BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Web Directions//Design Research 2026//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Design Research 2026 X-WR-CALDESC:Design Research 2026 — 2026-08-26 to 2026-08-26\, Sydney\, Australia X-WR-TIMEZONE:Australia/Sydney BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Sydney BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:19700405T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=4;BYDAY=1SU END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:19701004T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=10;BYDAY=1SU END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:65a86d70-26bd-4624-aa6a-750f2dda99f7@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T093000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T100000 SUMMARY:What Can’t AI See? Ethnographic Research in a Post-Screen World DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Melissa Voderberg (Publicis Sapient)\n\nTrack: Design Research\n\nAs UX design becomes more automated and digital interactions move beyond screens and into experiences that are auditory\, kinaesthetic\ , and sensory\, what does the future of UX research look like? What is the right balance of researcher vs AI to conduct sense-making when cultural a nd tacit behaviour live outside LLMs?\n\nThis talk draws from the ethnogra phic fieldwork of Jane Goodall\, Margaret Mead\, and Sarah Pink to explore how AI can play a role in expediting components of research\, so that we get the rigour of ethnographic observation combined with AI-assisted tools to help researchers in the field.\n\nAttendees will leave with a practica l introduction to mixed methods research that combines AI-assisted synthes is with contextual\, on-the-ground observation\, and a clearer sense of wh en contextual research methods outperform digital ones.\n\nhttps://data.we bdirections.org/design-research/sessions.json#65a86d70-26bd-4624-aa6a-750f 2dda99f7 CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:65d4a49c-82f2-4ec9-b649-d75353fa94df@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T100500 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T103500 SUMMARY:Designing research for AI moderators: Lessons from running 100 inte rviews a week DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Rebecca Klee (Meridian Energy / Independent Consultan t)\n\nTrack: Design Research\n\nAI can now conduct interviews at a scale t hat would be impossible for most research teams. But what happens when you stop being the moderator and start designing the moderator instead?\n\nOv er the past year\, I’ve been running a continuous research program generat ing around 100 AI-moderated customer interviews every week. Along the way\ , I discovered that scaling research isn’t simply a matter of handing conv ersations over to AI. It requires new ways of thinking about prompts\, qua lity\, participant engagement\, analysis\, and the role of the researcher. \n\nIn this session\, I’ll share what actually happens when AI becomes par t of the research process: where it excels\, where it struggles\, and the challenges that emerge at scale. Drawing on real-world experience rather t han theory\, I’ll explore how researchers can design systems that produce meaningful conversations\, maintain research quality\, and create insight that teams can trust.\n\nIf you're wondering what AI-moderated research lo oks like beyond the demos and headlines\, this talk offers a practical loo k behind the curtain.\n\nhttps://data.webdirections.org/design-research/se ssions.json#65d4a49c-82f2-4ec9-b649-d75353fa94df CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:798a8980-94aa-4ff1-9753-89260bfa3c5d@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T104000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T111000 SUMMARY:Bridging the Gap Between Product\, GTM\, and the Bottom Line DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Anna Lee Anda (Zendesk)\n\nTrack: Design Research\n\n As UX Research matures\, the biggest threat to our impact isn't automation —it’s isolation. For too long\, research has been confined to the "Product Development" bubble\, while the most critical business levers - Sales\, M arketing\, and Customer Success—operate on a parallel track. This session moves beyond the tactical execution of studies to explore a strategic appr oach to connecting dots across the entire organization to drive measurable business impact.\n\nI’ll share how our research team stepped outside the product org to partner with Go-To-Market (GTM) teams. We’ll look at practi cal ways to align research outcomes with revenue KPIs\, such as deal veloc ity and renewal outcomes\, by translating user insights into the language of value propositions and market positioning. Attendees will walk away wit h a techniques to identify key non-product stakeholders and a toolkit for "closing the loop" between field conversations and product strategy. This is a guide for senior practitioners ready to transition from having impact in one sole area to having an company wide impact who builds the connecti ons and bridges that no algorithm can replicate.\n\nhttps://data.webdirect ions.org/design-research/sessions.json#798a8980-94aa-4ff1-9753-89260bfa3c5 d CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:34a182b8-49ab-402a-b126-169703e926f5@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T121500 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T124500 SUMMARY:In defence of a long pause: Designing better through lived experien ce DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Bhaven Chauhan (Transport for NSW)\, Chanel Lee\n\nTr ack: Design Research\n\nDesigning inclusive public transport requires more than testing in controlled environments. To inform the next generation of suburban trains in NSW\, our team conducted contextual research interview ing people with disability\, travelling on active train services. Research ers journeyed alongside participants\, many with multiple disabilities\, o bserving real trips from planning through to boarding\, travelling\, and a lighting. Each session lasted up to 4 hours\, allowing time for silence\, reflection\, and trust to build\, surfacing insights that shorter\, task-b ased research would not. This approach exposed barriers often missed in tr aditional research\, including the complexity of the platform-to-train int erface and the ways "priority" extends beyond seating to include space\, v isibility\, and confidence.\n \nDelivering research in a live operational environment required navigating risk\, aligning with operators and frontli ne staff\, and designing tailored support for participants. Over two weeks \, participants shared unfiltered experiences of frustration\, exclusion\, and resilience\, providing a level of depth not typically achieved in str uctured testing. In this session\, we will share how to design and deliver contextual research in complex environments\, work respectfully with part icipants with lived experience of disability\, and translate qualitative i nsight into practical design decisions.\n\nhttps://data.webdirections.org/ design-research/sessions.json#34a182b8-49ab-402a-b126-169703e926f5 CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:602622d2-abcf-4e57-ad85-9edb25b94016@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T125000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T132000 SUMMARY:Designing ResearchOps for uncertainty DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Weiyan Chee (Bupa)\n\nTrack: Design Research\n\nThe p ace of change in tech right now is wild. AI is reshaping how teams work\, entire functions are being redefined\, and layoffs and restructures have b ecome part of the cycle rather than exceptions. Ways of working are shifti ng just as quickly—what worked six months ago can feel outdated today. In this kind of environment\, how does one build systems while everything aro und you is still moving?\n\nThis session is about how to do ResearchOps wh en things aren’t stable. I’ll share how I think about designing governance \, tools\, and processes that can flex as things change. That includes thi ngs like tying governance to teams instead of individuals (because people move)\, documenting decisions so context doesn’t get lost\, and choosing t ools with the assumption that your requirements might look completely diff erent in six months. I’ll also talk about how to rethink research competen cies and operating models when org structures shift\, without losing resea rch quality along the way.\n\nhttps://data.webdirections.org/design-resear ch/sessions.json#602622d2-abcf-4e57-ad85-9edb25b94016 CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:db8ea2f7-fa98-4ac3-a749-82869e4a63c8@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T132500 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T135500 SUMMARY:The Researcher as a Diplomat DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Ania Mastalerz (Atlassian)\n\nTrack: Design Research\ n\nIn the world of UX research\, we often act as diplomats - navigating co mpeting interests\, translating perspectives\, and persuading without auth ority. This talk explores what diplomacy can teach us about stakeholder ma nagement: how to build trust across power dynamics\, negotiate research pr iorities\, and maintain influence when decisions aren’t ours to make. Draw ing from real diplomatic principles - like soft power\, coalition building \, and framing narratives - I’ll share how researchers can use these techn iques to move from “fighting for research” to shaping strategy through rel ationships.\n\nhttps://data.webdirections.org/design-research/sessions.jso n#db8ea2f7-fa98-4ac3-a749-82869e4a63c8 CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:a9949e89-dfc9-430d-9d46-62e5ea731828@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T150000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T153000 SUMMARY:Insight Is Not Enough: The Next Chapter of Design Research DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Dr Asma Qureshi (A2 Online)\n\nTrack: Design Research \n\nMy talk will focus on how design research is evolving from a tactical\ , project-based discipline into a strategic capability that shapes organis ational decision-making. I will explore how leading organisations globally are embedding design research earlier in strategy formation\, not only to test ideas but also to inform prioritisation\, investment decisions\, and risk management in increasingly complex digital and AI-enabled environmen ts. Drawing on real-world examples from enterprise\, government\, and regu lated industries\, the session will unpack why traditional research models are no longer sufficient and what is changing in how research operates at scale.\nThe presentation will also examine the specific implications of t his shift for the Australian context. I will share emerging global practic es\, such as continuous research systems\, AI-assisted synthesis\, and int egrated insight operating models\, and discuss how these can be pragmatica lly adopted within Australian organisations. The talk is designed to be bo th reflective and practical\, offering conference attendees a clear perspe ctive on where design research is heading over the next five years\, the s trategic role researchers can play\, and how organisations can elevate res earch from producing insights to influencing direction and outcomes.\n\nht tps://data.webdirections.org/design-research/sessions.json#a9949e89-dfc9-4 30d-9d46-62e5ea731828 CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:feeae31a-6bc4-4485-8162-6cdaa086d815@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T150500 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T153500 SUMMARY:Applying Anthropology in Design Research: Why Culture Is the Conver sion Strategy DESCRIPTION:Speakers: William Anthony Yanko\, PhD (Flight Centre Travel Gro up)\n\nTrack: Design Research\n\nWhy do people really behave the way they do? Not because the UX was frictionless\, but because the experience spoke to something about who they are\, who they want to be\, and what their ch oices mean within their world.\n\nThis talk applies anthropological thinki ng to design research\, unpacking the cultural narratives\, social perform ances\, and identity tensions that shape human decision-making. The argume nt: understanding culture isn't a nice-to-have. It's the strategy.\n\nhttp s://data.webdirections.org/design-research/sessions.json#feeae31a-6bc4-448 5-8162-6cdaa086d815 CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6fef7a2c-aaeb-4598-add4-57b54575e082@design-research DTSTAMP:20260716T200828Z DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T161000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Sydney:20260826T164000 SUMMARY:Nothing about us flying\, without us: establishing a baseline for d isabled travel through inclusive design research DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Dr Chandra Harrison (Access Advisors)\n\nTrack: Desig n Research\n\nAir travel remains one of the least understood and most stre ssful service environments for disabled people. While airlines often inves t in accessibility improvements\, they frequently do so without reliable b aseline data grounded in disabled people’s lived experience. This presenta tion shares findings and reflections from a mixed‑method design research p roject undertaken with Air New Zealand to establish a baseline understandi ng of disabled travel across the trans‑Tasman route.\nThe research was des igned and led using a disability rights and participatory research lens. I t combined an accessible online survey offered in multiple formats\, in‑de pth interviews\, ethnographic travel research with 12 disabled people flyi ng between Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia\, and a disability leadershi p workshop with advocates and sector leaders. Participants represented a r ange of physical\, sensory\, cognitive\, and psychosocial impairments\, as well as intersecting identities.\nThe study focused on the end‑to‑end tra vel journey\, including booking\, check‑in\, security\, boarding\, in‑flig ht experience\, arrival\, and recovery after travel. Rather than treating accessibility as a set of isolated problems\, the research examined how sy stems\, policies\, staff practices\, digital touchpoints\, and social atti tudes combine to either enable or restrict safe and dignified travel.\nThi s paper contributes three key outcomes to design research. First\, it demo nstrates how inclusive research methods can generate richer and more trust worthy data than standard customer research approaches. Second\, it provid es rare baseline evidence of common barriers and points of harm experience d by disabled travellers\, including emotional labour\, risk transfer\, an d loss of autonomy. Third\, it reflects on the role of disabled leadership in shifting research from extractive consultation to shared authority.\nB y situating disabled people as experts of their own experience\, this rese arch challenges deficit‑based models of accessibility and offers a replica ble approach for designers and organisations working in complex service sy stems. The findings are relevant to design researchers\, service designers \, and industry practitioners seeking to move beyond compliance towards me aningful inclusion.\n\nhttps://data.webdirections.org/design-research/sess ions.json#6fef7a2c-aaeb-4598-add4-57b54575e082 CATEGORIES:Design Research URL:https://webdirections.org/design-research/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR