Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

The UX research reckoning is here | Judd Antin (Airbnb, Meta)

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Jan 4, 2024

Judd Antin, a veteran in UX research with a rich background at Yahoo, Meta, and Airbnb, tackles the pressing challenges in the field. He critiques past user research trends and argues for three distinct types of research—macro, middle-range, and micro. Antin emphasizes the need for researchers to be integral to product development and critiques the effectiveness of the Net Promoter Score, advocating for better customer satisfaction metrics instead. His insights shed light on how to genuinely align research with business objectives for meaningful improvements.

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INSIGHT

User Research Reckoning

The user research field is undergoing a "reckoning" due to layoffs and a perceived lack of impact.
Companies haven't effectively integrated user research, leading to a decrease in perceived value.

INSIGHT

Types of User Research

User research can be categorized into macro (strategic), middle-range (user understanding), and micro (usability).
Too much middle-range research is conducted, which is interesting but often lacks business impact.

ADVICE

Integrate Research Early

Integrate user researchers into the product development process from beginning to end.
This fosters stronger relationships and ensures research addresses impactful business questions.

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