Claire
5 min readFeb 1, 2021

Things I Needed to Hear as a Beginner in UX Design: 6 Important Takeaways I Got from Samatha Davies

Samantha Davies is a research and design leader who currently works as a Senior User Research Manager at Monzo Bank. I was fortunate enough to attend one of her e-talks hosted by Barcelona Technology School where she shared 10 tips on how to conduct and share research. I summarized the key-takeaways I got from her talk below. Enjoy!

1. Move fast, but not too fast

As UX designers, we have to work fast. Through our research, team meetings, and conversations with stakeholders, we are constantly getting new pieces of information and insights. This means we have to make decisions quickly and validate our new findings as they come along. We also have to make sure everyone on the team stays updated, so we all are focusing on the same problem. However, oftentimes UXers are put under pressure to begin designing before having adequately shared their findings or finished their research. This leads to rushed decision making that’s not entirely based on the user’s needs. Great research is the foundation of the implementation of a design strategy.

2. When in doubt, research
Beginning a new project is intimidating, especially as a new UX designer with little experience. If you are unsure where to begin or the need isn’t clear, focus on the problem. By researching and familiarizing yourself with the problem, you will better understand your (potential) users. Alongside your research, start thinking about the questions you need answered and the next steps of the project. Think about the assumptions you and your team members have and the barriers that are or that could hinder your progress. As you gain knowledge through your research, you will answer some of your questions and doubts (while new ones will come and take their place). Each answered question will help you better understand the people you are designing for and how your product can solve their problems. This, in turn, will bring you one step closer to building a meaningful product. In short, whenever you feel at a standstill, think about the root problem.

3. User research is a team sport

This is one of the principles from GDS (Government Digital Services). Something that Samantha emphasized was: “not everyone has to do research, but everyone has to be involved.” This means that everyone should be asking questions, thinking about the assumptions and the gaps in knowledge, attending research sessions together and sharing findings amongst one another. Samantha also suggests putting the user researcher in charge of coordinating the events, because if no one person is in charge, things can get challenging. Most importantly, it is the responsibility of each person to involve themselves in the conversations and events to stay connected and up-to-date. It’s important to plan and move as a team. The more aligned your team is, the more momentum your project will have. Additionally, Samantha noted, “empathy can’t be delegated,” so the better each person understands the user, the more beneficial the product will be.

4. Bite-sized research reveals are better

Good research takes time — and so does updating your team. The bigger your team and the bigger your company, the longer it takes to catch everyone up. Even though researchers often know the problems before anyone else, it is possible they have missed valuable insight. That’s why it’s important to share insight quickly and in smaller pieces. It’s critical, as Samantha says, to “deliver insight back in layers” so your team members can adequately digest the new information and have the same understanding.

5. Document everything

Building off of the previous point, it’s essential to document your research because if not, everyone will have a different idea of what the problem really is. Documentation will also help you deliver your insights in a creative and more enjoyable manner. Using visuals, such as videos, pictures, posters, etc. as opposed to plain writing can create an emotional response and get people more interested in the message you’re delivering.

6. Repetition is key (and patience!)

Suppose you find yourself repeating the same thing over and over, good! That means you are taking the steps to ensure that everyone is up-to-date and aware of the recent findings. Mid-way through a story she was sharing, Samantha stated “I almost get bored of hearing myself” since she is constantly relaying key information to different people. Samantha also compares companies to ships when it comes to decision making, noting that the bigger the ship, the longer it takes to make a decision. Whereas, in a small boat you can shift directions quickly and smoothly. This rings true for decision-making in companies as well- as you need to communicate with everyone involved and make sure that they understand what the problem is and why it is a priority. Also, people are generally really busy so it’s important to keep your delivery structured and impactful. Two things that will help you deliver key information more efficiently are: 1. Speaking the same language (as the executives and higher ups in the company) and 2. using your creative juices to tell the story. Delivering your insights in an appealing way is not only enjoyable — it’s more impactful.

As a beginner to UX, I found Samantha’s talk insightful, inspiring, and quite honestly refreshing. While completing a Master’s degree online during a pandemic has its challenges, it has certainly taught me a lot. Working on an international team with members spread across four different time zones in a field we are all new to has taught me the importance of clear communication, planning, and patience. However, the most important thing I have learned so far is to trust your teammates and to trust the process. There are moments of excitement and moments of doubt, but it is important to keep pushing through. Hearing Samantha’s talk helped me validate and process my feelings about UX design. I feel fortunate to study alongside and learn from such intelligent humans in an ever-expanding fascinating field.

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