054: UX Research on a Budget with Becca Kennedy

User Defenders podcast
Psychology
054: UX Research on a Budget with Becca Kennedy
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Becca Kennedy teaches us how to do UX research on a budget. She encourages newer designers to demonstrate their problem-solving superpowers by redesigning sub-par experiences they use regularly. She reminds us that users are human before they’re users. She also shows us how we can have anything in life we want, if we will just help others get what they want.

Becca Kennedy is a Human Factors Psychologist and a UX Researcher/Designer. After an academic career designing and evaluating healthcare training technology, she turned independent and co-founded a UX consulting company called Kennason in 2015 out of Albany, NY. Currently, Becca is the UX Designer for Agrilyst, an agriculture-tech startup based in Brooklyn. She also keeps busy with consulting projects and volunteering with organizations like AIGA Upstate New York. She was recently recognized by the Albany Business Review as a 40 Under 40 awardee. Fun Fact: She has three tattoos, and all are kind of nerdy: a symbolic nod to getting through a PhD program, a subtle Star Wars X-Wing, and a piece of the original Epcot branding in Walt Disney World.

  • Becca’s Tattoo’s Origin Story (5:31)
  • Why Psychology? (6:26)
  • What is Human Factors? (11:43)
  • How do we find research subjects? (24:06)
  • The Law of Diminishing Returns (31:16)
  • Awkward Testing Story (32:57)
  • Design Superpower (39:14)
  • Design Kryptonite (40:48)
  • Coping with Imposter Syndrome (44:49)
  • UX Superhero Name (49:10)
  • Should we Call Them Users? (53:45)
  • Fights for Users (56:33)
  • Habit of Success (59:11)
  • Invincible Resource (61:54)
  • Recommended Book (63:54)
  • Best Advice (66:09)
  • Contact Info (70:07)

Continue reading 054: UX Research on a Budget with Becca Kennedy

025: UX Designers Work with Users with Ashley Karr

User Defenders podcast
User Defenders podcast
User Research
025: UX Designers Work with Users with Ashley Karr
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User Defenders Ashley Karr

Ashley Karr teaches us that we can’t be exceptional at generalizing. She encourages us to always work with the people for whom we are designing. She motivates us to always trust ourselves and our instincts. She shows us how planning and organization are key contributors to success. She also inspires us to give back by teaching what we know.

Ashley Karr is an academically trained human factors engineer and anthropologist focusing on human computer interaction, user experience, research and design. She has her B.A. in anthropology from UCLA and M.S. in human factors and systems engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Included among her many published writings is a behavioral psychology textbook for Oxford University Press. She has worked with organizations, such as: Walmart, Frontier Communications, and The Veteran’s Administration. Currently, she teaches and designs instructional material for User Experience Design Immersive courses with General Assembly and manages all immersive courses at General Assembly Seattle. She is passionate about teaching tech and encouraging creative confidence. She also happens to be a descendant of Kind Edward the 1st and Queen Eleanor of Castille.

  • Secret Identity/Origin Story (2:58/3:58)
  • Has Your Varied Background Helped You? (8:54)
  • Specialize or Generalize (12:05)
  • Biggest Superhero (15:01)
  • Second Career Choice (18:38)
  • Biggest Failure (21:04)
  • Awkward Testing Story (27:37)
  • Design Superpower (32:02)
  • Design Kryptonite (37:41)
  • Design Superhero Name (37:55)
  • Fight For Users (40:41)
  • How To Get Involved (50:37)
  • Future Of UX Design (54:10)
  • Habit Of Success (56:21)
  • Invincible Resource (56:47)
  • Book Recommendation (57:16)
  • Best Advice (57:49)
  • Most Excited About (58:09)
  • Contact Info (58:31)

Continue reading 025: UX Designers Work with Users with Ashley Karr