Blog

Our team enthusiastically discusses the latest tech, UX trends, and health industry topics. We want to open those discussions to you! Check out our latest bold insights and join the conversation.

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Sr. UX Researcher
Conducting research with kids? Considerations for running studies with adolescent participants
Unlock valuable insights by creating engaging environments, maximizing participation, and uncovering the genuine perspectives of young users.
Kayla Sanoy
Sr. UX Researcher
Managing Partner
Want to increase employee retention? Design your company around your employees
We designed Bold Insight to deliver our employees’ best work. The result: a workplace that reflects the emotions, ideas, and experiences of all our employees.
Yvette Granger
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Why employee experience should get the same attention as user experience
Employees are a key user group at any organization. Applying UX research principles can help HR leaders optimize employee experience, drive engagement, and boost the bottom line.
Pamela Stoffregen-Gay
Managing Partner
Sr. UX Researcher
Not sure how to use AI tools in your UX research? Consider making it your sparring partner
Generative AI can help researchers refine and clarify research objectives, communicate effectively, and spark creativity and strategic thinking.
Lindsey DeWitt Prat, PhD
Sr. UX Researcher
Director
3 crucial aspects of submitting a successful human factors engineering package to the FDA
Regulations and guidance for human factors research and medtech have evolved, but the goals remain unchanged. The right research partner makes navigating FDA rules simple.
Jim Kershner
Director
Managing Partner
How collaboration builds value in medical device human factors research
Instead of a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to research, collaboration between manufacturers and human factors research teams can create trusted partnerships and a focus on designing valuable products.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
4 make-or-break considerations for health IoT ecosystems
To boost adoption of IoT devices, medical device manufacturers should consider four key questions to gain insights into user contexts and perceptions.
Yvette Granger
Managing Partner
UX Researcher
3 reasons to conduct ethnographic research during medical device development
Ethnographic research helps identify nuances to create a more robust understanding of users, identifying unexpected insights that may not show themselves until much later in the product development process.
Nohra Murad
UX Researcher
UX Researcher
10 tips to better support a11y participants during user research
With a few considerations and thoughtful planning, research that includes the a11y community can effectively collect data while ensuring a respectful participant experience to help design products that meet the needs of all users.
Maggie Considine
UX Researcher
UX Researcher
5 tips for remote UX research with the A11y community
By being thoughtful of the research process and unique needs of participants, researchers can champion inclusion of those with accessibility needs in research, resulting in better designed products.
Janelle Sherman, PhD
UX Researcher
UX Researcher
Accessibility and medical human factors research: 3 questions to ask your product teams
Consider partnering with disability-focused organizations to establish best practices for responsible product development.
Nohra Murad
UX Researcher
Sr. UX Researcher
Six unique benefits of rolling research
Consider rolling research for increased efficiency and continuity in your product development process.
Kayla Sanoy
Sr. UX Researcher
Sr. UX Researcher
How can UX researchers support gender diversity and more inclusive design for all intended users?
Update research and design practices to increase gender diversity; data from research that encompasses all genders is more reflective of real-world users.
Christina Ambrose
Sr. UX Researcher
Director
The secret communication weapon everybody forgets about in 2022
Don't overlook the telephone in your search for simple, effective methods to promote seamless communication in your dispersed workforce.
Michelle McKinney
Director
Quality Director
Understanding user research regulations: how much do you know about participant privacy?
Choose an experienced research partner to avoid privacy pitfalls that can derail successful data collection.
Andrew Zawisza
Quality Director
Director
Why and how your company should talk about pronouns
Encourage a welcoming and inclusive environment by including pronouns more naturally in your interactions.
Michelle McKinney
Director
Director
Ten questions workforce leaders should be ready to tackle with the Omicron-fueled COVID case climb
Clear and immediate communication with your workforce is the key to improving employee experience during and beyond the latest COVID surge.
Michelle McKinney
Director
Managing Partner
Why logistics are important: 4 considerations for planning global research
A successful global project starts with understanding and planning for logistical challenges.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Two tips for successfully preparing research materials for global studies
Prepare for a successful global study by allocating additional time to strategize localization and translation.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
How to prepare products for global research
Understanding and accounting for common challenges is the first step in collecting high quality data during global research.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Director
Support a company culture of self-advocacy with these four tips
Uncover insights to encourage a self-advocacy culture with authentic employee engagement.
Michelle McKinney
Director
Director
Improve medical device safety with these packaging design tips
Safe and effective medical device use starts with designing packaging that considers the unique needs of its users.
Michelle Jahn Holbrook, PhD
Director
Sr. UX Researcher
Moderating remote research sessions? 3 tips to help build rapport with participants
Gathering quality data during remote sessions begins with ensuring participants are equally as comfortable as they would be during an in-person session.
Kayla Sanoy
Sr. UX Researcher
Sr. UX Researcher
3 tips to successfully onboard in a remote environment
A focus on building connections and involvement with remote co-workers is key in both successful onboarding for new employees as well as employee retention.
Katie Leyden
Sr. UX Researcher
3 UX Trends Shaping Healthcare in 2021
As users continue to establish trust in emerging technologies, UX research can pave the way to a better experience with more inclusive design, better designed telehealth applications, and increased AR and VR integrations.
Gina Kong
Managing Partner
Reflecting on an unprecedented year with mixed emotions
With optimism, we reflect on a year of new challenges as we await the return of our 'old' normal.
Pamela Stoffregen-Gay
Managing Partner
Race & Research: Designing with equity
UX researchers can play a critical role in supporting and empowering marginalized communities through commitment to equity in design.
Bailey Herbstreit
Sr. UX Researcher
5 tips to mitigate use-related risk for pre-filled syringes and other injection devices
Attention to logistics, thoughtful product and research study design, and iterative user testing can help mitigate use-related risk with injection devices.
Katrina Orlov
Sr. UX Researcher
What we’ve learned from six months of in-person research during COVID
Participants are eager to engage, minimizing risk is key to conducting in-person research in unprecedented times.
Beth Lester
Physicians and specialists weigh in on telehealth improvements
HCP focus group revealed valuable design insights for telehealth and EMR systems.
Kelsey Pagorek
Overcoming remote research challenges: How to ask questions to get better data
For remote sessions, be prepared for technical difficulties, distractions, and a lack of communication when asking questions.
Isabel Deuerling
Sr. UX Researcher
It’s coming to your website! UX will factor into Google search rankings
Create a better website experience for your customers and improve your search visibility with insights gained through remote moderated testing.
Leiah Verdone
Sr. UX Researcher
Director
Working from home: Tips for designing your workspace from an ergonomics expert
Remember "right angles" to ensure your home workspace is designed for productivity and comfort
Michelle Jahn Holbrook, PhD
Director
The art of asking “why” in user research: 3 lessons from a toddler
Using "why" effectively is key to collecting data; using "why" creatively can ensure the quality of the data collected.
Beth Lester
Director
Rethinking experiences: UX and human factors research can help companies develop safe, contactless designs
Explore early opportunities to create and refine a truly functional contactless experience for your customers, addressing new expectations in a changing world.
Kristen Kauphusman
Director
Three considerations when conducting research with live interpretation
Some logistical changes to how real-time interpretation is managed and executed will result in better data collection.
Beth Lester
Partner
Remote UX research can reveal 5 key insights for auto manufacturers
When in-person testing is not feasible, stay on track by using remote interviews to collect data and refine the in-vehicle experience for your consumers.
Scott Siebert
Partner
Managing Partner
Webisode: Possible impact if in-person human factors research is not considered essential
Conducting research to inform development of safe and effective medical devices is essential and with modifications and precautions, in-person research can be conducted safely and effectively.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Partner
Now is the ideal time to improve the UX of your mobile app
As the demand for app-based services grows, now may be the time to invest in UX research to identify needed improvements and enhancements.
Conor Mackin
Partner
Managing Partner
Human factors research in the times of COVID
Human factors research in the support of medical and drug delivery device commercialization is essential and we should be planning on a return to in-person research as soon as is possible by applying all available and practical protective measures.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Three tips for conducting contextual research remotely
Confidently conduct contextual research remotely by understanding the participant's technical competency, your mobile options, and be in context even when you can't be there.
Beth Lester
Sr. UX Researcher
COVID-19: Using human factors and UX to make a positive impact
We have aggregated some considerations for HCPs, healthcare organizations, and others involved in the medical space.
Coleen Long
Sr. UX Researcher
Director
Is FMEA inadequate for human factors analyses?
A "traditional" risk assessment does not meet the needs of FDA-required human factors analyses.
Sam Alper, PhD
Director
Managing Partner
Pros and cons of remote moderated testing: Considerations for ongoing research during COVID-19
A few key adjustments can help capture research data effectively and ensure the health of participants and team members.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
What we do matters: A Bold mission
We are focused on doing what’s right for our clients, our employees, our company, and our world.
Pamela Stoffregen-Gay
Managing Partner
Partner
Be the student: 4 tips to be a better UX research moderator
Moderators should put themselves in the position of learning from the participant. Keeping a few tips in mind can facilitate this process and produce a more fruitful UX research session.
Ryan Carney
Partner
Care to share? UX considerations of the sharing economy for ridesharing, hospitality, and healthcare
The sharing economy, primarily based in digital platforms, is poised for companies to stand out by delivering exceptional user experiences.
Bold Insight
UX Researcher
UX research reveals common concerns from HCPs about telehealth technology
Our research has shown a trend in healthcare provider feedback regarding mHealth alerts and features. While generally positive about the concept, liability is top of mind with this user group and common questions were raised during testing.
Chris Goesel
UX Researcher
Director
So, your recruit fell apart… now what?
With the thousands of projects managed over the years, we feel like we’ve “seen it all”. While rare, in spite of the amount of preparation and planning, sometimes things don’t go as expected.
Allison Paul
Director
Managing Partner
7 insights from the 2019 HFES Health Care Symposium
HFES healthcare symposium provides insight on FDA and regulatory perspectives, use of technology in research, interesting research methods employed, and cross-industry collaboration.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Sam Alper, PhD
Director
Director
Research shows big payoff when design includes voice of the user
A recent McKinsey report outlines the ROI of UX research, offering a business case to invest in building designs centered around the user.
Sam Alper, PhD
Director
Managing Partner
A Bold year to remember!
Guided by 20 years of experience, we are dedicated to using what we've learned to benefit our clients, empower our employees, and give back to our community.
Gavin Lew
Managing Partner
UX and sustainability: What is our role as researchers?
As UX researchers and designers, we should consider the entire product lifecycle, including disposal. If possible, also thinking ahead to future product iterations and how product replacement will be handled.
Kate Hamel
Partner
Four things to keep in mind when conducting on-the-road UX research
To successfully execute on-the-road driver experience research, it’s important to account for factors unique to the driving environment, such as the route or geographic location.
Scott Siebert
Partner
Partner
When building next gen fintech, start with research in Africa
The user experience (UX) of emerging FinTech might be considered superior in Africa compared to the United States. In Africa, the utility of cryptocurrencies has been communicated and made known, effectively improving the UX of this emerging technology.
Ryan Carney
Partner
Partner
UX principles for robot design: Have we begun to baseline?
As the robotics industry continues to find its way into our lives, we can begin to identify UX design principles to apply to this tech to increase the acceptance of robots and improve the human-robot interaction experience.
Ryan Carney
Partner
Bold Insight
Managing Partner
The critical component missing from AI technology
The first step when developing AI is to understand the user need; but just as critical, is knowing the context in which the data is being collected.
Gavin Lew
Managing Partner
Partner
Three things to improve acceptance of AI
To truly deliver on the promise of AI, developers need to keep the end users in mind. By integrating three components of context, interaction, and trust, AI can be the runaway success that futurists predict it will be.
Ryan Carney
Partner
Managing Partner
Recruiting methods and study logistics for human factors and user research
A stronger recruiting strategy that includes relationships with patient support groups and clinical treatment centers can provide better access to difficult-to-reach patient populations. Being intentional about how you plan the logistics of your human factors and user research can mitigate risks to validity introduced by biases.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Partner
Singularity and the potential impact on UX design principles
If we are approaching a rapid technology shift as some experts predict, core UX design principles will have to be redefined to adapt to radically different interaction models.
Ryan Carney
Partner
Partner
Am I satisfied or stuck? The impact of ecosystems on household users
Manufacturers building an ecosystem of devices and services should design for both a separate, personalized experience and household or shared experience.
Heather Rakauskas
Partner
UX and Brand: Delivering on the promise of experience strategy
Bold Insight and The Office of Experience partner to deliver outstanding user experiences.
Bold Insight
Partner
When designing an experience, are you really thinking about the customer first?
While every organization has constraints to consider when designing experiences for customers or users, designing the ideal customer experience is completely possible within those constraints. Begin by identifying the experience you want your customer to have and work “backward” from there.
Anke Adenwala
Partner
Partner
UX project logistics: choosing the right vendors for project success
Selecting the correct vendors to support your UX project is critical to success. From facilities to recruiting, knowing the right questions to ask, budget constraints, and client needs and expectations will make the selection process smooth and painless.
Ryan Carney
Partner
Partner
Reclassifying diabetes: 3 implications for product design
Recent research suggests that reclassifying diabetes may allow for the development of more targeted diabetes treatments. This could present opportunities to design these treatments to maximize patient safety and experience.
Anke Adenwala
Partner
Partner
Designing your POS so it's not a POS
Regardless of whether the interface is intended to be used by a customer (novice) or an employee (expert), the key is to ensure that the POS interface is designed for the intended audience. To do this, organizations should engage users throughout the design process.
Heather Rakauskas
Partner
Managing Partner
FDA’s digital health precertification program emphasizes importance of post-market surveillance
Finding efficient ways to leverage post-market surveillance data to inform product development at an institutional level will be key for SaMD manufacturers seeking FDA precertification.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
5 takeaways for human factors practitioners from the HFES Health Care Symposium FDA workshops
Healthcare symposium provides clarity for interpretation of FDA guidance documents related to human factors engineering.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
In-vehicle UX research: Here's one recommendation that hasn't changed in 10 years
I found myself discussing what can be done to increase the extent to which voice recognition systems are seen as a benefit rather than an annoyance with the research sponsors, and I said the same things as I said 10 years ago… improve the system to support and recognize more natural speech patterns.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Just in time for the Super Bowl - A football metaphor for UX research and design
User research and user-centered design are inseparable. We are quarterbacks. We don’t like to run.
Gavin Lew
Managing Partner
Managing Partner
The time for a better UX in digital therapeutics is now
If history has shown that payer behavior tends to shift once a critical mass has been achieved, and we are on the precipice of achieving that critical mass for digital therapeutics, having a “user friendly solution” is about to replace “having a reimbursable solution” as the #1 factor affecting physician prescribing behavior.
Korey Johnson
Managing Partner