Session Title
Online User Research in 40 Minutes
Presenter
Beth Koloski, EffectiveUI
Session Type: Activity
We all want to conduct real user research with in-person interviews, observation and thoughtfully analyzed data, but sometimes it just isn’t possible. Maybe you’re pitching a new project, maybe the wireframes are due tomorrow and you have nothing to go on or maybe the client just refuses to pay for any research time. Even when there’s no time and no budget, that’s no reason to find out nothing about your users.
Bring your laptops and we’ll conduct “a lot better than nothing” online research in the time you usually spend getting a burrito. I’ll bring tips and ideas to make your efforts faster and more effective than just Googling. You’ll walk away with a set of useful bookmarks, an understanding of what to look for and tips to improve your powers of online observation. You’ll see how even 40 minutes of research can help close the deal, point the wireframes in the right direction, or help your client see the value of getting to know your users.
Biography
Beth Koloski is lead experience architect at EffectiveUI. Beth has more than 10 years’ experience designing user interfaces for Web-based software, leading successful projects for such clients as Orbitz, Domino’s, Red Bull and Standard & Poor’s.
Beth graduated from St. Mary’s College of California with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature before earning her Master of Arts in English and American literature from New York University.
2 Comments
40 minutes for a burrito? They’re not terribly efficient where you order, huh.
This sounds like a very good crash course, and a good use of the activity format that doesn’t take too much time. Hope to see this.
It sounds like a great topic. We are constantly faced with these design challenges. It would be very helpful to get some concrete examples on how to to gather relevant data on things like user personas, and user design elements from someone who clearly has experience in this area.