In this episode of The Optimal Path, Ash Oliver discusses the future of user research with expert Dave Hora. From his beginnings in research back in 2011 to his key roles at companies like Plangrid and Instacart, Dave has been at the forefront of driving innovation through research. Now, he's here to share his thoughts on what’s next for user research—discussing the growing demand for user insights, how to integrate research practices throughout the product lifecycle, and the opportunities of AI tools.

Tune in to uncover how we can seize the moment and define what’s next.

About Dave:

Dave Hora is the founder of Dave's Research Co., where he helps product leaders launch new product lines with the right mix of data, insight, and common sense. He began professional research work in 2011, eventually starting the practice as the first research hire at six companies, including PlanGrid and Instacart. He now works with companies across the globe and writes extensively on the topic of research and its co-evolution with the product practice.

Connect with Dave:

You can connect with Dave on LinkedIn

Resources:

• The Future of User Research Report by Maze
• User Research and Its Inevitable Evolution by Dave Hora
• Whither UX Research? by Peter Merholz
• The UX Research Reckoning is Here by Judd Antin
• Empathy: The importance of how we speak about ourselves, Maze Disco Conf presentation by Kyle Osborne
• The next frontier for research: Building organizations that learn by Behzod Sirjani
• Just Enough Research by Erika Hall
• Bad research doesn’t stink by Carl Pearson, PhD
• The Mistake Almost Everyone Makes When Doing User Research by Behzod Sirjani
• Fostering a culture of organizational learning with Roy Opata Olende
• The Democratization of User Research is a Red Herring by Peter Merholz
• The Nature of Order by Christopher W. Alexander
• The Timeless Way of Building by Christopher W. Alexander
• A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander
• Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal

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• X: @mazedesignHQ
• Instagram: @mazedesignHQ
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazedesign

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See you next time!