Here’s a talk I did about bridging the gap between user research and data science.
Pitched a research trip to senior leadership only to be denied in favor of “data-driven insights?” In the middle of a research share when a client questions the number of people in the qualitative study? Gulf between UX Research teams and data scientists at your organization seen too wide to overcome? 

At this talk, Ovetta will share practical strategies and activities you can use to transform an organization that's "drunk on data," into one that realizes the value of marrying data science work with qualitative research.

Leading efforts at IDEO to marry design research and data science practices, Ovetta will offer a step-by-step guide for research leaders to close the gap between these two practices in your organization for better design. 

Learn the major challenges to integrating data science work with UX Research and how to address them, including how to bring along key stakeholders, what knowledge gaps to bridge, and how to build your team’s skills so researchers can go beyond mixing methods to actually influencing how data science work is done. You’ll leave this talk with a plan to create positive change within your company. You’ll also find ways to garner support for UX Research as a pathway to address the ethical pitfalls that can befall data science work.

I presented my first case study as a design researcher at EPIC 2018. EPIC stands for Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Conference and as its website says “EPIC is the premier international gathering on ethnography in business.” It’s a must attend event for design researchers because the caliber of the content is so rich, diverse and thought-provoking.

At the request of an IDEO colleague I submitted a case study. You can read it here. The case study focused on my work with data scientists and how we used a mix methods approach to create a customized software product for one of our client’s.

This was my first time submitting a paper to a conference before and the experience was strangely exhilarating and daunting. It can be quite the reflection moment to document your work practice and then refashion it for a wider audience. I highly recommend every designer has this experience. It can be quite telling to document what people may think is magic or intuition only to reveal during this process your effort and hard work. :)

I also made the highlight reel with my presentation on the paper.

Ha. ha.

Started by Blavity.com three years ago AfroTech is one of those can’t miss events that you dream about in this industry. I’ve been blessed to be a speaker for the last two years and the VIP experience is on point! Hope they never cut me from the guest list.

It’s such a wonderful time to meet black designers, developers, creatives and technologists from all over the world. Also to meet those who are legitimately taking side hustles into the mainstream. If you are looking for a client, job, partner, founder, friend or mentor then you need to go to Afrotech.

The vibe is EVERYTHING!!! The parties are on point because them millennials know how to party. :)

Shout out to Oakland who will host the conference in 2019.

One of my favorite things to do is to speak to young designers. I’ve done Design Thinking workshops for first-graders and college students. I love speaking with young folk because I learn so much from them. They also learn that being a designer doesn’t require a straight career path. Lord knows I’ve meandered my way into design. :)

In this engaging conversation AI designer Ovetta Sampson and Data Scientist Ken Jee discuss the future of their disiciplines in an automated world. Check out this podcast now.
Also this podcast has a Listen score of 36 - in the top 3% of all two million podcasts in the world. Way to go Ken!