Stephen Cox - Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: Moving from Experience Design Research to Product Design Research - Transcript

This presentation follows my journey as I take on a new role in a new organisation that has a super strong product focus. Watch as I stumble through new ideas, challenges and techniques. As I grapple with what it means to move from being an Experience Design Researcher (of 20 odd years) to a shiny new role as Product Design Researcher.

This discussion might be already old hat for some of the young product design research folk, but there are bound to be some amusing stuff ups, missteps and anecdotes as I question my whole professional perspective on what good research is for and how it is conducted.

Will I be able to successfully navigate the new leaner world of research? Will I forsake my anthropological roots for the lure of data science?

Can an old dog really learn new tricks, and if so, what are the things that I have learned that have allowed me to stay in my new role. That is, if I manage to stay in the role! My probationary work period ends just before the conference?! Come along to find out how it all ends.

Transcript

1. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . www captionslive com au | captionslive outlook com | UX A a a D R a c Da 1 W d da , 17 Ma c 2021 Ca i ed b : Hila Cadd
2. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 47 h e e ha c e i i . S i de ig e ea ch c ica i fa h ld ha e ecei ed j a li k e e he c e i i . Y j eed e e de ail , b c ibe a d he , eah, F ida i g ea e'll be a ci g he i e j i i e - he c e e h. Tha ' i . A d al if ' e j i i g k h la e da , elf a d Ha ie McD gall a e eall e ci ed ha e i h e ab de ig e ea ch. Tha ' i f e. Back , S e e. STEVE BATY: Welc e back e e e. A h b eak a d e he h ee da f De ig Re ea ch hi ea , e a e e ha ha e i e a l f eake , e' e g i g e hi g - e h gh hi g ickl . I ill be a li le bi i e e a i e b i ' de f l ha e a g ea eake he e a d able ha e hei e e ie ce i h all. S e' e e ha ha e S e he C i h . We al a e j ha i g S e he eak. He ha bee a ac i i e f i e a hile a d ha ece l a i i ed i e ha f a diffe e ace. S e he , a d ' e g i g be elli g ab ha a i i . Welc e, ha k , e . STEPHEN COX: A e e, ha k S e e. Le e fig e h ha e c ee . If ha ' ki g he ha ' g ea . S hi e e e. I' S e he . S e i e k a C , ce a e he, hi a d hi , I g e i S d e . I' c e l he la d f he Gadigal Pe le f he E a Na i a d a I' alki g f he e la d I'd like a e ec he elde f hi la d b h a a d e e , a d a e e gi g leade . Al e e d e ec g , hi i g ha bee e a a i g fa . I' j g i g ad i i f ha I' a e ld d g i he digi al de ig i d . I de el ed fi fe i al
3. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 48 eb i e i 1995. Si ce he I' e bee d i g de ig e ea ch f a b ch f diffe e ga i a i . P i d i g de ig I' a acade ic a h l gi a d A alia hi ia a d I hi k ha c l he a I a ach k. I e j hea i g e le' ie a d i g ha he e le' i f ie a e. I belie e g d k ca l be d e h gh c llab a i , ha ' eall i h he e le b ildi g hi g i h b al i h he e le e' e b ildi g hi g f . I hi ei d a , e e hi g i cial... ich i ellec al e f al e a d hi . I hi k he e de ig e eed ake all f ha i c ide a i , a ic la l if e' e ela i g e le h ' e ked i a a ic la a f a l g i e. La l I g e I belie e like Ral h Wald E e ... a d a b ief j i i g a IT de a e d i Ca be a, I f d elf a a di ec f e ea ch f he d c ea a D ai . I eall a ela e a ha ade e eali e I a faci g i e challe ge i hi e le. A c le f eek i he j b I had bee ki g a e e e b ief i e f e i i g. I a i h he d c a age a d e d af ed a ick e e e b ief de a d if he al ld ee he eed f e ial c e . We k hi b ief ff he head f d c a d e had hi l k hi face, he aid e hi g like, ha ' g ea , e'll k if i ' eable, he e' de a d e i g i he e, i he al e igh , ha be a e e i g ge he ed i c e e al lif . Wha a he c e f he ga i a i if e did hi k. I iled, I g e ha ied ile if f eak . I a e ed, he ' e eall g d e i , I'll ge back h e. Tha a he e I eali ed like ld , I a ' i Ka a a e. Thi a ki d f he c f he ble f e, he e a a diffe e i de ig e ea ch a d d c de ig e ea ch. I ed f hi l ld he e i a g d f c e , I g e hi e
4. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 49 ld he e i ' j ha h ld e d b h h ld e d i . S a ch ge f c he iabili . Y k , a d h d be e da a a al ic , h ge be e a a ke e ea ch a ell a a fe e ea ch ac ice a d lea i g all ha ff i e ci i g a d ca e e e a he a e i e. I a al faced i h hi e ble e l e. H d I de ake e iche ada a i ake he ga i a i ligh l e e a c e ce ic i i f he ld. Af e all half a be ee Ve a d Ma i ea h a d ha ' a lace li e. I a gi e a bi e c e h e k a D ai . We ha e a hea a d l del. The hea i a eall all lace, j Sa ah S ke h ' head f de ig a d elf, b all he l i he ga i a i a d he de ig a i he ga i a i i UX de ig e he de ig all he a f a d b i l ha gi e a a ge f c lica i i he a e a de l g d e ea ch a d de el I g e e e a h i he ga i a i e le ha e e e. A d h d g ab e l i g a ble like hi I g e i he ble . L ckil f e bei g a e ea che , he be hi g d a j g a d d e ac al de ig e ea ch h e ca be e i eg a e he h a ide f e ea ch i he ga i a i . I e a c le f eek d i g e ea ch, ga he ed l f i f a i b a aged ake a b ch f allie i hi he ga i a i a d ga he ed l a d l f f e le i a al ic , a ke i g da a, c e ca e, c e cial, legal, all f h e de f l lace h eall hel ed e I g e e he la li le hile a a ca ee ed h gh hi e le a d ki d f ade a e f i ake . I g e a he e d f he e ea ch i e ea ch I e ded i h a l f i f a i , a al a d . A d bei g ligh l b e ed i h hi idea f c l e a d ha ake a ga i a i ick, I a ed fi d a ch e ha c ld hel e c e a a f a d f e ea chi g he ga i a i .
5. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 50 L ckil f e i a e b i a d I did ' ha e hi k ha ha d ab i beca e D ai i b il hi a - c l e. The a - c l e i f c ed agile deli e a d . The be a i g i f e a ha e a l k a he a i g i f he agile e e . S ha i g a l k a he 12 i ci le f he agile a ife i eall he e e a ed. The e a a h le a ge f hi g i he e ha e c ld i eg a e, b i ga e e a c la g age ha e c ld eak he e f he ga i a i a ell. I' g i g h gh all 12. I' e c de ed a fe . I a ed alk ab h e' e g e ab i jec i g e ea ch i he ga i a i . S e f he fi agile i ci le i f e e deli e a d i lici . The e' f he i hed ge he . Ma be e e e, a l f e le ha e ki d f hea d ha e ea ch l d c i i d . N - e icall ha i e f e ea ch a d he a I ld all e d ha ld be i c a hea e i e eb ild e hi g, e le d ' a a d ge i igh he fi i e. Tha a ' g i g hel e k i h hi ga i a i . I had e back a d hi k, ha c ld e d b eak e ake e i i g ac ice . S I ha a d e a ed d i g e e e i e i he ga i a i . Wha ill ee he e a e a li le ic , I g e h fa h gh h e e e i e e a e. A d b i l ake hi g g fa e he fi hi g e eeded d i eall fi e ea ch ff. S i k ab f eek a he e , he I a i ed ab f eek beca e he e e e diffe e ac ice a d diffe e , k , PO a e a d a i hi g like ha ha e i g. I k a l g i e ge e le he g d ac all alki g c e . S e fi ed ha a d e i ed i b ab f i e a d l a d beh ld f he fi a e I a he e he ec d a e e did f i e e e ea ch. The e ea ch , e ke , eall i a . The i e e i g hi g ha ca e f ha , all he
6. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 51 e ea ch e e e d i g a led b d c . We a ed i hi a e a lea l k a i al a e ea ch cade ce, j ha e e le c e i e e eek, ea a d l ee alk h e f lk ee i h a ld ha e if e j i c ea ed he be f e le alki g e le a d ha h ld be a eall i e e i g c e. The e i ci le ha I a i e e ed i l ki g a a I g e hi b i e e a d de el e ge he , b i l f bei g a de ig e , I a de ig e ha e a ea a ha able. B al bei g a e ea che , I a he c e be i cl ded, ha d e i ea he e ha e di c i ab d c . H d e e le back i he c e a i ? O e f he hi g e did, e f d a PM h a i e e ed i d i g e di c e e ea ch. He aid I'll gi e a a e , ca ell e ha ill d i hi he e a e , if d a g d j b I'll e . We ked eall ha d. We de l ed a f ll i ed e h d a ach, l ked a he e i i g e ea ch, b il he c e j e a . We did j b be d e, I di, a d ba icall i a f a i fac i , e g a h le b ch f a a d i f a i ab ha he h ld b ild e . Tha ' bee eall eall al able. O e f he l ha e ed he e eall j h ed he al e he ga i a i , i l i ee I hi k i e ed b Te e a, I'll gi e a ick e a le f had a ha l k like. Thi i ha i l i ee l k like. Y a ha e ee i , a ha e. E e iall he lef -ha d ide ha e a c e hich i a be ha he ga i a i i i g d i e a d he h gh e ea ch e fi d i ie , eed , ble ha e le a e i g l e a d he a a ea e ha e a h le b ch f e ial l i a d c e i h e e a le . F e a le, if e a cha ge he be f e le d i g i ec i , e ha e lea ed ha he e i a cial a ec i ec i g a
7. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 52 e , h d e ake ha ea ie f e le. He e a e e l i a d he e a e e e e i e . The eall i a hi g i he i e he c e a d ' e h i g if e l e hi i e ill ee hi be e a d e' e a ed a d e ha h gh he e jec . I ' all ell a d g d if e' e a aged c i ce e ea d a a e f e ea ch, b I g e he e i i ha ld e d if e a ed a d cale ha . S c g i a f he fac ha e d ' ha e a b ch f e ea che , e' e hi ki g a be e ca a a eg la di c e hi g, i ila he a e' e g i g a d d eg la abili e i g, ha e a f he PM, ech lead a d de ig lead, j ge hi g i g i f c e a d d i e be e e a h f he e le e' e ac all e i g. The hi d i ci le I' alki g ab he e i face- -face c e a i , face- -face c e a i , I' e ki d f c ed hi a li le bi b i ' eall h d ge he c e back i he c e a i . We' e e e e i e e' e gi e a e f c e PM a d ea ee h he a ge he a d he f hi g he a a k e i ab . Tha ' bee a i igh f l a d i e e i g ce . I hi k a a ga i a i e ca ac all d g i g di c e k. S ha ill be fa ci a i g ee h ha la . The e' a b ch f ea ha d ' ha e de ig e . S e' e bee idi g he i h a h le a ge f l ge he hi ki g ab c e , ed ca i g he ab h he alk e le, gi i g he f a e k . We' e al e a li le e i b a d he e he ca c e a d a he e a e all he e i I ha e, I d ' ha e a de ig e a e he , b if g a e alki g he e ki d f e le ca ee if ha i f e. The la a i e a a d fi e le i , a d ge f lk i a he e d a d alk he a d ki d f ba icall
8. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 53 challe ged all de ig e ge a lea e e i i ha c de ig e i d i ha i . S ha ' ki d f i e e i g a d f . I hi k he f h i he e, i h ld ha e g e fi , all he ea ga i i g a e eflec i e a d he eall i e e i g hi g ab hi , ' e li i g i a agile ld a d e e ea i ligh l diffe e . S a he e d f e e i he i d , d a e a d he cha ge he el e be e , cha ge he el e i he i f e le i he ea a d cha ge he ce e ha he e ac all deli e . A d ha e i e f e e h d e a lea ea , e ai eall eall fle ible a d a d hel f lk a be ca . S e' e d e hi g like c ea e e f a e k a d l . S a he ha gi i g ic ce e ab h d e hi g, e' e b il hi g like a e ea ch ki che hich i ki d f like a e ea ch la e b i ' fle ible. S ca c e i , ca g I' eall i e e ed i h d g d di c e e ea ch. Click he b , ge a b a d ha a he e a e all he hi g a e g i g d if ' e g i g d g ea di c e e ea ch. I gi e he a e e f h l g i igh ake he ca g a a a d hi k ab he he hi i he ki d f e ea ch he a d a d e gage i ha i g a ligh l e ed ca ed c e a i f he d he li e. O e f he he hi g ha e ill a d i ed ca e e le e h e c e , PM a d hei ea . I hi k i a a i e e i g e e ie ce f hi g, if e e I di Y g' ac ical e a h a a f a e k i igh be a e ible a a b ildi g e a h i h d c a age a d he e le ha e' e e i g. Thi la i he e hich i ki d f f , he e i ie a d ga i a i al e a e f he fi hi g ha ki d f failed. We ied i le e a a ic de ig e ea ch l he e ge e e i e , ha e a l k a fac , i e i igh a a h le b ch f ff c e he he e d - S e e, eed e ' e
9. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 54 ka ? G d. A d e ied i le e ha i h he ea a d i a ' ki g e e iall beca e i f ced e le d hi g i a a ic la a . Ha i g a i e c ed label e i he e. The he hi g i e hi g ha I b ed f a e i le hich i i e a h a . E e i e e e d e a i e ie , he i e he f he e a d h he ' e c ec ed ha e . Ul i a el e'll e d i h a e ie f i de able ie . Le ' i agi e e e c e a d a ell ab i ec i , e ca gi e he he e ea ch a d he eigh ie ead i -de h ab h e i di id al a d ha i ' like g h gh he i ec i ce . A d la l , beca e I' a ld a , I kee f ge i g hi g , a d if ' e g l i le ea a d i g l i le e e i e , I' i g a i le b a d i h each f he ea li ed, ha e ea ch a d ha e e i e e' e ied i h each f i e. Tha ' bee eall ef l f e. Wha cha ge i di id al ake f elf? A I e i ed ge i g be e a da a a al ic , lea i g h e AC e i g, I' ge i g be e a d i g a i a i e a ke e ea ch a ell. Ma i g h e back c e eed ha bee a f hi g f e d . I' e bee lea i g a l ab d c a age e a d he g i D ai a e eall g d a e i g f lk a d kee i g ack f i g a i e hi g I' e e e bee g d a . F a ga i a i al e ec i e, I g e ha i g a e ea ch ea i eall i e e i g, h d e de c a i e e ea ch, ge he e le d he k f a d b i g ha i f a i i , a d he h d e ake ha i f a i e ef l l ge e i a big i a hi g. I e f b i e a d eed, e' e g c e elli g ha he a . H d e hi k h e eall cl el he c e f he b i e . Tha ee be ki g ell f he e. I e f fle ibili , b i l j be fle ible. I hi k e f he
10. N e ha hi i a edi ed a c i f a li e e e a d he ef e ma c ai e . Thi a c i i he j i e f Ca i LIVE a d he a h i ed a e ible f a me a d ma be c ied ed b a he a i h a h i a i . Page 55 he g ea hi g ab ge i g a e le, ha e fi d e he e , I' e g e e , Te e a T e , all f he e a a i g a age e le h hi k i d c e ha e bee a a i g a d I' e bee lea i g l hich i , k , a f he f f life. S I j a g back ha e , h did I e l e ha igi al ble f he jec ha ga e e ha eall c f able ile. I ked ha d i h he a age e diffe e a ache , e e abili e i g, AV e i g l i , l ki g a f ll a d a ie hi g like ha . S he e ea ch g a ched all a ec , e' e half a h gh i le e i g i , he e e i ched i he b ' b , he aid ha ' g ea , le ' ee h i g e . S j a ha , I ha e ac all ade i h gh i h ba i , he ha e ' acked e e . Tha a eek ag , I' ki d f ha . B I' ill a ld d g. I' ki d f a bi e i ed ha I all a a hi i i a j b, I' ill he e, b I ha e lea a h le b ch f e ick . If a each I' T i e . Y ca g ab e Slack a d I'll ha e a l k h gh he Q a d A. Tha k e ch. STEVE BATY: Tha k S e he . STEPHEN COX: I'll ha i g . STEVE BATY: Tha a de f l. The e a e a c le f e i he e. A gela a d Ca lie ha e ed a c le f hi g h gh Q a d A. If ake a l k ha ld be de f l. Al a l el ha e . Tha k . C i g e e ha e Vi ie e a d Ki be l f Del i e Digi al h ill be alki g ab c d c i g e ea ch i h f eciali ed a g a d ge i g a b ad a d di e e e ec i e i