How I got here (Linguistics to User Experience Research)

HowIgothere:UserExperienceResearch&Strategy

NancyFrishberg,Ph.D.Research+Strategy

forEnterprisingLinguistsOctober22,2016

Academic Background in Linguistics

• A.B. with honors (1970)Linguistics, UC Berkeley

Senior thesis: Zinzendorf, transmission of family folklore

• M.A., Ph.D. (1976)Linguistics, UC San Diego

Dissertation: Aspects of Historical Change in American Sign Language

FromChapter3,SignsofLanguageKlima &Bellugi,etal.1979.HarvardUniversityPress

October22,2016 Frishberg- EnterprisingLinguists 2

First, a soft landing out of academia

1970 1973 19781975 1980

Theworld


Timelineofemployers(post-academia)

1985 1992 2005 2007 2013 20151996 2000?


Timelinewithemployersandjobtitles

1985 1992 2005 2007 2013 20151996 2000?


HowdoyougetintoUserExperience?


DiagramfromUXPA.org

(Lean/Agile)ProductDevelopment

• Goals• Usability(removefriction)• Utility(usefulness)• Delight(desirable)

• Iterativecycles• Feedback

• Formative• Summative• Everythingin-between


Diagramoftheiterativedesignandcritiqueprocess.Warfel,ToddZaki.2009.Prototyping:APractitioner’sGuide.NewYork:RosenfeldMedia.

Currentassignment:CenterforCivicDesign“Assuringvoterintentthroughdesign”


Impact: Electionofficialsadoptourrecommendations;lawschange;millionsofvotersuseourwork

Activities: Usabilitystudies,Documentdesign,Workshops,Training,Consultation

Adviceforstudentsandothers

Whatyoutakewithyou• Yourabilitytoobservehumanbehaviorcarefully

• Yourabilitytofindpatternsincomplexormessydata

• Youranalyticknowledgeofoneormorelanguagesisapplicable,directlyorindirectly

• Yourappreciationforthedifferencebetweenspeechandwriting

Whatyoulearnintheworldofbusiness,non-profits,government• Youarepartofateam.

• Yourwritingandspeakingstyleadaptstobusinesssettings.

• Yourworkmayreachmillions,oftenwithoutdirectattribution.

• Youcanstillpublish,andmayreachwideraudiences.

• YoumayfindyourprofessionalhomeoutsideoftheLSA(aswellaswithinit).


(Therearenostupidquestions.)


NancyFrishberg,Ph.D.@[email protected]

How I got here (Linguistics to User Experience Research)

Career

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