Shaping tomorrow’s experiences: a Senior User Researcher’s diary
Join Sara as she takes you on a journey through a typical week in her life as a Senior User Researcher.
With 8 dedicated user researchers in the team, we’re on a mission to transform the way people interact with our website and apps. We each work on different projects, and we all strive to understand our customers and exactly what they want.
I’m currently immersed in an exciting and ground-breaking project, a new banking app set to shake up the way people bank with us. I’m part of a multi-disciplinary team, working with squads of people across the project. I work closely with Product Owners, Content Designers and Business Analysts, to name a few.
So, let’s dive into what a typical week looks like for me.
Monday: Setting the stage for success
Mondays start with a Human-Centred Design team meeting, where we get caught up on all the latest news and developments. This is a great opportunity to hear about what’s going on with colleagues working on a range of projects across Virgin Money.
In the afternoon, it’s about connecting with one of the squads I support. We come together to delve into the week’s tasks, discuss priorities, and think about our approach. Research is a big part of these discussions, and we work together to identify the most important research questions and develop a plan for addressing them.
Later, there’s another meeting with all the design team working across the project. We catch up on what each one of us is doing, identify overlaps, and strengthen our collaborative spirit.
Mondays are the foundation where we sketch out the blueprint for the week’s research adventures.
Tuesday: Diving into the research
On Tuesdays, it’s time to dive deep into another part of the user journey, so I meet with another squad I support to discuss their research needs. We discuss strategies and fine-tune our approach to address any changes in priorities.
Every other Tuesday, the tribe sprint review brings together stakeholders from various areas of the business. I often present research findings at these sessions. This is a valuable opportunity to amplify the voice of research and make sure that we’re aligned with the overall project strategy.
Tuesdays are when our research agenda takes a final shape, and the groundwork for participant recruitment and research begins.
Wednesday: Growing as a team in research
Wednesdays bring the User Research Team together for a regular catch-up. This dedicated time helps us to evolve, not only as a team but as individuals as well. We discuss our latest projects and share best practices, creating an environment of continuous development and growth.
The research activities continue as I start to refine my methodologies, conduct user interviews and test prototypes. This is also when I start delving into data analysis.
Thursday: Connecting the dots
Every other Thursday, we have the Human-Centred Design team show and tell, a forum where exciting projects from different teams take the spotlight. This showcase serves as a platform to make sure unified user experiences across our diverse array of products.
As the week unfolds, research analyses are finalised, and it’s time to piece together the puzzle of our findings.
Friday: Reflecting and refining
Fridays are a time to reflect on the week and finalise any outstanding work. These are the days to make sure everything aligns and is ready for its moment in the spotlight This sets the stage for a fresh start on the following Monday.
And that’s a wrap!
As you can see, in the words of a Senior User Researcher here at Virgin Money, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the heartbeat of our work. And research isn’t just a task, it’s what shapes our digital products. With a focus on prototype testing and discovery research, every insight captured contributes to a transformative user experience.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see our research make a real impact on the products we create.
