The User Research Strategist: UXR | Impact | Career Pragmatism vs. Rigor: The Researcher’s Balancing Act | Raymond Tiong (Dext)
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Ray is a designer-turned-researcher. He grew up in New Zealand but moved to the UK last year.
His career started in graphic design and advertising, but he’s also studied art history and worked as a brand strategist and innovation consultant before moving into UX. He was a product designer before officially pivoting to UX research.
He is passionate about the craft of UX research, so is naturally drawn towards rigour and detail. But there’s definitely a balance to be mindful of, so lately he’s been enjoying the challenge of taking a more pragmatic approach to cut through the noise at work and maximise impact.
In our conversation, we discuss:
* How Raymond moved from design to research and why his messy, creative path helps him make peace with constraints.
* Why “just enough” research is often the most realistic (and still valuable) kind.
* Dealing with stakeholders who want statistical significance and to act on N=1 quotes.
* What makes a one-pager actually work (hint: it’s not cramming 14 bullet points into 10pt font).
* How to reframe constraints as creative challenges, instead of just reasons to cry in a spreadsheet.
Some takeaways:
* Rigor isn’t one thing. There’s a difference between medical research and a usability test for a SaaS dashboard. Raymond reminds us to stop chasing perfection and start asking: What’s the risk? What’s the goal? What’s actually good enough here?
* You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to be the expert. Sometimes the best way to build trust is not to say “trust me, I’m the expert,” but to bring the right method to the table and explain why it fits. Raymond shares how he uses method knowledge to guide teams—without pulling rank.
* Constraints aren’t the enemy, they’re the brief. That tight deadline or limited budget? Treat it like a design prompt. What can you strip away? What creative method still works? That shift in mindset changes everything from energy to output.
* Scoping is where the real power is. Raymond shares a sharp approach to collaborative scoping: show a strawman plan and let stakeholders rip it apart. It builds alignment faster and helps surface hidden assumptions, risks, and trade-offs without ego wars.
* Your research summary isn’t for you. Your one-pager should pass the 40-second CEO elevator ride test. Raymond breaks down his 3-column template and shares why the takeaways column matters more than your favorite quote or clever insight. It’s about what they need to do next.
Where to find Raymond:
* Medium
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