Panning for Feedback Gold: A Strategy Bonanza

Marie Silverstrim, User Experience (UX) DesignerWhether you are observing actions or directly asking, your customers and clients are telling you something. Understanding not only what that is but the why behind it... well, that's what gets you to the good stuff.And, while it's always a good time to make sure your business goals are aligned with customer needs, Q1 of 2025 continues to remind us that the behaviors we use to understand these needs might not mean what we think they do, or what they once did. Just as possible, new and wonderful opportunities might emerge from this disruption. As we consider ways to understand existing customers and reach new ones during periods of uncertainty, our guide is Marie Silverstrim, a UX designer who is a master at breaking down concepts and delivering practical advice that is immediately actionable. Together with Joan Kanner's love of all things survey and Michelle Bond's contextualization of business in the current moment, we wrap up Proofing Stage's third season with an honest-to-goodness bonanza of tools and anecdotes to help you meet your moment.E.g.:Good design often goes unnoticed, making it feel invisibleFeedback from users is essential for improving products and servicesSurveys and direct conversations can yield valuable insightsStakeholder opinions can differ from user needs; balance is keyIterative design allows for continuous improvement and adaptationThe real 'why' behind user feedback is essential for growthLinksClassic UX 101 books:Don't Make Me Think by Steve KrugThe Design of Everyday Things by Don NormanOther books:Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover TawwabBurnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia NagoskiGlossary:Institutional Review Board (IRB)Likert scalePersonally identifiable information (PII)PollThe following UX terms may be found here:AffordancesMinimum viable product (MVP)QualitativeQuantitativeFocus groupsSurveyagile UXA/B testingCredits:Theme Music by Thorn HazeAdditional music by Come On Boy by MondayHopesPodcast Cover Art by Lisa OryeProduced by Joan Kanner and Michelle BondFind more at proofingstage.comFollow us on Instagram and Threads @proofingstageJoin Proofing Stage+ to support us supporting you, AND access new bonus content in-between episodes!See Buzzsprout's Privacy Policy for listener privacy and read our disclaimer here.