Research The Researcher S01C04 feat Upasna Bhandari
Name and a brief intro about yourself…
Upasna Bhandari, Fintech UX researcher
I use extreme academic research rigour and skills and implement them in startup space in Singapore. Unlike typical research studies which can be months long, I am dedicated to setting up agile research processes which are more suited for fast-paced startups. While I am doing it, I am making sure I am training the stakeholders and my teammates within the organization in user research to elevate their capabilities.
I am constantly striving to give back to the community and participate in and organizing UX events in the region.
Current place of work
Moneysmart, Singapore
Designation/role/title
UX Researcher
What you up to? (any interesting work or project you want to talk about)
I am currently setting up a framework based on a mixed method research paradigm to navigate effective storytelling that binds multiple projects across the organization.
How and Why did you get into User Research?
It was a natural progression given my background in Human-Computer Interaction.
One book recommendation for those who want to get started in User Research (can also be a book which you often refer to)
Good to Great James C. Collins
What skills do you look for when hiring Researchers? (or what skills you think Researchers should have)
Passion to get better in the craft and help build teams that work as a strong cohesive unit.
What value does User Research add to Product Design & Development? (if any examples where User Research created an impact, that would be great)
More and more organization are now realising the importance of having user research deeply embedded in product development.
It highlights aspects of CX that are not readily surfaced without the research efforts. It creates an overall value of the end customer and opens gates for the organization to look beyond the optimization and usability mindset
How is User Research structured at your place of work? (is it that researchers are embedded into products or called for as and when the demand arises)
Currently, it is a mix of both. Based on product management’s faith in the value of user research and the capability of user researcher to align with the mandate of the team, they may work very closely with user researcher or use a more plug and play approach.
It is a two-way street, a couple’s dance :)
How do you grow as a Researcher? (what should Researchers do to stay valuable)
Keep honing your craft.
Look at the famous T model. You have to be a generalist and able to use multiple methods to your advantage but at the same time make sure you invest time to be really good at 1–2 techniques.
What are the sources of info which you follow to stay updated in the field of User Research (can be people you follow on Medium/LinkedIn/Twitter, Websites, Publications, etc)
I follow people who have pioneered user research practices in agile and startup teams on social media for inspiration.
I attend events to meet fellow UX folks in the region to have productive discussions where we can learn from each other.
Just putting yourself out there is half the battle won :)
Also, I keep doing online courses and training to keep myself relevant and updated.
Thank you Upasna for the wonderful insights. The “couple dance” analogy was funny and yet so true.
Earlier conversations of “Research the Researcher” —
