Intro to User Research @ 'Tech, Rebalanced' Hackathon

Design Opportunity

Host a workshop on user research for attendees of the 2018 Tech, Rebalanced Hackathon for women and non-binary individuals.

Quick Facts

Skill Areas

Design Mentorship
Design Research
Human-Centered Design/ Experience Design
Speaking & Facilitation

Background

I planned and facilitated a 1-hour workshop on bringing user research into the design and development of technology products.

The Details

Role & Activities

I facilitated an Intro to User Research course at the Tech, Rebalanced Hackathon focusing on ethnographic research methods and how to integrate research into the design and development project lifecycle. We covered types of research, contextual inquiry, interview structures, and facilitating interviews. I walked through how research helps us illustrate problems (Slide 2) and informs actionable outcomes (Slide 3). I explained how contextual inquiry and interviews fit into a broader research plan (Slide 4), and I emphasized that research doesn't stop after the discover phase (Slide 5).

Image 1: Introducing user research and explaining the "why" behind it.

After the presentation, I facilitated an activity where about 15 hackathon attendees practiced writing an interview guide and interviewing each other based on the sample research question provided or one of their choosing.

See below for the selection of slides from the presentation referenced above.

Slide Title

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