Aoife Geary

Reading Time: 3 minutes What is UX research? Successful products solve genuine problems for users. And UX research identifies the problem that our product or service needs to solve. It’s the first – and arguably most important -step in the UX process. Because if you’re not doing your research, you’re not doing UX. In a simplified version of the UX process, UX or user researchers (as they’re also known) lead the research stage. In the below diagram, their input is represented by the green wave.

Reading Time: 6 minutes Krys Blackwood works for NASA designing the future of mission operations. She began her career in Silicon Valley working as both a researcher and designer before moving to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). She spoke to us about her upcoming projects, the skills required to do her job well, and overcoming gender bias in a male-dominated industry. Tell us about your career path.

Airbnb, where the coffee is slow roasted, the wifi is instant and dogs are free to roam. This, I thought as I was welcomed into their European HQ, is a company that’s got it together. Of course that could also be deduced from their ever expanding customer base, 21 global offices and $30 billion valuation last year. Dublin facilities guru, Mark McDermott, was our willing tour guide for the day.