Research The Researcher S01C09 feat Prithvi Kudva
A brief intro about yourself…
I’m Prithvi, a postgraduate in Interaction Design from NID Bangalore. Prior to this, I have worked as a technical consultant in quality at Adobe Systems.
Current place of work
Lollypop Design, Bangalore, India
Designation/role/title
UX Researcher
What you up to? (any interesting work or project you want to talk about)
Currently involved in the synthesis and analysis of interview data for an upcoming sports app.
How and Why did you get into User Research?
I discovered my interest in research during my postgraduation in Interaction Design; I began reading a lot about User Research and was encouraged by my faculty in NID Bangalore. The reason is that I have always been keen on knowing the “why” behind human behaviours. I also love observing and analyzing human nature.
One book recommendation for those who want to get started in User Research (can also be a book which you often refer to)
Universal Methods of Design
Observing the User Experience — Kuniavsky
The Field Study Handbook — Chipchase
What skills do you look for when hiring Researchers? (or what skills you think Researchers should have)
Well-read, willing to experiment, strong analysis skills, ability to convey findings effectively, patience.
What value does User Research add to Product Design & Development? (if any examples where User Research created an impact, that would be great)
Most of the time, products and experiences are built on the basis of assumptions made by designers, suited to the preferences of the designers themselves.
Doing user research brings about insights that designers would not have thought of.
Hence, user research is necessary to create solutions that actually solve user problems.
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)
Since my company is service-based, the scope of research depends on the project requirements and timelines. It varies from short term involvement (2 weeks) to as much as 2 months.
How do you grow as a Researcher? (what should Researchers do to stay valuable)
Read a lot of case studies and articles on research methods.
Be updated on UX trends: both design and research.
Develop skills like communication, empathy.
Learn from your mistakes.
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)
Cognitive UXD
NNGroup
UX Collective
Thanks, Prithvi for your insights! Prithvi is on LinkedIn.
Past conversations —
