“If you squint hard enough, every problem is a prioritization problem.” -Harry Max UX professionals are often faced with the challenge of managing backlogged work and doing so with limited time, budget, and resources. In this episode, we chat with Harry Max about the common misconceptions with prioritization and how to get better at it over time. ⁠Learn more about Harry Max NN/g Articles & Training Courses 5 Prioritization Methods in UX Roadmapping (free article) Using Prioritization Matrices to Inform UX Decisions (free article) Using Trade-Off Scales for Prioritization in UX Design Projects (2 min video) Incorporating UX Work into Your Agile Backlog (free article) Related Courses UX Roadmaps Design Tradeoffs and UX Decision-Making Generating Big Ideas with Design Thinking

Expanding into global markets is a key priority for companies in today's interconnected world. While many companies rely on translations for their digital platforms, this is just one aspect of effective global expansion. In this episode, we're joined by Feifei Liu, International UX Researcher at NN/g. She discusses the importance of cross-cultural research and its role in helping organizations effectively expand into international markets while honoring cultural values and practices. ⁠Learn more about Feifei Liu⁠ NN/g Articles & Training Courses Modify Your Design For Global Audiences: Cross Cultural UX Design  International Usability Testing: Why You Need It? Cultural Differences in User Research Facilitation  Translate User-Generated Content For Global Audiences  4 Ways to Support International Purchasers  6 Tips for Improving Language Switchers on Ecommerce Sites Other Resources Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory Chapters (0:00) Intro (01:15) Cross-cultural UX research: What is it? (06:57) Importance of cross-cultural UX research (09:46) Factors designers and researchers need to consider when creating cross-cultural designs (13:07) Example of a localized design (Australian pharmacy website) (15:34) Developing a cultural lens (18:42) Facilitating cross-cultural UX research (25:19) Keeping up with cultural trends

In this episode, we dive into User Interviews with Steve Portigal, discussing their critical role in product development and design research. User interviews, a qualitative method, involve conversations with users to gather insights about their experiences, behaviors, and needs. We discuss the benefits of this approach, such as deep user empathy and informed decision making, alongside common challenges like bias and recruitment. Join us in understanding when to use user interviews and how to get the most out of them. NN/g Articles & Training Courses User Interviews (full-day/2 half-day UXC course) User Interviews 101 (free article) The 3 Types of User Interviews: Structured, Semi-Structured, and Unstructured (free video) When to Use Which User-Experience Research Methods (free article) 5 Facilitation Mistakes to Avoid During User Interviews (free article) ⁠Learn more about Steve Portigal Interviewing Users (2nd Edition)  20% discount code: interviewing

AI is changing faster than we can sometimes process and will likely do so for a while. The recent tech layoffs have also not spared UX professionals, adding to the uncertainty about our future roles in this rapidly changing environment. While there is still much we don't know about AI, Don Norman, co-founder of NN/g, and Sarah Gibbons, VP at NN/g, share their insights on the future roles of designers, encouraging professionals to think big in the wake of AI's advancements. Related NN/g Articles & Training Courses Generative UI and Outcome-Oriented Design AI as a UX Assistant The 4 Degrees of Anthropomorphism of Generative AI AI Chat Is Not (Always) the Answer AI-Powered Tools for UX Research: Issues and Limitations Prompt Structure in Conversations with Generative AI Sycophancy in Generative-AI Chatbots  New Course: Practical AI for UX Professionals Other Related Content ⁠Don Norman’s Website⁠ Chapters 0:00-1:12 - Intro 1:13-18:18 - What will design’s role be as AI expands? 18:18-23:15 - What is going to stay the same as AI expands? 23:16-end - Rapid Fire Questions 

Extended reality (XR) experiences hold the potential to transform the way we learn, work, and collaborate. Specifically, it can make educational experiences more interactive, engaging and ultimately drive higher learning outcomes. In this episode, we feature Jan Plass, who discusses the affordances of XR technology, provides examples of XR learning experiences and shares his expectations for its impact on the education landscape. Jan Plass is a Professor at New York University, Paulette Goddard Chair, and Director of CREATE. Learn more about Jan Plass: CREATE Lab Looking Inside Cells On the Morning You Wake Verizon AR/VR Learning Apps (i.e. Visceral Science, Mapper's Delight, UNSUNG, Looking Inside Cells etc.) NN/g ARTICLES & TRAINING COURSES Augmented/Virtual Reality vs. Computer Screens 10 Usability Heuristics Applied to Virtual Reality Virtual Reality and User Experience Emerging Patterns in Interface Design ⁠ (full-day/2 half-day UXC course) The Design of Everyday Things CHAPTERS: 0:00-3:13 - Intro 3:13-5:35 - What is XR? 5:35-8:54 - XR as a Learning Opportunity 8:54-12:19 - Examples of XR for learning 12:19-15:30 - Evidence of Learning with VR Technology 15:30-18.51 - Can VR features Induce Emotions and Result in Better Learning Outcomes? 18:51-23.45 - Comparing UX in 2D and 3D spaces? 23:45-27:41 - Accessibility and Inclusivity in XR 27:41 - XR Development: The Role of Affordances

The surge of AI is currently changing the way we work and live. To avoid feeling left behind, it is important to engage with and understand these tools. This is true for UX designers just as much as almost everybody else. In this episode, we feature Henry Modisett from Perplexity AI and Kate Moran to get two insightful perspectives on the current state of AI and its connection to UX. Learn more about Henry Modisett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrymodisett/ Learn more about Kate Moran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-m-moran/ Perplexity.AI: https://www.perplexity.ai/ NN/g ARTICLES & TRAINING COURSES AI for UX: Getting Started (free article): https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-ux-getting-started/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 AI & Machine Learning Will Change UX Research & Design (free video): https://www.nngroup.com/videos/machine-learning-ux-research-design/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 AI Improves Employee Productivity by 66% (free article): https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-tools-productivity-gains/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 AI-Powered Tools for UX Research: Issues and Limitations (free article): https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-powered-tools-limitations/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 AI: First New UI Paradigm in 60 Years (free article): https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-paradigm/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 Sycophancy in Generative-AI Chatbots (free article): https://www.nngroup.com/articles/sycophancy-generative-ai-chatbots/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 Information Foraging with Generative AI: A Study of 3 Chatbots (free article): https://www.nngroup.com/articles/generative-ai-diary/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 The ELIZA Effect: Why We Love AI (free article): https://www.nngroup.com/articles/eliza-effect-ai/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 Practical AI for UX Professionals (full-day/2 half-day UXC course): https://www.nngroup.com/courses/practical-ai-for-ux-professionals/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ep36 CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:43 Perplexity AI: History & Value Proposition 10:30 Perplexity AI: Next Steps & Future Developments 15:04 Making AI User Friendly: Generative Interfaces 24:33 Understanding AI as a Consumer Product 28:28 Mental Models for AI 30:41 An Outlook for AI 35:51 NN/g’s Role in the AI Movement 37:34 Anthropomorphism of AI 40:07 Dealing with the Fear of AI

Wireframing is an incredibly useful design technique to flesh out conceptual ideas and communicate them to others. However, with the advent of powerful prototyping tools, some designers may think of these as irrelevant or outdated practices. Leon Barnard, Content Manager at Balsamiq and co-author of the book Wireframing for Everyone, discusses why he thinks wireframing is not only still relevant, but essential for maximizing creativity and innovative thinking. Connect with Leon Barnard Balsamiq Wireframing AcademyWireframing for Everyone (book) by Michael Angeles, Leon Barnard, & Billy Carlson Related NN/g Articles & Training Courses How to Draw a Wireframe (Even if You Can’t Draw) (free article) UX Basics: Study Guide (collection of free articles) UX Basic Training (UX certification course) UX Deliverables (UX certification course) Visual Design Fundamentals (UX certification course)

We often talk about measuring progress, but it can sometimes be harder to do in practice than in theory, especially when you’re combining mixed research methods. However, some teams have managed to not only make sense of the data, but use it to make award-winning designs. In this episode we feature two members of Princeton University’s award-winning intranet team: Charlie Kreitzberg, Senior UX Advisor, and Christian Knoebel, Director Digital Strategy, and how they combined two frameworks: the 5D Rubric and pairLab, to bridge the gap between UX and product design. Learn about the 5-D Rubric Learn about pairLab Related NN/g resources: 10 Best Intranets of 2022 (the year Princeton University won) (free article) Intranet & Enterprise Design Study Guide (free article) Past Intranet Design Annual: 2022 (the year Princeton University won) (534-page report) Intranet Design Annual: 2023 (most recent awards) (483-page report)

Measuring a user experience can be intimidating at first, but it's an essential part of determining whether your work is moving in the right direction (and by how much). UX Master Certified Dr. John Pagonis shares his experiences from working with other organizations on measuring UX improvements and interpreting quantitative data. Learn more about John Pagonis: Connect with him on LinkedIn Watch a past keynote talk: Usefulness measurement: A practical guide for all UXers (37 min video)⁠ NN/g Articles, Videos, and Reports about Usability and UX Metrics: Usefulness, Utility, and Usability by Jakob Nielsen, PhD (2-min video) Usability 101 by Jakob Nielsen, PhD (free article) ⁠UX Metrics and ROI by Kate Moran⁠⁠ (297-page report) NN/g Articles about Microsoft's Desirability Toolkit and Adjectives List ⁠Using the Microsoft Desirability Toolkit to Test Visual Appeal⁠ (free article) ⁠Microsoft Desirability Toolkit Product Reaction Words⁠ (free article) Jeff Sauro, PhD on UX-Lite, UMUX-Lite, SUS, SEQ (an aside: his website, MeasuringU.com, is an excellent resource) 10 Things To Know About The Single Ease Question (SEQ) Measuring Usability with the System Usability Scale (SUS) 5 Ways to Interpret a SUS Score Measuring Usability: From the SUS to the UMUX-Lite ⁠Evolution of the UX-Lite⁠

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Research with employees might sound easy in theory: you work in the same company as the people you need to observe or interview, and you might not even need to pay them for input. However, there's a bit more to it than meets the eye. In this episode, we feature UX Master Certified Angie Li, and she discusses what has helped her organize and run successful research with internal team members. Learn more about Angie Li NN/g Articles & Training Courses Employees as Usability-Test Participants (free article) Structuring Intranet Discovery & Design Research (free article) Ethnographic User Research (full-day/2 half-day UXC course) User Interviews (full-day/2 half-day UXC course) Usability Testing (full-day/2 half-day UXC course)

Members of our UX Master Certified community are applying UX principles to their work in a range of different ways. In this episode, we interview Thomas Wilson, Senior Principal Service Designer at United Healthcare and discuss what service design is and what makes it challenging and rewarding. Learn more about Thomas Wilson: LinkedIn NN/g Service Design Resources: Service Blueprinting (full-day or half-day formats) Service Design Study Guide (free article with links to many more) Learn more about UX Master Certification Some of the (many) people and organizations Thomas mentioned: Don Norman Service Design Network Erika Hall Adam St. John Lawrence Marc Stickdorn Anthony Ulwick Bob Moesta

Building stakeholder relationships is no easy task but it is crucial for getting buy-in, aligning expectations and ultimately building trust. But, what even is a "stakeholder" and how do you know if you have good relationships built? In this episode, we feature a conversation between Samhita Tankala and Sarah Gibbons who discuss the challenges that come with stakeholder management and how to build successful relationships. Learn more about Sarah Gibbons Related NN/g articles, videos, and courses: Successful Stakeholder Relationships (UX Certification course) How to Sell UX: Translating UX to Business Value (Video) How to Collaborate with Stakeholders in UX Research (Article) UX Stories Communicate Designs (Article) Making a Case for UX in 3 Steps (Video) Stakeholder Analysis for UX Projects (Article) UX Stakeholders: Study Guide Other sources Sarah mentioned: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

The importance of mentorship for personal and professional development is an often-discussed topic, yet it can be challenging to find a mentor or become a mentor yourself. In this episode, we feature a conversation between a mentee, NN/g’s Tim Neusesser, and his mentor, Travis Grawey. In this episode they discuss how mentorship has impacted both of their careers. Learn more about Tim Neusesser Learn more about Travis Grawey (who mentors along with many others at ADPList) Related NN/g articles & videos: Why You Need UX Mentoring (video) ⁠The C's of Great UX Mentorship⁠ (video) Finding UX Mentors (video) UX Careers Report (free report)

Building exceptional experiences usable by all is no easy feat. Focusing on what can be influenced and accepting what cannot be changed are two critical steps to crafting better products... and careers. We spoke with Ryan Hudson-Peralta, a principal experience designer at Rocket Homes, who often introduces himself as a "father, husband, international speaker, and designer... who just happens to be born without hands." Ryan shares a bit about his journey into the UX field, and how his mindset of curiosity and positivity allows him to create meaningful experiences with his designs and with his career. Learn more about Ryan Hudson-Peralta: lookmomnohands.com If you would like to learn about UX design, we have thousands of articles and videos at our website www.nngroup.com.  Full-Day Design Courses (also available in 2 half-day formats) UX Basic Training Web Page UX Design Application Design Mobile User Experience Designing Complex Apps for Specialized Domains

Have you thought about your career lately? Chances are, you have - given the buzz around the record high voluntary resignation rates during this “Great Resignation.” In this episode, Sarah Doody, UX Researcher, Experience Designer, and Founder of the Career Strategy Lab, shares her thoughts on how UX professionals can design their ideal careers, whether they’re in the market for a new role or not. Read more about Sarah Doody:  Website (sarahdoody.com) Twitter (@sarahdoody) LinkedIn (/in/sarahdoody) Instagram (@sarahdoodyux) NN/g Resources on UX Careers: Jakob Nielsen: How to Start A New Career in UX (2-min video) UX Careers (free 90-page report) Growing in your UX Career: A Study Guide (article) Portfolios for UX Researchers (article) Interested in working with us? Apply to this posting by April 4th