Fast and Fearless Inclusive Research
Summary
We will be presenting a simple framework or “toolkit” that can be used to align on the “minimum viable participants” for inclusive research when under pressure. Intentional user research often gets classified into two categories. One aims to recruit users based on specific, constraint, or viability-driven criteria, e.g., who is most likely to be an early adopter, most likely to engage, or most likely to find value. This type of research is often seen as “fast,” “focused,” and “targeted,” but may overlook meaningful nuance. The other focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), examining historical frameworks, and patterns of exclusion or injustice, and is viewed as “ethical,” “inclusive,” and “deep” but can also be cumbersome for teams under time or resource pressure. However, fast and inclusive research are not mutually exclusive. Contrary to the popular belief that building DEI principles into user research slows us down or is just a “nice to have,” we propose instead, that it can accelerate insights by efficiently identifying the highest risk use cases and revealing beneficial design for all.
Key Insights
-
•
Inclusive research is not inherently fast and must be approached with ethical caution and reflection on bias.
-
•
Default assumptions in design often invisibly disadvantage marginalized groups, such as women or people of color.
-
•
Highly educated professionals still revert to defaults under pressure, highlighting the persistence of bias.
-
•
A frame is a cognitive structure that shapes what we see and how we interpret research, and underdeveloped frames lead to bias.
-
•
Structured self-reflection on positionality, marginalization, and intersectionality is crucial before conducting research.
-
•
Iterative framing and team reflection help identify which marginalized perspectives are missing and how to include them.
-
•
Including diverse stakeholders early, especially at problem framing, improves research relevance and ethical representation.
-
•
Designing for marginalized intersections often yields insights that improve experiences for the entire population.
-
•
Industry pressure for speed and minimal resources often conflicts with intentional, inclusive research practices.
-
•
Creating deliberate space for reflection, listening, and shifting power within teams fosters more inclusive outcomes.
Notable Quotes
"The title of the talk is a misnomer: this work isn't actually that fast and shouldn't be done without fear of consequences."
"The town of Carlsgo wasn't consciously disadvantaging women, they were just following a best practice that ignored different experiences."
"Women are 70% more likely to walk or use public transit, combining trips that are much harder with snow than driving a car."
"We design from our own lens and intentions but repeatedly create harmful consequences for marginalized groups."
"Highly trained professionals still default to a presumed 'standard' under pressure, revealing how bias persists."
"A frame is extremely hard to dislodge from our brains once triggered, so we have to build inclusive frames deliberately."
"You want to set a learning tone for your team and give space for emotional reactions and reflection."
"We need to reckon with how the lenses of the research team differ from those of the participants to avoid colonialist extraction."
"Findings from marginalized groups aren’t just relevant to them but often improve the experience for many more people."
"Frames are not static; they are tools for continuous discovery, reflection, and change."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Meisner taught actors to respond truthfully in the moment, prioritizing presence over preconceived ideas."
Daniel GloydDesigning From the Inside Out: How Method Acting Can Inspire Design Research
February 12, 2026
"We fight fiercely for clients, but we’re honest about government limits and project scope to build trust."
Deirdre Hirschtritt Cesar Paredes Marie PerrotResearch is Only as Good as the Relationships You Build
November 17, 2022
"I was not able to come up for them to be involved so I had to learn how to structure it in a way that we could share how this was important for the team."
Benjamin RealMaturity Models: A Core Tool for Creating a DesignOps Strategy
October 1, 2021
"Go beyond climate, look at the personal systems you understand or want to solve to find your career motivation."
Max Gadney Andrea Petrucci Joshua Stehr Hannah WickesAssessing UX jobs for impact in climate
August 14, 2024
"What is it like to be a new kid on an old block?"
Lada GorlenkoTheme 1: Intro
January 8, 2024
"Within five minutes and two seconds, they just dove right in and started collaborating."
Feyikemi AkinwolemiwaPlay to innovate: How curiosity and experimentation transform UX
March 11, 2026
"Cohorts are a super duper fun way to engage with more of our community."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
March 29, 2023
"Processing limits and licensing terms currently restrict how much video and audio these AI tools can handle."
Llewyn Paine[Demo] Deploying AI doppelgangers to de-identify user research recordings
June 5, 2024
"OKRs can sometimes suck the oxygen out of the room if they focus only on bottom-line results, missing process and experience."
Bria Alexander Benson Low Natalya Pemberton Stephanie GoldthorpeOKRs—Helpful or Harmful?
January 20, 2022
