Jess Jenkins

Jess is an Optimal Workshop contributing content writer. Crafting great content is her fix, when not reading up on all things UX.

The latest posts from Jess Jenkins

5 Key areas for effective ResearchOPs

Simply put, ResearchOps is about making sure your research operations are robust, thought through and managed.  Having systems and processes around your UX research and your team keep everyone (and everything) organized. Making user research projects quicker to get started and more streamlined to run. And robust sharing, socializing, and knowledge storage means that everyone... View Article

3 min read
Using UX to win in good times (and bad)

A  natural response to a downturn is to contract. To remove ‘excess’ to become streamlined. Whilst this is an understandable and natural response to a reduction in revenue, bookings, or orders, it could be a little counter-intuitive. Marketing and research budgets are often reduced as part of saving money and resource in hard times. Still,... View Article

4 min read
UX research is a team effort

What’s better than a UX team doing awesome research? A whole organization backing investment in UX research. What’s that look like in practice?  Collaboration and support from stakeholders across the organization throughout the research process from set up, doing studies, sharing insights, and digesting, understanding, and actioning recommendations based on the amazing insights you generate.... View Article

3 min read
Create a user research plan with these steps

A great user experience (UX) is one of the largest drivers of growth and revenue through user satisfaction. However, when budgets get tight, or there is a squeeze on timelines, user research is one of the first things to go. Often at the cost of user satisfaction.   This short sighted view can mean project managers... View Article

6 min read
Moderated vs unmoderated research: which approach is best?

Knowing and understanding why and how your users use your product is invaluable for getting to the nitty gritty of usability. Delving deep with probing questions into motivation or skimming over looking for issues can equally be informative.  Put super simply, usability testing literally is testing how usable your product is for your users. If... View Article

6 min read
Why user research is essential for product development

Many organizations are aware that staying relevant essential for their success. This can mean a lot of things to different organizations. What it often means is coming up with plenty of new, innovative ideas and products to keep pace with the demands and needs of the marketplace. It also means keeping up with the expectations... View Article

4 min read
Unmoderated usability testing: a checklist

In-person moderated user testing is a valuable part of any research project. Meaning you can see first-hand how your users interact with your prototypes and products. But in-person isn’t always a viable option. What to do if your project needs user testing but it’s just not possible to get in front of your users personally? ... View Article

5 min read
How to create an effective customer journey map

Understanding your customers is central to any organization which wants to deliver an outstanding experience. But how do you understand your customers better? Tailoring their experience with your products and your organization to suit them should include a customer journey map. It doesn’t mean your organization needs a brightly colored, fully designed infographic that outlines... View Article

5 min read
Why taxonomy is important for your content strategy

During the design process information architecture is often carried out by an information architect and/or a team of UX designers, developers, and other professionals.  As a content professional, it’s best not to stand at arm’s length. It’s important to understand the basics of information architecture and how it impacts your content strategy and user experience.... View Article

4 min read
Different ways to test information architecture

We all know that building a robust information architecture (IA) can make or break your product. And getting it right can rely on robust user research. Especially when it comes to creating human-centered, intuitive products that deliver outstanding user experiences. But what are the best methods to test your information architecture? To make sure that... View Article

4 min read