WaysConf Podcast
Welcome to the official WaysConf Podcast, where we bring you insights and knowledge from the world's leading product digital makers!
[ENG] The Power of Atomic UX Research | Daniel Pidcock | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-25 10:14:00
Atomic Research is a simple but powerful process which allows you to get richer insights from your research, combine with existing learnings, and makes it easy to share and discover knowledge in a large organisation. The creator of this process, Daniel Pidcock, will be talking through the process, how it came about, and some tools you can use to implement it in your own work. With time for Q&A at the end.
Atomic Research is a simple but powerful process which allows you to get richer insights from your research, combine with existing learnings, and makes it easy to share and discover knowledge in a large organisation.
The creator of this process, Daniel Pidcock, will be talking through the process, how it came about, and some tools you can use to implement it in your own work. With time for Q&A at the end.
[ENG] About collaboration between Product Designers and Data Scientists | Anna Maria Szlachta | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-24 15:12:00
UX & AI: About collaboration between Product Designers and Data ScientistsAs technologies evolve and AI-powered products become more present, UX designers encounter new types of challenges. Data introduces a new layer to the product experience for users. Thus, in addition to collaborating with software developers, designers now also need to work with data scientists. Based on my academic and industry research, I will share insights about this type of collaboration. I will also explore the differences in the daily workflow with data scientists and software developers, highlighting key skills designers need to learn to increase their effectiveness in this process and shape better products.
UX & AI: About collaboration between Product Designers and Data ScientistsAs technologies evolve and AI-powered products become more present, UX designers encounter new types of challenges. Data introduces a new layer to the product experience for users. Thus, in addition to collaborating with software developers, designers now also need to work with data scientists. Based on my academic and industry research, I will share insights about this type of collaboration. I will also explore the differences in the daily workflow with data scientists and software developers, highlighting key skills designers need to learn to increase their effectiveness in this process and shape better products.
[ENG] How to teach research to non-researchers | Rhys Hillan | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-24 14:05:00
This talk is will show you how to teach research. It isn't a talk about 'how you should conduct research' or a typical university lecture on research methods, but instead will provide senior researchers with the tools and confidence to up-skill the rest of their team - and ideally company - on all things research. We're all aware that there is a movement for democratising research, but we need to use the right methods to allow our non-research colleagues to appreciate why, how, and when to conduct research themselves. This talk will help you convince non-researchers to learn research skills, whilst coaching you on the best way to engage non-researchers in up-skilling. The talk will give a context to the idea of democratizing research before providing a framework for teaching research, alongside case-studies and other sources to help illustrate its points.
This talk is will show you how to teach research. It isn't a talk about 'how you should conduct research' or a typical university lecture on research methods, but instead will provide senior researchers with the tools and confidence to up-skill the rest of their team - and ideally company - on all things research. We're all aware that there is a movement for democratising research, but we need to use the right methods to allow our non-research colleagues to appreciate why, how, and when to conduct research themselves. This talk will help you convince non-researchers to learn research skills, whilst coaching you on the best way to engage non-researchers in up-skilling. The talk will give a context to the idea of democratizing research before providing a framework for teaching research, alongside case-studies and other sources to help illustrate its points.
[ENG] Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss! | Radzewicz, Makowiecki | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-23 15:01:00
Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss! What went wrong in relations between product, design and research people
We are not planning a roast. Nor rant. But there will be some drama, cause the tension between research, design and product people is getting out of control - and discussions on Teresa Torres’ “Continous Discovery” seem to be a symptom, not a source of the problem.
Through our dynamic duet, we want to protect the world from devastation and unite all the people within the product nation. We will go through several fail (or near-fail) stories to identify the main problems in relations between research, design and product people.
Key topics we plan to include:
- What is the real goal of design/product research, and why “mitigating risks” or “building product backlog” are the tips of the same iceberg that might sink our Titanics?
- Where lies the green area between gatekeeping research and fully democratizing it, and why do none of the extreme approaches work?
- What are the most useless results that researchers can bring to the table, and what is the most thoughtless thing that designers and product managers can do with valid results?
- Why are the easiest methods used in the ways textbooks intended not enough, and when do you need researchers with more complex techniques to gain deeper knowledge?
- Why both researchers and designers/product managers are so eager to participate in research theatre with magic formulas (You only need to test with 5 users) and tools of wizardry (Let’s create personas, empathy maps, and customer journeys without research) instead of valid methodology?
We believe that synergy between different product areas is possible and are willing to share our approach tested in complex research and design projects (often completed with external research partners) for industries such as mobility, insurance, banking, and retail.
Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss! What went wrong in relations between product, design and research people
We are not planning a roast. Nor rant. But there will be some drama, cause the tension between research, design and product people is getting out of control - and discussions on Teresa Torres’ “Continous Discovery” seem to be a symptom, not a source of the problem.
Through our dynamic duet, we want to protect the world from devastation and unite all the people within the product nation. We will go through several fail (or near-fail) stories to identify the main problems in relations between research, design and product people.
Key topics we plan to include:
- What is the real goal of design/product research, and why “mitigating risks” or “building product backlog” are the tips of the same iceberg that might sink our Titanics?
- Where lies the green area between gatekeeping research and fully democratizing it, and why do none of the extreme approaches work?
- What are the most useless results that researchers can bring to the table, and what is the most thoughtless thing that designers and product managers can do with valid results?
- Why are the easiest methods used in the ways textbooks intended not enough, and when do you need researchers with more complex techniques to gain deeper knowledge?
- Why both researchers and designers/product managers are so eager to participate in research theatre with magic formulas (You only need to test with 5 users) and tools of wizardry (Let’s create personas, empathy maps, and customer journeys without research) instead of valid methodology?
We believe that synergy between different product areas is possible and are willing to share our approach tested in complex research and design projects (often completed with external research partners) for industries such as mobility, insurance, banking, and retail.
[ENG] Discovery F***ups: epic fails, priceless lessons | Przemek Szustak | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-23 10:59:00
Let's talk about "Discovery F***ups" - real stories of product discovery gone wrong (from my previous roles and others). We'll dive into fascinating, sometimes funny, sometimes scary examples from the trenches. But these aren't just fails; they're gold for learning. By looking at these mess-ups, we'll pull out valuable lessons to boost your product discovery game. Expect engaging stories, practical tips, and a fresh take on learning from mistakes in the product world. No sugarcoating, just real talk about real failures and the priceless lessons they teach us.
Let's talk about "Discovery F***ups" - real stories of product discovery gone wrong (from my previous roles and others). We'll dive into fascinating, sometimes funny, sometimes scary examples from the trenches. But these aren't just fails; they're gold for learning. By looking at these mess-ups, we'll pull out valuable lessons to boost your product discovery game. Expect engaging stories, practical tips, and a fresh take on learning from mistakes in the product world. No sugarcoating, just real talk about real failures and the priceless lessons they teach us.
[ENG] Bridging the Gap Between UX Research and Business Goals | Paulina Makuch | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-22 14:58:00
In this session, discover how to effectively align UX research with business objectives to create user-friendly and profitable products. Drawing from my experience as the manager in the largest UX research team in Poland at Allegro.pl, I'll share insights on how impactful research can shape product and service strategies and support the achievement of specific business goals. Learn proven techniques for reducing the gap between UX insights and business targets, ultimately driving better financial outcomes.
Join me to explore practical examples of how UX research enhances strategic planning and accelerates business success. By conducting deep, comprehensive research, we've identified user barriers and leveraged various data types to ensure a holistic understanding. I'll also discuss our methods for balancing multiple business objectives without compromising user experience.
In this session, discover how to effectively align UX research with business objectives to create user-friendly and profitable products. Drawing from my experience as the manager in the largest UX research team in Poland at Allegro.pl, I'll share insights on how impactful research can shape product and service strategies and support the achievement of specific business goals. Learn proven techniques for reducing the gap between UX insights and business targets, ultimately driving better financial outcomes.
Join me to explore practical examples of how UX research enhances strategic planning and accelerates business success. By conducting deep, comprehensive research, we've identified user barriers and leveraged various data types to ensure a holistic understanding. I'll also discuss our methods for balancing multiple business objectives without compromising user experience.
[PL] Praktyka prowadzenia badań z niepełnosprawnymi użytkownikami | Górny & Drezno | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-22 10:56:00
W tym AI nie pomoże. Praktyka prowadzenia badań z niepełnosprawnymi użytkownikami.
Niepełnosprawności nie da się symulować. Modele AI są szkolone bez uwzględnienia potrzeb osób z niepełnosprawnościami.
Znajomość zasad WCAG jest przydatna, warto używać ręcznych i automatycznych narzędzi do testowania dostępności, ale nic nie zastąpi testowania z prawdziwymi, niepełnosprawnymi użytkownikami.
Nasze demo obejmie przykłady aplikacji zawierających nieoczywiste problemy, które mogą być wykryte tylko przez prawdziwego niepełnosprawnego użytkownika.
Podzielimy się naszymi praktycznymi doświadczeniami z badań z udziałem niepełnosprawnych użytkowników, ich zaletami i wyzwaniami z nimi związanymi.
W tym AI nie pomoże. Praktyka prowadzenia badań z niepełnosprawnymi użytkownikami.
Niepełnosprawności nie da się symulować. Modele AI są szkolone bez uwzględnienia potrzeb osób z niepełnosprawnościami.
Znajomość zasad WCAG jest przydatna, warto używać ręcznych i automatycznych narzędzi do testowania dostępności, ale nic nie zastąpi testowania z prawdziwymi, niepełnosprawnymi użytkownikami.
Nasze demo obejmie przykłady aplikacji zawierających nieoczywiste problemy, które mogą być wykryte tylko przez prawdziwego niepełnosprawnego użytkownika.
Podzielimy się naszymi praktycznymi doświadczeniami z badań z udziałem niepełnosprawnych użytkowników, ich zaletami i wyzwaniami z nimi związanymi.
[PL] Empowerment młodych! | Edyta Gawlak | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-21 14:54:00
Empowerment młodych! Jak badać młodzież na przykładzie case study badań agencji Hearts&Heads.
Empowerment młodych! Jak badać młodzież na przykładzie case study badań agencji Hearts&Heads.
[ENG] What happens when an engineer manages a product org? | Adam Dubiel | WaysConf 2024
2025-02-21 14:52:00
Engineers only do refactors and tech debt. Product invents unrealistic deadlines and doesn’t care about quality. Oh, and of course - management doesn’t know what it is doing. Heard any of it lately?
I believe building great products is about finding the sweet spot between processes, structure and culture. Fortunately we can change all of those. Unfortunately, it takes time and a lot of intuition. During this talk I will share my take on how to build and scale product & engineering organisations, all from the point of view of an ex-software engineer turned product & engineering manager.
Engineers only do refactors and tech debt. Product invents unrealistic deadlines and doesn’t care about quality. Oh, and of course - management doesn’t know what it is doing. Heard any of it lately?
I believe building great products is about finding the sweet spot between processes, structure and culture. Fortunately we can change all of those. Unfortunately, it takes time and a lot of intuition. During this talk I will share my take on how to build and scale product & engineering organisations, all from the point of view of an ex-software engineer turned product & engineering manager.