ux research philosophy

My UX Research Philosophy

My research focuses on utilizing user experience (UX) design, content strategy, and other participatory research methods to help people improve their communities and organizations. This emphasis on digital technology, technical communication, and community engagement leads me to develop communication and design projects with non-profits, businesses, and community-based organizations, in addition to collaborating with university researchers, teachers, and students.

My current UX research project, tentatively entitled “Content Strategists and Their Work Lives: An Exploratory Survey,” involves surveying content strategy professionals about their demographics, skills, and work environments.

My thinking is multi-disciplinary and draws on the work of scholars and practitioners exploring user experience (UX) design, content strategy, technical communication, outreach and engagement, rhetoric, and actor-network theory (ANT). I tend to put ideas from these conversations in tension with situated investigations of specific individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions. I find that within the fine-grained details of everyday life lie the most interesting insights into why and how people communicate, persuade, make meaning, and try to get work done.

Specific Research Interests

• User experience (UX) design methods and practice
• Content strategy methods and practice
• Participatory Action Research (PAR) and other participatory research methods
• Community engagement
• Service-learning

Professional Organizations I’m Affiliated With

• Society for Technical Communication
• STC Carolina Chapter
• IEEE Professional Communication Society