A user research-focused course
***JANUARY 2021 UPDATE: Since posting this, I have heard from many of you about how you appreciate this idea. Because it is very difficult for me to support so many classes while working full time, I have created a website with updated course availability.***
The number one question I receive from people who are interested in getting into user research, or who are just beginning their career, is “what courses should I take? How do I learn more about user research?” I have yet to discover a good answer to this question. There are a few different options I bring up: taking a UX course (I taught part of one at Pratt), watching online tutorials or reading blogs/books.
I have a few qualms when recommending the above. Watching online tutorials and reading blogs/books, honestly, is great, but only gives you so much. It is very hard to learn a profession through just reading or watching. This is the reason I tend to recommend a UX course. Now, when I talk about UX courses, they are generally not focused on user research. Instead, they include the whole field of user experience, and highlight UX design, rather than research. Research tends to play a small part in the larger picture of the course.
There are very few courses out there that actually focus on cultivating a UX research career. Additionally, there are few university degrees relating to user research as its own career. Luckily, I majored in Psychology so I have a “research-background,” but Psychology research (and working in a mental hospital) is much different to UX research. However, it is difficult for people who are interested in become user researchers to take a course centering around starting a user research career.
I have learned so much from the research community, and have been so lucky to meet such compassionate and wonderful teachers — I only hope to pay it forward. This is why I am looking to put together a user research course to offer people who are interested. It is completely free. The only stipulation is, the first classes will be beta testers, and will have to give me feedback!
What will be covered?
In this 12–week live course, we will meet twice a week for three hours per class. In between, there will be homework (fun and inspiring, I promise). I will be breaking the class down into four core modules:
- What is user research and how does it fit into a company?
- How to conduct and share user research
- User research strategy
- Research portfolios and case studies
Each of these modules will cover the essentials of user research, such as methodologies, notetaking, stakeholder buy-in, timelines, recruitment, biggest challenges of a UX researcher and much more!
During the 12 weeks, there will be lecture, discussion and, most importantly, interaction/practice. We will be taking the lessons we learn in the class and actually practicing them. I will take the time to critique research plans, notes, interviews, etc. What I want more than anything from this course is to give people a space to practice and simulate what it means to be a user researcher. In addition, there will be a project each person works on throughout the course, so there will be a concrete portfolio piece at the end.
Why am I qualified to teach this course?
Well, I’m not particularly sure how qualified I am, but I’ve taught user research at Pratt University in New York, I’ve spoken at conferences/meetups, worked in a variety of companies/environments and I’ve done a lot of learning. I’m sure there are plenty of other people out there who are more qualified than I am, but I love teaching and empowering others and I would like to impart the knowledge I have gained so far. So, if you are willing to try this out with me, I would love that!
The classes will be open to four people. Again, completely free of charge, I just request (honest) feedback. The course will start in February of 2019.
If you are interested in this course, please fill out this Google Form (by January 3rd, 2019) to give me a better understanding of why you would like to take the course!
I would also like to run a user research portfolio workshop in January 2019, so please let me know if there is interest in that, as well. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments: nikki@productherapy.com
I look forward to hearing from you!