Help I’m married to a UX researcher!

As UX researchers, there are a few things we end up doing in our everyday lives without even realising it. We might think we’re being subtle, but our partners certainly notice! So, we thought it would be fun to ask our partners - specifically, a few of our long-suffering husbands - what it’s actually like to live with a researcher. So here goes…

Free (and unrequested) design critiques

One of the most repeated and prominent “accusations” that our partners threw our way, was our inability to simply use a product without judging it (and generously) sharing our opinion. If we find something confusing or unclear, we will usually complain to our other halves and tell them exactly how we’d change it – whether they care or not!

Equally, if something works seamlessly and is super easy to do, we get disproportionately excited, sing its praises, and try to take a mental note of what made it so great. It’s almost second nature to us when using a product or service.

“Every time we walk up to a self-service kiosk of any type, I brace myself for the monologue that follows. The good, the bad, and the colour contrast… coupled with the occasional squeal of glee. Is there any other way to use a kiosk—even when you’re in a hurry? I wouldn’t know!” Mickela’s husband

“Professional” people watching

Now this may sound creepy, but we promise it isn’t! We can sometimes find ourselves people watching simply to see how people interact with different services or products. Our UX Director, Katherine, admits it can get a bit awkward:

“My work seeps into my home life in a way that makes me seem embarrassingly nosy. My husband once caught me peering over someone’s shoulder on the bus to see how they were navigating an app I was working on. Another time, I was so focused on observing people at airport check-in kiosks that I’m surprised security didn't apprehend me! Being a UX consultant is a full-time mindset, but being the partner of one is probably even worse!”

To us, seeing first-hand how people might respond to or react to different experiences is like witnessing free research! We can learn so much by just watching how others behave and this even goes for watching our families. We just can’t switch it off!

What about accessibility?!

“Whenever you have to climb a few too many stairs, and there’s no sign of a lift, the first thing you’ll say is how inaccessible it is! I swear you just don’t like climbing stairs!” Naomi’s husband

At System Concepts, we also specialise in accessible experiences, meaning that we also spot when things aren’t accessible. We notice when a card machine is mounted too high for a wheelchair user, or when a touch-screen interface lacks an audible option for blind customers. Sometimes it’s the smaller details, like poor colour contrast on a menu that makes it difficult for anyone to read, never mind those with vision impairments. Seeing these challenges in the real world motivates us to continue to advocate for inclusivity in all our projects.

The Verdict

While we realise, that our passion for great experiences can sometimes be a little annoying for our other halves, it has had an unexpected side effect. Our partners have turned into mini researchers themselves, pointing out poor UX or accessibility fails before we even see them... And to be honest, although our actions can be annoying, this outcome makes us feel rather proud! A big thank you to all the partners for putting up with us and all our UX quirks!

---

If you would like us to test any of your digital content with real target users, please feel free to get in touch by clicking on the 'Get in touch' button.