As recruiters of participants for user testing, we attended a number of conferences across the year, to keep in touch with developments and trends in the industry. In 2015, Talk UX set out to create an open space to meet, learn and collaborate, and that is just what it felt like.

Each talk was either 20 minutes or less, and by lunch we couldn’t believe how many speakers we heard from. The shorter format worked well, and it seemed that the speakers were all very economical with their time, and focusing on the key things they wanted to share. No question and answer sessions meant that the breaks during the day were useful opportunities to say hello to the speakers, share ideas, and give feedback.

🎤 Rebecca Topps & Elizabeth Chesters

We had the chance to speak with Rebecca Topps (follow @beckytopps) who spoke in the afternoon about accessibility, alongside Elizabeth Chesters (follow @EChesters). The team at People for Research has experience of recruiting users with specific accessibility needs, as well as working to ensure diversity within our recruitment.

So we understand the challenges involved in this type of work. It was really useful to hear about the challenges faced by a UX team working for an agency.

🎤 Alberta Soranzo

Alberta Soranzo (follow @albertatrebla) was also a pleasure to meet. For her talk, Alberta spoke about our digital legacy, and what happens to this when we die.

The most interesting aspect of her talk, for me, was the process of how best to build this into the design process. We very rarely have clients ask us to recruit participants to test an ‘off-boarding’ process. It is something that needs to be designed and (presumably) tested.

🎤 Lauren Currie

The final speaker of the day was well worth the wait. Lauren Currie (follow @redjotter) was inspirational: she spoke about a selection of achievements in her quest to “reformulate the role design can play in the world”.

Her experiences have not just been around the typical UX of websites and apps, but in improving social interactions. Lauren is also leading a new MA course at Hyper Island. Although I didn’t have the opportunity of meeting her on the day, I hope to have that pleasure in the very near future.

People for Research are excited to see what Talk UX’s plans are, and thoroughly enjoyed sponsoring and attending the first ever Talk UX conference in Manchester.

If you would like to find out more about our in-house participant recruitment service for user testing or market research get in touch on 0117 921 0008 or info@peopleforresearch.co.uk.

At People for Research, we recruit participants for UX and usability testing and market research. We work with award winning UX agencies across the UK and partner up with a number of end clients who are leading the way with in-house user experience and insight.