Articles
Things we have learnt about UX design, UX research, Service Design and Design Thinking over the years
Be problematic!
Why it’s important to have a problem focused mindset in the product world and how to avoid reaching for solutions too soon.
With great research comes great responsibility
It’s not enough to just be the advocate for the user; you need to also understand what the business needs and is capable of, to be a great UX designer.
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it should act like a duck
Understanding users’ expectations and mental models is vital to good UX design. If you mess with expectations, you might be creating a tunnel-digging duck!
Why do UX researchers need to know the business of their clients?
Let’s talk about why we need to know our client’s needs before we can understand their customer’s needs.
Why we still really like Personas
Personas can sometimes be difficult, and there is much debate about whether they are worth the effort. We believe they are.
UXR Basics | Creating exceptional products with great user experience
Lets start with some basics. What are some of the things needed for a great user experience?
Generative vs evaluative UX research
There are two main areas of UX research: evaluative and generative. One looks forward to uncovering possibilities; the other looks back to evaluate a solution.
Remote vs in-person UX research
This article is an updated version of one from August 2020 For years we have been advocates of in-person research. Between 2012 and 2017, we (Jacky and Chris) have designed and helped build 4 dedicated UX research labs at Flow Interactive and Deloitte Digital. Over...
Be more customer centric: ThinkRetail [talk]
A talk that Jacky Smith presented at the 2022 Google ThinkRetail Cape Town convention. A customer-centricity white paper. Google sponsored, CX Partners created.
Using journey maps in UX research
A great way to make findings from research actionable, is to represent customer experiences in the form of journey maps. This allows teams to structure the points of pain and prioritise what parts of the experience to action next.
How UX research fits into design thinking
Design thinking helps you find and solve the right problem in the right way Design thinking is a user-centered methodology that brings customers into the problem-solving process. It’s not about sticky notes, markers and whiteboards. It’s about gaining a deep...
Get customers to take action
It’s critical to design journeys that your customers can complete with ease and enjoyment – from clicking on a link or filling out a form, all the way to adopting better spending habits or losing weight. Designing successful experiences require an understanding of...
What does “delight” really mean?
We say the word “delight” a lot, but there are actually two meanings to the word.
Measuring the true value of design thinking
With design thinking becoming more common, it’s hard to show the massive ROI it used to brag about a few years ago.
UXR Basics | Becoming a UX designer
My story of the roundabout way I became a UX designer and one main lesson I learnt along the way.
Remote research and usability testing
Lockdown has forced us to revisit the pros and cons of remote usability testing and research.