The ultimate goal of design and user research is to improve product and service decision-making and the experiences we deliver. I measure my own success as a researcher and educator on how quickly I move my teams and students from insights into action. Helping people connect the dots, and seeing the impact that results, is magical.

Regardless of what you think, feel, say, or do, there is likely room to improve your own curiosity skills. Curiosity, with proper rigor, will yield positive impacts on yourself, your family and others.

Here are 900+ Covid-inspired innovations. Aside from the virus serving as motivation, they all have something else in common. Every single innovation began with someone asking better questions.

New lower priced "Observer" seats

Ask Like a Pro classes provide step-by-step mentoring and guidelines on how to conduct meaningful, relevant and impactful research. They include hands-on, proven methods and tools to help you genuinely understand your customers, challenges, and opportunities in less time while reducing errors and risk. I share a plethora of examples from my own research so you see how the theories are applied in real life.

The July cohort, beginning tonight, is sold out for "All-In" seats. The next cohort will begin in September. Sign up to be notified when registration is available.

We heard you!

Many have requested a lower price option. Your feedback inspired our new “Observer" option. It offers you a seat in class and access to the same templates and tools albeit with a less hands-on approach. Perfect if you need a refresher, don't have the time or headspace to go All-In, or want to see if Curiosity Tank courses are right for you.

We are piloting five Observer seats per class. Learn how the All-In and Observer options compare and or purchase Observer seats here. We’d love to breakdown more barriers to entry and support as many of you as possible. Please send us your Observer thoughts and questions.

Good news and bad news

General Assembly announced their Q3 line up and there are only five user research classes on the whole roster. Four of them are my Art of Conducting User Research Interviews class. They are offered July 13th, July 30th, August 27th and September 22nd. Check out the details here. I hope to see you there!

Work with me at Slack

I've been working with Slack for the past year and am now developing UXR education for their non-researchers. I'll be rolling it out through January 2021. The fantastic Research and Analytics team just announced a new Research Ops lead role and it's remote. Learn more here and OF COURSE hit me up if you are interested AND QUALIFIED.

Upcoming event

Research Ops is serious business (see above role)! Our Orchestrate class provides a terrific foundation and if you practice research at all you should know the basics to uphold the core principles of our industry: respect for our participants; honestly in our reporting and communications; and responsibility to protect people's interests and privacy. This July 23rd event focuses on ethics in business, design and technology and includes a discussion followed by Q&A. I'm looking forward to it!

Apprenticeship update

The first Curiosity Tank UXR apprenticeship is coming to a close. We have our last (of three) client presentations this week. Paul Derby and I will compile our thoughts and share a brief update. Feel free to add your name to the waitlist if you are intersted in the next cohort.

Speak up, get involved, share the love

Read about Curiosity Tank remote workshops
Register for Michele's (now remote) General Assembly classes
Forward this email to someone who you think might enjoy it. Better yet, sign them up here. It will be the gift that keeps on giving.
Ask us questions related to user research. Seriously, bad research keeps us up at night!

Wow. Yep. No excuses.

You now have no excuses about not knowing how to increase your own user research knowledge and skills! If you want to Observe this series, but cannot make tonight's class, lmk and I'll share options.

Regardless hit reply and lmk what your user research goals include this year.

Learn to Ask Better Questions