These UX researchers wanted their own Meetup so they started one

Though Philly has a spread of meetups focused on design (like Design Brew or Philadelphia UI/UX Design), there was nothing that centered around the research that drives decisions in the design process.

That’s what powered a foursome of Think Company staffers to whip together a Meetup group called Research Rewind, focusing on “reflecting on our experiences as UX and user-centered design researchers so we can refine our craft.”

“Research is a huge part of the design process, and for many of us, it’s where we focus most of our efforts,” said Amanda Pike, organizer and experience designer at Think Company. “We wanted to create a venue for sharing and learning from the awesome research work coming out of Philly. Our hope is that this will become a community-driven group, with participation from folks across different organizations and industries.”

There was a gap, Pike said, in research-focused professional interest groups in Philly. A visit to Vancouver for an event called Radical Research Summit provided inspiration. “There was a strong community there, and I wanted to replicate that here in Philly,” the organizer said. “That really gave me the momentum to get this thing up and running.”

The group’s first session is happening Dec. 7, featuring Pike, Alli Hossack, principal of research and strategy at Think, and Keenan Bey of Live Nation Entertainment at Think Company’s 111 S. 15th St. offices.

https://www.meetup.com/Research-Rewind/events/244939787/