I’m Rosa, the UX Research Manager here at NetApp. I’m excited to kick off this blog series where we’ll dive into the world of User Experience (UX) Research. My goal is to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we strive to make your interactions with our products as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
What is UX Research?
UX Research is all about understanding our users’ needs, behaviors, and challenges. We use a variety of methods to learn what works, and what doesn't, when you use our products. These include surveys, interviews, usability tests, and more. These efforts help us create new features, fix pain points, and design overall better experiences for our users.
An example in action
We recently conducted a couple of studies to test how users navigate our products. In these studies, participants were given a series of scenarios and asked to complete certain tasks using only the navigation structure. We observed how people chose where to go to accomplish each activity.
Think of how you expect a grocery store to be laid out: produce near the entrance, dairy in the back. If a store breaks that pattern, it feels confusing. Similarly, if our product menus don’t match your expectations, it can slow you down. UX Research helps us align our design with your mental map.
As participants moved through the navigation study, we could see which tasks they completed quickly and efficiently—evidence that our designs were effective. However, we also noticed some tasks that proved more difficult. Returning to the grocery store analogy, some participants wandered the aisles repeatedly in search of the right answer. This told us we needed to revisit how we organize or label certain parts of our product, always with the aim of making things clearer and more intuitive.
Thanks to the valuable feedback from our customers who participated in these studies, we're rolling out navigation improvements soon and can provide more insights at that time. We truly appreciate the time you share with us, and we’re committed to making our products better for everyone through ongoing, user-centered improvements.
What to Expect from This Blog
In this blog series, we’ll cover a range of topics, including:
- Case studies showcasing how UX Research has led to specific improvements.
- Behind-the-scenes looks at our research methods and processes.
- Success stories from participants who have helped shape our products.
I’m excited to start sharing our insights and learnings from your feedback. Together, we will create experiences that evolve how our users interact with NetApp products.
Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.
Interested in participating? Comment below. We have plenty of studies lined up for our customers to participate in.
