Articles

Maria Rosala

Maria Rosala is the Director of Research at Nielsen Norman Group. She leads and oversees research at NN/g, trains teams around the world on UX topics, and works with clients to help them improve the user experience of their products and services.

 

@maria_rosala

Articles and Videos

  • Stop Solutioneering (UX Slogan # 18)

    UX designers and engineering teams are often too quick to propose solutions, without understanding the problem (or even if there is a problem at all). Ask questions first, before jumping to a solution.

  • It’s Time We Addressed Time-Zone Selectors

    Users often struggle to find their time zone from a time-zone selector. Where possible, locate users’ time zones for them, organize time zones alphabetically in a dropdown, and allow users to search by city and country.

  • Checklist for Moderating a User Test

    10 things you should do when running a usability study. Remembering all the steps leads to good research insights. (The second of 2 videos on usability study checklists.)

  • Checklist for Planning a User Test

    10 things you should do *before* you actually run a usability study. Good planning leads to good research insights. (The first of 2 videos on usability study checklists.)

  • UX Researchers, We Like to Watch (UX Slogan #16)

    Watching users' actual behavior helps us gain insights to improve the user experience.

  • The Gestalt Principles for User Interface Design

    The gestalt principles for visual perception make users see some graphical user interface design elements as parts of a whole, and others as being separate, and thus different.

  • Analyze Qualitative Data: Thematic Analysis

    Identifying the main themes from user studies (such as interviews, focus groups, diary studies, and field studies) is often done through thematic analysis.

  • The Funnel Technique in Qualitative User Research

    The funnel technique is used in user interviews and usability tests and ensures you get rich insights while not compromising validity.

  • Field Studies vs. Diary Studies

    Field studies and diary studies are two research methods that help you learn about your users' real-world context, which is important for good design. They have different advantages and downsides.

  • Checklist for Moderating a Usability Test

    Moderating a usability test? Follow these 10 simple steps to make your sessions go smoothly. Download an example facilitator guide at the bottom of this article.