Summary
The talk opens by reflecting on the growing community of researchers eager to learn and transform together, a theme initiated by Chris and Jim last year. It emphasizes that transformation becomes most vivid in moments of significant disruption, whether personally, organizationally, or industry-wide, such as the current economic challenges in tech. Lesan’s story about leaving research raises questions about whether organizations are prepared to evolve. Upcoming talks by Mia, Cassini, my Ed, and Caitlin will delve into responsible, radical, and inclusive research to push the craft’s boundaries. Chloe and Florence address cultural intersections and speculative futures, illustrating how transformation occurs through dialogue when diverse groups meet and bend new paths together. The speaker urges participants not only to absorb knowledge but to embrace transformation as a way of life, blending personal growth with professional evolution for deeper, sustained impact.
Key Insights
-
•
Transformation in research is heightened during periods of personal, organizational, or industry upheaval.
-
•
Lesan’s departure from research highlights the tension between individual change and organizational willingness to adapt.
-
•
Responsible, radical, and inclusive research approaches represent deeper transformations of the research craft.
-
•
Conversation between different groups fosters transformation by creating paths neither party would take alone.
-
•
Cultural and futurist perspectives, like Chloe’s and Florence’s, expand the ways transformation is understood and practiced.
-
•
Practicing transformation in life makes it easier and more authentic to integrate it into research work.
-
•
Transformation is not only a goal but a continuous process of bending and turning with difference.
-
•
Engagement beyond passive listening—such as interactive conversations in cohorts and Slack—amplifies transformation.
-
•
Transformation involves openness to new ways of being, knowing, doing, working, living, and breathing.
-
•
Taking notes or sketching ideas is encouraged but openness to the experience and challenge is paramount.
Notable Quotes
"Transformation research is a transformative force."
"In times of great upheaval, possibilities for transformation become more alive."
"Lesan left research and what the organization chooses to do next is up to them."
"Conversation converts — with or alongside, it means bend or turn."
"When difference comes together, something new emerges neither could have traveled alone."
"If we practice transformation as a way of life, it’s easier to practice it in our research work."
"It’s so much harder to not practice transformation outside and then suddenly switch gears at work."
"Open yourself up to the ways of being, knowing, doing, working, living, and breathing of others."
"We’re going to laugh, learn, listen, and maybe take some sketch notes."
"I hope that today you are transformed."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Saying no shouldn’t be about being difficult but about accountability beyond any one person."
George AyeThat Quiet Little Voice: When Design and Ethics Collide
November 16, 2022
"We mapped every individual journey on Google Earth attaching quotations and photographs to each location to represent human experiences."
Xenia Adjoubei Sean BruceEmpowering Communities Through the Researcher in Residence Program
March 29, 2023
"My time is more expensive than my money; fraudulent data wastes valuable time."
Benjamin Wiedmaier Annie MayfieldRedefining Toolkits: Unbundling to Create a Perfect Match
March 11, 2025
"You can’t iterate on everything at once; you have to pick areas to improve based on business criticality and performance."
John DevanneyThe Design Management Office
November 6, 2017
"If you're changing workflows in experiments, you need to keep track of impacted teams like call centers to avoid resistance."
Steve Sanderson Alissa Briggs Jeff Gothelf Bill ScottDiscussion
May 14, 2015
"Each stage of growth brings different challenges for UX to overcome."
Jemma AhmedTheme 2 Intro
January 8, 2024
"Being badass means being vulnerable, standing up, being brave, and being true to yourself."
Megan KiersteadYou Are a Badass at UX: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
March 10, 2021
"We capture component design decisions and health transparently with checklists; unchecked items correspond to open tickets for prioritization."
PJ Buddhari Nate BaldwinMeet Spectrum, Adobe’s Design System
June 9, 2021
"Community is a thing that fosters a sense of belonging and wanting to identify with it."
James LangIf you can design an app, you can design a community
May 22, 2025
