UX Research 101: The Foundation of Products That Succeed is Day 1 of a two-part, hands-on workshop hosted by the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF). Umesh, a UX Researcher at Google, teaches the research basics every product builder needs. Then participants plan real research as a group.
Why UX research matters
Research replaces guesses with evidence, so teams build what users need the first time. Fixing a wrong assumption costs little during planning and a lot after launch.
Good research helps a team:
Find the real problem. What users ask for and what they need are often different.
Know who they're building for. Real people with real contexts, not an imagined "everyone."
Make decisions with confidence. Choices come from what users showed you, not from the loudest opinion in the room.
Save time and money. Teams spend less time redesigning features nobody uses.
This is especially important now. AI makes building fast, so choosing the right thing to build matters more than ever. Day 1 builds that foundation, and Day 2 puts it to work.
What participants will learn
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Explain what UX research is and how it helps products succeed.
Tell the difference between generative research (what problem to solve) and evaluative research (whether a solution works).
Choose a method that fits the question, such as user interviews, surveys, usability testing, or competitive analysis.
Write research questions that are clear and unbiased.
Build a simple research plan with goals, questions, methods, participants, and a timeline.
Avoid common mistakes, like leading questions, only talking to friends, or looking for proof of an idea instead of the truth.
Online Meetup
Attendance is free.
No IxDF membership required.
Meet people who love design as much as you do. Together we learn new skills, grow our networks, and discover new job opportunities.
Join us to make lifelong friendships over coffee and a shared love of design! ❤️
Hi everyone! I'm happy to invite you to UX Research 101 with Umesh Krishnamurthy, PhD (UXR at Google), happening on Oct 29, 2026.
Anyone is welcome to sign up for this meetup. Just click the “Attend This Meetup” button to see all the details and get important updates by email. Feel free to share this meetup page with others to sign up and use this thread to ask questions or connect with everyone joining. See you there!
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Denver, United States
Ayka Williams
CEO & Co-founder at Swurl LLC
Denver, United States
Karson
UX Designer
An IxDF Local Group connects you with people in your city who are building and applying design skills in their work. Together, you'll strengthen your craft, expand your network, and put theory into practice.
IxDF Local Groups meet regularly in person at cafés, company offices, or creative spaces to share ideas, give feedback, run workshops, and learn from each other. Many groups also organize IxDF Design Dinners, where the conversation goes deeper over a meal. These aren't just social events. Members find collaborators, clients, job leads, and future teammates through them.
You'll also have access to a private online forum where you can get career advice, honest feedback, and support from people who understand the work.
You don't need to have a "designer" title to join. If you care about how design shapes products, careers, and organizations, you belong here.
Join and you'll discover new skills, explore job opportunities, and build relationships with people who understand the power of great design.
IxDF Zagreb
IxDF Accra
IxDF Oslo
IxDF Santo Domingo
IxDF Stockholm
IxDF Quebec
IxDF London
Your IxDF Local Leader organizes meetups based on what members want most. Sessions range from hands-on and structured to relaxed and informal.
Some examples of what you'll find:
Presentations from local designers, followed by Q&A
Lightning talks where members share lessons learned from real projects
Workshops where you work through a real design challenge together
Portfolio reviews where you get honest, practical feedback
Coffee meetups and design dinners with open conversations about where the industry is heading
Any member can propose, organize and post a meetup. You don't have to wait for your Local Leader to take the initiative.
What stays consistent is the people. You'll find designers and professionals who ask good questions, share what they know, and show up for each other between meetups too.
Yes, absolutely!
Design skills make you more effective in any role. Product managers, developers, marketers, researchers, and founders all work better when they understand how to think like a designer.
IxDF Local Groups reflect that. Members come from all kinds of professional backgrounds, not just design. What they share is an interest in how design shapes products, decisions, and careers.
You'll fit right in regardless of your background.
You don’t need to be a designer to have a seat at the table. IxDF Pune
Curiosity and good coffee are the only requirements. IxDF Santo Domingo
From designers to business thinkers, every voice adds value. IxDF Bordeaux
You don’t need to be a designer to think creatively. IxDF Chennai
Everyone here learns from each other and grows together. IxDF Salvador
In a world that's getting more artificial and competitive, IxDF brings the heart back, so you never have to face the job market alone.
Learn together, get mentored, find your next job, and build friendships that grow your career.
