Summary
User research war stories are stories about contextual user research and the inevitable mishaps that ensue. These stories are in turn bizarre, comic, tragic and generally astonishing. For a practice that is not always well-understood or trusted, there’s pressure for us to only speak to the successes, but examining the human messiness of this work can help develop our skills and our community. Steve Portigal will expand the always-growing collection of user research war stories by bringing three new stories to the Advancing Research stage.
Key Insights
-
•
Sharing war stories can illustrate the importance of qualitative research in a landscape often dominated by quantitative metrics.
-
•
Vulnerability in storytelling fosters authenticity and connects researchers with their audiences.
-
•
Documenting research experiences as they occur can provide valuable insights and lessons learned over time.
-
•
The unpredictability of fieldwork requires researchers to be flexible and adaptable in their approach.
-
•
The balance between business demands and the slower pace of qualitative research is a common challenge.
-
•
War stories can help illustrate the value of different research methodologies to stakeholders.
-
•
Encouraging colleagues to write down their experiences helps foster a culture of reflection and learning.
-
•
Finding humanity in unexpected moments can deepen understanding in research settings.
-
•
The unique challenges faced by women and people of color in research contexts can inform resilience and adaptability within the profession.
-
•
Every researcher, regardless of experience level, must return to foundational principles in their work.
Notable Quotes
"I was very conscious of what I perceived might be impatience."
"This is something that really took a lot for me to rethink about this experience."
"Writing it down as a story is really important."
"The storytelling process is where the value lies, even if there's not a moral."
"You don't have to have a moral to the story; just capture it now."
"In the moment, it just felt very uncomfortable."
"You have to go back to the basics, and everyone has to rely on them."
"Some minorities have had to experience flexibility more than others."
"Adapting to situations can offer both burdens and power."
"Research is about humans working with other humans."
More Videos
"Customization of assistive technologies is a necessity; out-of-the-box settings usually don't reflect personal needs."
Sam ProulxSUS: A System Unusable for Twenty Percent of the Population
December 9, 2021
"If you’re familiar with Leah Puley’s book, the UX Team of One, much of the practical advice still holds true."
Kristin SkinnerTheme 1 Intro
September 29, 2021
"Art and culture can help predict the implications of new concepts."
Dan HillDesigning for the infrastructures of everyday life
June 4, 2024
"It’s important to remember that even if one person performs multiple UX roles, they still require time just like any other specialist."
Chris HodowanecAgile + User Experience: How to navigate the Agile landscape as an UX Practitioner
November 16, 2022
"Design systems should allow for human error and should not demand rapid input."
Rittika BasuAge and Interfaces: Equipping Older Adults with Technological Tools (Videoconference)
February 23, 2023
"Designing for sustainability can lead to profound collective action when people come together."
Tim FrickThe journey of building a sustainable design practice
April 23, 2025
"Universities are not providing the training one would expect for UX design."
Victor M. GonzalezPracticing Learners and Learning Practitioners
March 10, 2021
"We need to focus on making good data-informed decisions in the design process."
World Usability Day Panel Discussion (Videoconference)
November 10, 2022
"Every letter on the keyboard basically does something, and how on earth do you type into an edit box?"
Sam ProulxEverything You Ever Wanted to Know About Screen Readers
June 11, 2021
