Summary
A situated practice for training, transforming and leveling up UX researchers in Latin America. I was frustrated with my efforts training new UX researchers. Hours spent on presenting theories, methods, analyzing them, and timidly practicing knowledge did not necessarily translate into the successful implementation of that knowledge in the practice. In the last two years, moving away from traditional learning, we have been designing, implementing, and analyzing a professional training strategy for UX researchers in Mexico and in Latin America. Our approach balances: Training professionals without previous experience on UX research, our Practicing Learners path. Training professionals with two or more years of experience in UX design/research, our Learning Practitioners path.
Key Insights
-
•
The distinction between ‘being’ a UX researcher and ‘becoming’ one is vital for understanding professional development as a continuous process.
-
•
Formal university education in UX research across Latin America is limited, fragmented, and often insufficient for practical industry needs.
-
•
Companies in Mexico and Latin America rarely offer entry-level UX research roles or internships, contributing to a training gap.
-
•
Experientia’s free UX Researcher Apprentice Program combines foundational training with real client projects to provide practical experience.
-
•
Their seminar programs, which charge tuition, attract professionals internationally and focus heavily on theory complemented by peer discussions.
-
•
Applicants come from a wide range of academic backgrounds, demonstrating UX research’s interdisciplinary nature.
-
•
Learning ‘just in time’ while working on projects helps overcome the traditional notion that full knowledge must come before practice.
-
•
Collaborative work methods, such as co-writing reports and co-moderating sessions, build team skills and simulate real UX research environments.
-
•
Fighting perfectionism and delivering ‘good enough’ work on tight deadlines prepares apprentices for agile company environments.
-
•
Building a strong community and alumni network keeps learners connected, encourages ongoing learning, and promotes regional professional recognition.
Notable Quotes
"Becoming a UX researcher is a process that will never end, not a fixed state you reach."
"Universities in Latin America are doing a very bad job providing practical UX research training."
"Our apprentice program is free and intense, combining foundational training with real-world projects over six months."
"We don’t limit applicants by their major or background; it doesn’t matter if they studied physics or marketing."
"Learning as you go is necessary; you won’t complete all your learning before completing a project."
"We emphasize collaboration, not individual work, to build teams and collective knowledge."
"We fight perfectionism by doing enough with the time we have, then shipping the work."
"Doing work in one-week cycles fits the rhythms of companies working with agile and Scrum frameworks."
"We want to contribute to UX research, not just copy what is done in the US or Europe."
"The question for hiring managers is how to move from expecting people to be UX researchers to inviting them to become UX researchers."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Tell people the ingredients and instructions—clarify what we’re looking for and support them to do their best."
Mackenzie GuinonM.C. Escher’s UX Research Career Ladder
March 9, 2022
"Testing accessibility at the design system level before design starts catches many issues early on."
Gabriela BarnevaOperationalizing Inclusive Design in Service Design
November 20, 2025
"We recruited 50% more than we needed because no-shows are incredible in remote sessions."
Sarah RinkRemote User Research: Dos and Don'ts from the Virtual Field
June 11, 2020
"Giving the whole team access to feedback made them feel responsible and inspired to solve user needs."
Maria SkaadenContinuous Design: One eye on the horizon and the other on the next wave
November 8, 2018
"Setting up a repository as a team of one or two is actually the prime time to establish processes like that."
Taylor Jennings Joe Nelson Alex KnollRepository Retrospective: Learnings from Introducing a Central Place for UX Research
March 9, 2022
"Doing this tagging manually would have taken me around 10 hours of mind-numbing work."
Jorge Arango[Demo] How to re-categorize content at scale using LLMs
June 5, 2024
"No two transit riders are alike. No two transit trips are alike. No two service disruptions are alike."
Kristin TaylorBuilding Bridges Across Organizational Silos
November 18, 2022
"You have to prepare research to withstand scrutiny by anyone so your team can go forward confidently."
Anna Avrekh Dr. John Pagonis Klara Pelcl Sina SchreiberExpert Panel: Leading in and with Research
March 10, 2022
"We are creating the repository of a design system that is highly customizable and ready for developers to start product development."
Ryan Matthew Alex KurchevBridging Design and Code: AI-Powered Design System Integration
September 11, 2025
