Rolling UX research refers to when user research is conducted on a continuous basis. The benefit of rolling research is that it enables us to rapidly generate user insights that align to a client’s internal design/product workstream(s).
In my position as Mid UX Research Consultant at ExperienceLab, I’ve been leading a rolling UX research project for a leading large technology company since the start of the year. Success on this project has been achieved through following ExperienceLab’s established approach and ways of working.
We tailor our approach according to our client’s needs but there are 5 key factors that drive the success of our projects:
1. Messaging channel
To remain agile, we find instant messaging on a channel other than email works well. Slack or Teams are great for quick comments or questions to keep the project progressing at pace.
2. Agenda
We ensure we come prepared to the initial kick-off meeting with an agenda of items to cover, with the aim of gathering as much information as possible.
- Outline research objectives and key research questions.
- Establish key dates for milestones and deliverables.
- Walk through any assets/prototypes to be tested.
- Check in on the status of participant recruitment.
- Agree on the tools to be used. For example, Figma for prototypes, Zoom for research sessions, etc.
- Set expectations of the final deliverables.
3. Agreed deadlines
Rapid research means staying on top of the game in order to meet the agreed deadlines. One of the benefits of doing rolling research is the speed and frequency in which user insights are delivered, so a delay somewhere has a knock-on effect on the immediate round and potentially future rounds as well.
ExperienceLab has successfully delivered multiple rounds of rolling research according to our clients’ timescales. By quickly generating user insights on a regular basis, we help clients evolve their understanding of their users, enabling them to rapidly iterate on concepts/products.
4. Run a pilot
Running a pilot of the focussed discussion guide (also known as your interview script) with a colleague confirms whether the moderator will have time to go through all the content.
ExperienceLab is experienced with working collaboratively with clients to prioritise research objectives and deliver focused research sessions, in order to answer the key research questions.
5. Continuous learning
We treat the read-out at the end not only as a presentation of the key insights from the research, but also as a chance to get a glimpse into the client’s internal discussions about the findings and points to consider for the next rounds of rolling research.
ExperienceLab has worked with many clients to make user research activities easier. We take clients’ design and strategic priorities and transform those into a research plan to execute. We also add value by identifying further opportunities for research so that user insights are continuously fed into design and innovation activities.
For further reading on why iterative research is so important, and how other companies embed rolling research into their businesses, visit Rolling Research: Your Key to Creating a Culture that Incorporates User Insights.
Get in touch
ExperienceLab’s established approach and ways of working can be tailored and applied to different clients depending on the nature of the project.
Get in touch with us if you want to rapidly learn from your users and customers and are looking for a partner to help you deliver iterative UX research.
You can also read our other blogs on UX Research:
Qualitative research: The sometimes-forgotten world of best research practice
