behind creating the map, plus share insights and examples of how to create the best stack for your team, regardless of budget.
Key Insights
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The UX Research Tools Map is a response to the overwhelming number of research tools available and aims to simplify the selection process.
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User research is often interdisciplinary, with many researchers not solely identifying as UX researchers.
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Communication of research findings is crucial, but only 8% of stakeholders are aware of how to access these insights.
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The latest edition of the tools map focuses on curation and usability, reducing the number of tools included for clarity.
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Tools are increasingly multifunctional, making it more complex to categorize them effectively in the map.
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The evolution of the tools map is inspired by similar frameworks like the LumaScape, transitioning from a simple spreadsheet to a visual map.
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Maintaining a central spreadsheet allows for easy updates and helps keep the tools map current with industry changes.
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Bus lines in the map reflect tools that could not be easily categorized but still hold value.
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Design challenges included keeping the subway map theme while ensuring new tools are represented accurately and clearly.
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The session encourages a community approach to suggesting tools and features for future iterations of the map.
Notable Quotes
"We wanted to see if we could make the tools map more usable for ourselves and other researchers."
"Research has to have an impact on the evolution of a product; it has to be shared."
"44% of people who do research don't know their research budget."
"Only two-thirds of people who do research describe their job as primarily research."
"Only 8% of stakeholders know how to access research results and do so often."
"The tools map is split up into five main categories and 18 subcategories."
"This year, we took a more editorial approach and trimmed down the tools included."
"The number of tools has become more complex with more crossover than ever before."
"The challenge was how to honor our old designs while making them new and fun."
"There are two illustrated animals hiding in the tools map; can you find them?"
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