Uncover Insights That Transform Design Decisions
Develop advanced research capabilities that help you understand users deeply and validate design decisions with confidence.
Return HomeResearch Skills That Elevate Your Design Practice
This advanced course develops your capabilities in systematic user research and testing methodologies. You'll learn to plan studies, conduct interviews, run usability tests, and synthesize findings into actionable insights that guide design decisions.
Through 10 weeks of intensive learning and field research, you'll gain confidence in gathering and interpreting user data ethically and effectively. By completion, you'll possess research skills that strengthen every aspect of your design work.
◆ Evidence-Based Confidence
Replace uncertainty with validated understanding. Your design decisions become grounded in actual user behavior and needs rather than assumptions, giving you confidence when presenting work to stakeholders.
◆ Advanced Research Methods
Master techniques beyond basic user research. Learn to design studies that uncover deeper insights, conduct interviews that reveal unspoken needs, and run usability tests that identify genuine friction points.
◆ Ethical Practice Foundation
Develop understanding of research ethics, informed consent, and participant respect. Learn to recognize and mitigate bias in your studies, ensuring your research serves users authentically.
◆ Insight Synthesis Skills
Transform raw research data into clear, actionable findings. Learn to identify patterns, communicate insights effectively, and translate research into design recommendations that teams can implement.
When Good Design Intentions Meet Limited Research Skills
Perhaps you understand the importance of user research but lack the specialized skills to conduct it effectively. You might conduct occasional interviews or tests, yet struggle to extract meaningful insights or feel uncertain whether your methods truly capture user needs.
Many designers recognize that research should inform their work but find themselves conducting it superficially—asking leading questions, testing with inadequate sample sizes, or drawing conclusions that confirm existing assumptions rather than challenging them with genuine user feedback.
The Research Skills Gap
Understanding that research matters differs significantly from possessing the skills to conduct it rigorously. Without proper training in research methodologies, you might inadvertently introduce bias, miss crucial insights, or waste time on studies that fail to answer your actual questions.
This limitation affects not only your design quality but also your credibility with stakeholders. When you cannot defend design decisions with solid research evidence, your recommendations carry less weight, making it harder to advocate for user-centered solutions.
Shallow Research Approaches
Conducting research without proper methodology often yields surface-level findings that fail to reveal deeper user needs or behaviors.
Unintentional Bias
Without awareness of research bias sources, you might inadvertently design studies that confirm existing beliefs rather than test them objectively.
Difficulty Synthesizing Data
Collecting user feedback represents only the beginning. Without synthesis skills, raw data remains overwhelming rather than illuminating.
Limited Stakeholder Influence
When you cannot present research findings convincingly, your ability to advocate for user needs in organizational decisions diminishes.
Rigorous Methods for Meaningful Insights
UX Research and Testing Methods provides comprehensive training in conducting professional-quality user research. You'll learn systematic approaches to planning studies, gathering data ethically, and synthesizing findings into insights that genuinely inform design decisions.
Course Structure
Research Planning and Design
Learn to formulate clear research questions, select appropriate methodologies, and design studies that answer what you actually need to know. Understand how to scope research projects realistically given time and resource constraints.
Advanced Interview Techniques
Develop sophisticated interviewing skills that go beyond basic questioning. Learn to probe deeply without leading, recognize when participants are self-censoring, and create safe environments where people share authentic experiences and needs.
Usability Testing Mastery
Master both moderated and unmoderated usability testing approaches. Learn to write effective test scenarios, facilitate sessions that reveal genuine friction points, and distinguish between minor preferences and significant usability issues.
Survey Design and Analysis
Understand when surveys provide value and when they introduce noise. Learn to write questions that avoid bias, design response scales appropriately, and analyze quantitative data to identify meaningful patterns rather than spurious correlations.
Data Synthesis and Pattern Recognition
Develop systematic approaches to analyzing qualitative and quantitative research data. Learn techniques for identifying patterns, distinguishing signal from noise, and translating raw observations into actionable design insights.
Ethics and Bias Mitigation
Study research ethics including informed consent, participant privacy, and power dynamics in research relationships. Learn to recognize various bias sources in research design and execution, developing practices that minimize their influence.
Research Communication
Learn to present research findings in ways that resonate with different audiences. Develop skills in creating compelling research reports, presentations, and artifacts that help stakeholders understand and act on user insights.
This course emphasizes real-world practice. You'll conduct actual research throughout the program—recruiting participants, running studies, analyzing data, and presenting findings. This hands-on approach builds confidence and capability that theoretical learning alone cannot provide.
What the Program Involves
This 10-week advanced program combines theoretical grounding with extensive field research practice. You'll work on multiple research projects, building a portfolio that demonstrates your capabilities to potential employers or clients.
Field Research Projects
Conduct actual research studies with real participants throughout the course. These projects progress from structured exercises with clear parameters to more open-ended studies where you make methodological decisions independently. Each project builds different research skills while producing work samples for your portfolio.
Method Instruction and Practice
Weekly sessions introduce research methods and techniques, followed by guided practice where you apply them immediately. Instructors provide feedback on your research approach, helping you refine techniques and develop professional-quality research skills through iteration.
Research Review Sessions
Regular sessions where you present research findings to instructors and peers. These reviews develop your ability to communicate insights effectively while receiving constructive feedback on research quality, synthesis approaches, and presentation methods.
Ethics and Critique Discussions
Dedicated time for discussing ethical considerations, bias recognition, and research quality evaluation. These conversations develop critical thinking about research practice and help you understand the responsibilities that come with studying human behavior and needs.
Schedule Details
Weekday Sessions
Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:00-9:30 PM, covering theory, method instruction, and analysis techniques.
Field Research Time
Weekend and flexible hours for conducting interviews, usability tests, and other research activities with participants.
// Prerequisite: UX design experience recommended · Participant recruitment supported
Understanding the Investment
UX Research and Testing Methods
10-week advanced program
What's Included
Professional Distinction
Advanced research skills distinguish you within the design field. Many designers understand research conceptually, but few possess the methodological rigor to conduct and communicate it effectively. These capabilities make you valuable in roles requiring evidence-based design decisions.
Long-Term Value
Research skills compound over your career. Every project where you apply these methods strengthens your understanding of users and your ability to advocate for their needs. This investment influences not just immediate work but your entire professional trajectory.
Payment Information
Course fee includes all materials, research resources, and participant recruitment support. Full payment is required before program start. We understand that advanced training represents a significant commitment and are open to discussing individual circumstances.
// Connect with us to discuss payment arrangements if needed
Measuring Your Progress
The curriculum reflects research methodologies used in professional UX practice across industries. You'll learn techniques employed by research teams at product companies, agencies, and research organizations, giving you capabilities that transfer directly to workplace scenarios.
Research Portfolio Development
Your progress manifests through completed research studies and case studies. Each demonstrates specific research capabilities—from planning through execution to insight communication—providing tangible evidence of your developing expertise.
Skill Development Arc
Most participants notice increased confidence in research conversations within the first month. By mid-program, conducting interviews and tests feels considerably more natural. Upon completion, you'll have both theoretical knowledge and practical experience conducting professional-quality research independently.
// Weeks 1-3: Method foundations · Weeks 4-7: Field practice · Weeks 8-10: Advanced synthesis
Ongoing Refinement
Ten weeks establishes solid research capabilities, though expertise deepens through continued practice. You'll complete the course with strong methodological foundations and confidence to conduct research independently, recognizing that each project you undertake further refines your skills.
Instructors actively practice user research in professional contexts, bringing current industry perspectives to course content. You learn methodologies and approaches that reflect contemporary research practice rather than outdated academic frameworks.
Supporting Your Development
Our Promise to You
We commit to providing rigorous research training, thoughtful feedback on your work, and support throughout your learning journey. Your engagement with the material combined with our guidance creates conditions for developing strong research capabilities.
Instructors with active research practices in professional contexts
Methodologies reflecting current professional research standards
Individual attention to your research approach and development
Support for participant recruitment and research logistics
Pre-Enrollment Discussion
Before enrolling, connect with us to discuss your background and research interests. We'll explore whether the course matches your current experience level and development goals. This conversation helps ensure mutual understanding of what the program offers.
Active Support
Throughout the program, instructors remain available to discuss research challenges and provide guidance beyond formal sessions. If you encounter difficulties with methodologies or analysis, we work with you to strengthen understanding and approach.
Continued Resources
After completion, you retain access to research templates, frameworks, and resources developed during the course. These materials support your continued research practice in professional contexts and serve as references for methodology questions.
Research Community
Join our alumni network of practicing UX researchers and designers. This community provides ongoing learning opportunities, methodological 108 Kamishiro, 4-chome, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, 465-0025s, and professional connections as you continue developing research expertise.
Beginning Your Research Journey
Starting involves reaching out to discuss whether this advanced course aligns with your current experience and goals. We'll explore your background in design, what you hope to achieve through research training, and answer questions about course expectations.
Initiate Contact
Complete the contact form or email info@iriswhisperdesign.com to start conversation about research training.
Experience Discussion
We'll talk about your current UX experience, research exposure, and what you want to develop through advanced training.
Consider Your Decision
Take time to assess whether the program timing, intensity, and focus match your circumstances. We're available for follow-up conversations.
Enroll and Prepare
When you're ready to proceed, we'll manage enrollment details and provide preparatory materials about research methodologies.
Upcoming Cohort
Our next UX Research and Testing Methods cohort begins late November 2025. Enrollment is limited to ensure each participant receives adequate attention during field research and to maintain quality of instruction and critique sessions.
// Maximum 10 participants · UX design experience prerequisite
Ready to Deepen Your Research Capabilities?
Connect with us to explore how advanced research training can strengthen your design practice. We're here to discuss the program and help you determine if it aligns with your professional development path.
Start a Conversation108 Kamishiro, 4-chome, Meito-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, 465-0025 · +81 3-5785-9146 · info@iriswhisperdesign.com
Explore Additional Courses
Depending on your background and skill development priorities, these programs might complement your research training.
UX Design Foundations
Build fundamental understanding of user experience design through research methodologies, persona development, and journey mapping. Develop systematic approaches to user-centered thinking.
UI Design and Prototyping
Transform research insights into visual interface designs. Learn prototyping tools, design systems, and interaction patterns while maintaining accessibility standards.