Practical UX: Methods, Research, and Design Thinking

In this episode of Practical UX Methods: Research and Design Thinking, host Dr Chris Parker sits down with Douglas Ferguson — entrepreneur, human-centered technologist, and president of Voltage Control, an Austin-based agency known for its Design Sprints and innovation workshops.Douglas shares actionable insights from his book Beyond The Prototype, revealing six practical steps to move from idea discovery to product launch. We explore the most powerful life lessons in design, the mindset behind

Host: Dr Chris ParkerEmail: c.parker@lboro.ac.ukIn this episode of Practical UX, we go beyond buttons and screens to explore what’s next for user experience: trustworthy AI, physiological synchrony in social VR, foldable device ergonomics, designing for the moments after a crash, and a bold provocation to design for human connection, not screen time.Why explainable AI changes user behaviour by improving trust calibration (and why “AI literacy” talks aren’t enough).How people’s heart rate and skin

Practical UX kicks off with Steve Portigal, author of Interviewing Users (2nd ed.). We dig into why solid research sometimes says “don’t ship,” how the practice has matured (ops, leadership, insourcing), and why there’s no one “right way”—just better questions, synthesis, and confidence. Plus, Steve’s take on the future of research and a reminder to listen to ourselves. Follow and subscribe for more practitioner-level UX insights.Buy Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights (second

The UX Usability podcast returns after a prolonged hiatus. Dr Chris Parker talks about the show, its future, UX's role in the world around us, and life as an academic.