The world has been changing super fast lately, but no worries, WebExpo is back as usual and again with another dose of great research talks. Whether you’re a researcher or PM, designer or a developer interested in user research, these are the sessions you should not miss.
I can still remember the amazing talk Nick Fine had 2 years ago and I am thrilled he agreed to come again to Prague. This time, he will be tackling one of the biggest killers of product success: hope. He argues that most teams fail because they build on a foundation of opinions and unreliable self-reports. Nick will introduce Scientific Design principles for the AI era: a playbook that prioritises observed behaviour over hope and assumptions. Nick is a UX psychologist with many years of experience and a great speaker full of energy. I will make sure I won’t miss that.
Then there’s Christiane Moser, who will focus on Product Experience Mapping. We all know the struggle of connecting what we build with how users actually feel. Christiane will introduce a framework designed to help cross-functional teams align on a clear vision so that outcomes are driven by user experience, not just a list of features. Her talk aims to be highly practical and actionable. Yay!
One of the themes I’m most excited about this year is about better product decisions. Julian Della Matia will be talking about how to build an engine that turns scattered signals, like support tickets and usage data, into shared conviction. His message is clear: evidence-based decision-making is not just a “researcher thing”; it’s everybody’s game. If you and your team struggle with prioritisation (and who doesn’t), you need to hear what Julian has to say.
I’m always a fan of talks that provide a concrete tool I can immediately take home, and I am so happy we have several of these this year. One of them is by Katherine Corneilson from Wise, who will introduce the “Hourglass Analysis.” A pragmatic way to balance top-down and bottom-up thinking in qualitative data. She will share a recent case study about the Swift network and tips on where AI fits into the analysis flow.
If you feel like UX research has become a bit too “predictable,” Benjamin Rancic is here to shake things up. His talk is a provocative take on why the usual advice might be wrong. Should we sometimes ignore our users? Launch prototypes before they are ready? If you want to challenge your own biases and explore a contrarian path to success, you should not miss this one.
And as every year, WebExpo is not just about talks. It’s about great parties, networking, and meeting old and new friends. See you there!