Summary
Shifting dynamics among researchers, participants, and organizational systems are creating a profound transformation in research methods, impact, and function. At its heart this shift encompasses five core tenets, which emphasize collaboration, equity, and networked knowledge creation and curation. This talk will provide an overview of these changes, which will be explored in depth during the conference, and how our field can prepare.
Key Insights
-
•
Research is at an innovate-or-die moment due to sweeping industry changes like layoffs and declining engagement.
-
•
Researchers serve as a crucial check and balance, holding power accountable through objective knowledge.
-
•
Telling the stories of people with compassion is a fundamental and increasing research responsibility.
-
•
Societal shifts have transformed knowledge dynamics from hierarchical/linear to relational and plural.
-
•
This shift demands researchers build and curate knowledge collaboratively within networks.
-
•
Ignoring the bigger picture of these changes will risk the extinction of research in its current form.
-
•
The metaphor of a mink taking on a swan illustrates the courage researchers need despite overwhelming challenges.
-
•
New research roles are emerging, like unicorn generalists, research ops, and more inclusive participant engagement.
-
•
Disinformation culture and intersectionality are key external factors that deeply affect research practices.
-
•
Embracing and owning authentic researcher identity is vital for thriving amid change.
Notable Quotes
"Where quite long your life? Bit glossy and a bit punchy. Kiss, kiss."
"That mink showed up and it took on a fight that felt more enormous than it was."
"Research is too important to fail."
"Researchers hold objective knowledge which holds power to account."
"People deserve to have their stories heard and held compassionately for no other reason than by virtue of the fact that they exist."
"The relational dynamics of knowledge are shifting from hierarchical and linear to relational and plural."
"We adapt, we innovate, or we no longer exist."
"If we don’t find our courage and take on the fight, our field dies."
"We have two choices: find our teeth and our courage and take on the fight or our field dies."
"Our best selves hold and hear stories and hold power to account."
Dig deeper—ask the Rosenbot:
More Videos
"The majority of design ops and program roles are still at a team leveling of one while companies try to build out other levels."
Abbey SmalleyToday’s Design Ops and Programs Landscape & Career Paths
October 4, 2023
"We finally instead of using the compass and the map we finally were able to build a GPS."
Benjamin RealMaturity Models: A Core Tool for Creating a DesignOps Strategy
October 1, 2021
"Non-researchers running their own research can produce mediocre results if they lack operational support and guidance."
Ned Dwyer Emily Stewart James WallisThe Intersection of Design and ResearchOps
September 24, 2024
"I literally would have to jump up in meetings to introduce myself as the director just to be recognized."
Lisanne NormanWhy I Left Research
March 27, 2023
"Valuable research becomes buried in overflowing Slack channels with meaty decks no one has time to read or revisit later."
Molly FargotsteinMultipurpose Communication & UX Research Marketing
September 12, 2019
"Researchers must be shapers of AI technology and not simply users of it."
Christopher GeisonTheme 1 Intro
March 25, 2024
"Threat actors can masquerade as Charlie to trick users like Alice."
Heidi TrostTo Protect People, You Have to Protect Information: A Human-Centered Design Approach to Cybersecurity
January 23, 2025
"It takes patience—brick by brick—to move things forward in large organizations."
JD Buckley Margot Dear Jim Kalbach Janaki KumarCOMMUNICATE: Discussion
June 14, 2018
"My job was to ask tons of discovery questions to uncover what my clients really needed, not just what they said they wanted."
Steve ChaparroBringing Into Alignment Brand, Culture and Space
August 13, 2020
