— Festival 25,
14 - 16 April

Raising the bar

Together, we are pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and elevating the field of UX research.

Monday 14th

  • 13:30 – 14:00

    Registration (in-person only)

    Meet & greet

  • 14:00 – 17:30

    Turn insights into action – Raise the Bar Together

    Interactive session by Julie Krohner, Karin den Bouwmeester (she/her), Kathleen Asjes and Maaike Mintjes (she/her)

    Kick off your UXinsight Festival journey with a highly interactive, three-hour session designed to inspire action and elevate your practice. (In-person only)

    This session offers a unique format:

    Part 1: Tackle Key Challenges. Collaborate with a small group of peers to dive into a specific challenge the UX research community faces today*. During registration, you pick one of the challenges that resonates most with your current experience:

    • Challenge 1 – What strategies can we use to secure greater buy-in for UX research across all levels of the organisation?
    • Challenge 2 – When dealing with limited resources and capacity: how can we prioritise and deliver high-impact research outcomes?
    • Challenge 3 – What processes or tools can we implement to make research findings more accessible, actionable, and impactful across teams?
    • Challenge 4 – What steps can we take to align UXR priorities with strategic business goals and influence high-level decision-making?
    • Challenge 5 – What innovative approaches can we use to improve participant recruitment, especially for hard-to-reach or niche audiences?

    Together, you’ll unpack the problem, brainstorm solutions, and walk away with actionable ideas.

    Part 2: Explore Shared Contexts. In this second part, we will regroup. Join a group of UX researchers who work in similar professional contexts (e.g. B2B, freelancers, global …). Exchange experiences, refine your solution, and build a concrete action plan tailored to your environment.

    By the end of this session, you’ll leave with:

    • An actionable learning goal to guide your conference experience.
    • A practical toolkit to share with your team, including ready-to-use insights, a playback session guide, and follow-up resources.
    • New connections with like-minded professionals who understand your challenges.

    * UXinsight UXR Maturity Benchmark 2024

  • 17:30 – 18:00

    Drinks

    Meet & greet

Tuesday 15th

  • 08:30 – 09:30

    Registration (in-person / online)

    Meet & greet

  • 09:30 – 10:00

    Opening day 2 – ‘Raising the Bar’

    Hosting by Ash Oliver (he/him) and Anna Efimenko (she/her)

  • 10:00 – 10:30

    What does strategy really mean, and how does UXR drive it?

    Talk by Dalia El-Shimy (she/her)

    While the term “strategy” has long since entered the collective lexicon of the UX Research community, it still seems to raise more questions than it answers. 

    We are tasked with conducting strategic research, ensuring our insights influence company strategy, and participating in shaping UX strategy.

    If strategy is so critical, it’s worth taking a moment to clarify what we mean by “strategy.”

    This talk will distil strategy to its essence, returning to foundational principles and timeless business wisdom to define what strategy truly is—and isn’t. You’ll learn what distinguishes a good strategy from a bad one and discover practical ways to spot the difference. More importantly, this session will spotlight the critical role UX Research plays in shaping robust strategies to make an actual impact. 

    Whether you’re guiding research or sharing insights to inform business strategy, this discussion will give you the clarity and tools needed to enhance your influence.

  • 10:30 – 11:00

    The Strategic Edge of Evaluative Research

    Talk by Iris Latour

    We all want to have an impact with our research. However, not all of us have the luxury of initiating participation in long-term discovery research projects. Our organisations expect us to validate product decisions and test.

    Iris Latour will challenge the traditional distinction between strategic and tactical research by demonstrating how evaluative insights can shape high-level product decisions.

    Iris shares examples from her past work, e.g. on Miro’s newly revealed innovation workspace, where usability testing and tactical research drove the creation of new features that significantly impact the way teams collaborate on creative projects.

    This talk will highlight how evaluative research can go beyond validation to become a powerful tool for discovery, vision-setting, and driving innovation—empowering researchers to make a lasting strategic impact.

  • 11:00 – 11:30

    Break & networking

    Meet & greet

  • 11:30 – 12:00

    Talk & live Q&A – more soon

  • 12:00 – 12:30

    Rethinking Interviews: Two Perspectives on Navigating Conversations

    Talk by Dave Hora and Lisa Koeman (she/her)

    The interview is the foundation of much of our work—so familiar it often feels second nature.

    But don’t be mistaken—a great conversation isn’t as simple as it seems. It’s about finding the proper depth, exploring different topics and uncovering new perspectives. There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye.

    In this talk, Dave and Lisa will take you on a journey to break down and reimagine the interview. Using two unique visual models, they’ll reveal the underlying structures of interviews and share fresh ways to enhance your skills. 

    Prepare to see your most trusted method from a new perspective.

  • 12:30 – 13:45

    Lunch, Break & Networking

    Meet & greet

  • 13:45 – 14:00

    Reflection

    Interactive session by Ash Oliver (he/him) and Anna Efimenko (she/her)

  • 14:00 – 14:30

    Lost in Translation: AI, Language Gaps, and the Role of UX Research

    Talk by Lindsey DeWitt Prat (she/her)

    AI promises to break down language barriers. But could it be reinforcing them too?

    Did you, for example, ever consider that AI tools are often based on English data sets and use English-centric models? AI tools are often not available in local languages, or they are, but things get lost in translation…What if you are ‘forced’ to use tools in a language that is not yours?

    At UXinsight, Lindsey will discuss with us how we can spot hidden language divides. Also, what are practical strategies for conducting inclusive and culturally + linguistically sensitive research (Note: these are good practices that may apply even if you’re not working internationally or across languages).

    Lindsey will also tackle the tough questions: If our organisations and clients understand and care about language and cultural nuances—great! But what if they don’t? How can we, as UX researchers, advocate for change?

  • 14:30 – 15:00

    Sponsored talk – more soon

  • 15:00 – 15:30

    Break & Networking

    Meet & greet

  • 15:30 – 16:00

    What UX Researchers Can Learn from Detectives about Storytelling

    Talk by Joseph Marcantano

    What do police work and user research have in common? More than you’d think. In this engaging talk, a former Police Officer, Detective, and Sergeant turned UX Research Manager shares how years of courtroom testimony, building cases, and telling engaging stories provided the foundation of his storytelling skills as a UX Researcher

    This talk will show you how we can continually raise the standard of our research by expanding our toolkits and learning from other fields. Get ready to apply some detective work to your own research practice.

  • 16:00 – 16:30

    Making Research Stick: Memory Science Strategies for Lasting Effects 

    Talk by Emily Murray (she/her)

    What if your research insights didn’t just land, they stuck—resonating with stakeholders long after the presentation? This talk dives into the intersection of user research and cognitive neuroscience to find inspiration for memorable communication and lasting effects.  

    We’ll explore memory-based strategies that extend the impact of insights and overcome challenges like information overload, reduced attention and remote work.

    Through global case studies in e-commerce, manufacturing, and agriculture, Emily will show how these strategies adapt across industries. If you’ve struggled to make your research stick, this session offers practical ways to make research unforgettable.  

  • 16:30 – 16:45

    Make Stakeholders Listen: Using Hypothesis Statements to Articulate Impact

    Talk by Marley Dizney Swanson (they/them)

    How can you ensure that your work benefits your users, customers, and organization? According to Marley Dizney, the answer lies in a simple formula that you may already be familiar with: the hypothesis statement.

    While hypothesis statements have traditionally been used in UX research, they have not been widely employed for articulating impact. In their organisation, the use of hypothesis statements has significantly influenced their company-wide roadmap by communicating the value that key projects will bring to metrics important to the company. Hypothesis statements have proved to be such an effective tool that their use is now required in all Product and Engineering work across the organisation.

    In this talk, Marley will guide you in using hypothesis tools to effectively communicate the value of your work and capture the attention of stakeholders.

  • 16:45 – 17:00

    Closing Day 2 ‘Raising the Bar’

    Interactive session by Ash Oliver (he/him) and Anna Efimenko (she/her)

  • 17:00 – 17:45

    Drinks

    Meet & greet

  • 18:00 – 21:30

    UXinsight by Night – dinner activity – supported by xelper (limited spots)

    Meet & greet

Wednesday 16th

  • 09:00 – 09:30

    Registration (in-person / online)

    Meet & greet

  • 09:30 – 10:00

    Opening day 3 – ‘Raising the Bar’

    Interactive session by Ash Oliver (he/him) and Anna Efimenko (she/her)

  • 10:00 – 10:30

    Quantifying Research Impact: Finding the Metrics That Matter

    Talk by Marieke McCloskey (she/her) and Ruby Pryor (she/her)

    In today’s resource-constrained environment, showing the tangible impact of user research is more critical than ever. This session explores how LinkedIn redefined its approach to measuring UXR impact by focusing on the metrics that matter most—those that align with internal, product, and business priorities. 

    We’ll deep dive into the experience of LinkedIn working with an external consultant, Rex, to implement their framework to demonstrate UX research impact. You’ll learn how the team identified metrics at the intersection of impactful and realistic to collect and how you can adapt these learnings to your organisation’s size, structure, and UX maturity. 

    Lastly, we won’t shy away from the challenges. We’ll explore the broader implications and limitations of adopting a measurement-driven approach—what it means for UXR practice, how it can shape individual incentives, and how to account for “harder to measure” impacts like strategic influence and mindset shifts.

  • 10:30 – 11:00

    Speed Dating for UX: The Customer Day Method

    Talk by Lydia Heilmann (she/her)

    How can you gather rich, actionable user insights while balancing tight budgets, maintaining confidentiality, and juggling stakeholder expectations? Enter Customer Days—a speed-dating-style UX research format designed to maximise efficiency and minimise costs.

    With practical tips and real-world examples, Lydia offers a blueprint for creating collaborative, cost-effective in-person UX research events that deliver value across teams. She’ll provide tips on how to:

    • Organise and execute a Customer Day, from participant recruitment to post-event analysis.
    • Secure stakeholder buy-in and guide them to make the most of user interactions.
    • Avoid common pitfalls in managing multi-team, high-stakes research events.

    Whether you’re in a confidentiality-heavy industry like automotive or simply looking for scalable research solutions, this talk is for you.

  • 11:00 – 11:30

    Break & networking

    Meet & greet

  • 11:30 – 12:00

    Team up for the users’ sake: Effective Collaboration between UXR and Accessibility

    Talk by Magda Kołba-Górna (she/her) and Dominika Łukoszek (she/her)

    The European Accessibility Act raises the bar for digital accessibility, but compliance alone isn’t enough.

    In this talk, Madga and Dominika share how UX researchers can go beyond standards like WCAG to create truly inclusive products. Through a compelling case study and practical frameworks, they explore how UXR can bridge the gap between compliance and usability, drive organisational awareness, and advocate for underrepresented users.

    Join us to rethink your role in building a more accessible digital future!

  • 12:00 – 12:30

    Sponsored talk – more soon

  • 12:30 – 14:00

    Lunch, Break & Networking

    Meet & greet

  • 14:00 – 14:15

    UXR Meets Behavioural Science: a Structured Approach to Understanding User Behaviour

    Talk by Maja Łukomska

    Why do users behave the way they do? The answer is often more complex than it seems.

    In this talk, Maja explores the COM-B model—a powerful yet underutilised behavioural science framework that helps UX researchers unpack factors influencing user behaviour across three core areas: Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation. Discover how this model can transform your research design, analysis, and product recommendations.

    Join us to see how understanding behaviour not only through an individual, but also social and physical environment lens can elevate your UX research to the next level.

  • 14:15 – 14:45

    Fake it till you test It: Wizard of Oz testing for any Idea

    Talk by Kim Feenstra Kuiper (she/her)

    AI-driven and personalised features often sound groundbreaking—until it’s time to test them. How do you validate complex ideas without building them? According to Kim, it’s by going back to basics. Using the Wizard of Oz technique, even the most “untestable” ideas can be explored and refined, offering insights that save time, resources, and the heartbreak of abandoning a feature too late.

    In this talk, Kim will share real-world case studies in which impossible ideas became testable through creative thinking, simple tools, and strategic planning. You’ll learn practical strategies for simulating AI functionality and rethinking testing approaches.

    Whether you’re working with AI, personalisation, or big, ambitious ideas, this short talk will give you the confidence to test early and test smart—because with the right mindset, anything is testable.

  • 14:45 – 15:15

    Beyond Atomic Research: Putting Your Insights at the Centre of Organisational Intelligence

    Talk by Dan Robins (he/him)

    As UX Researchers, we have the opportunity to elevate our role from research producers to strategic advisors. To achieve this, we need to shift how we think about and share our insights.

    In his talk, Dan will introduce a framework designed to build on ‘atomic research principles’ and bridge the gap between UX Research and other insight-gathering functions. This framework empowers UXR teams to lead the way in collaborating, ultimately driving better, more integrated decision-making.

    He’ll share real-world case studies from organisations like Mozilla and The Guardian and show you how to spearhead similar initiatives in your organisation – using the tools you’re already using.

    The UX community is uniquely positioned to drive this shift, and the time to act is now. By turning our gaze outward we can create a new era where UXR is a critical, strategic force in shaping the future.

  • 15:15 – 15:30

    Closing Day 3 ‘Raising the Bar’

    Interactive session by Ash Oliver (he/him) and Anna Efimenko (she/her)

  • 15:30 – 16:15

    Drinks

    Meet & greet