Carie Cunningham's UX Research Drives Streaming Experiences

From insights to action, UX researchers like Carie help ensure every interaction on Roku just works—making streaming easier and more enjoyable for everyone. #WeAreRoku

Carie's work shows how UX research transforms complex streaming behavior into seamless, delightful experiences for millions. Proud to celebrate the women making this impact at Roku. #WeAreRoku

Sometimes a product experience makes you pause and wonder: Is this a bug, or just poor UX? While checking insights in Meta Business Suite, I switched from the default “Last 28 Days” view to “Custom Date Range.” The system auto-selected Feb 14 → Mar 13. But the calendar only shows March, and there’s no way to scroll or navigate back to February to change the start date. The UI looks like a normal interactive calendar, but it isn’t. Maybe it’s intentional. Maybe it’s a bug. Either way, the experience feels broken. Curious if anyone from the Meta product team has context on this design decision.

UX is a feeling, not just a wireframe. 🗽 With 5+ years in the design industry, I thought I knew the game. I viewed UX through a technical lens: building pixel-perfect screens, creating sitemaps, and drawing complex diagrams. In this industry, we’re often labeled "techies," but I’ve realized we deserve to be called so much more. The global exposure of a city like New York City truly opened my eyes. Spending the last 10 months in the startup trenches, I stopped hiding behind the screen. For the first time in five years, I picked up a pen and paper. I’m not ashamed to share that, because the goal of any designer should be to evolve. My priority shifted. It was no longer just about producing deliverables; it was about understanding the user's mindset and perspective before a single wireframe was ever made. Leaning into my Psychology degree, I began focusing on the human "why" behind the "what." I’ve realized that true UX isn’t about using AI to generate flows; it’s about: 1️⃣ Talking to real people to feel their frustrations. 2️⃣ Setting a tone that speaks to a user’s emotional state. 3️⃣ Designing for the struggle, not just the aesthetic & "innovation" Great products like Uber, YouTube, and Spotify weren't built on "innovation" alone. The designers behind them solved deep-seated human problems. They understood a specific human ache and designed a solution for it. What about AI? We hear it everywhere: "AI is replacing UX." But as someone with a background in Psychology, I disagree. AI can optimize a flow, but it cannot empathize with a struggle. It can generate a wireframe, but it cannot "feel" what the user feels. In this world, empathy is the only thing that cannot be automated. AI makes the process simpler, but humans make the product matter. I am forever thankful for this NYC journey. It’s how I realized I am not just a techie. I am a human, an empath, and a giver. I want to create an impact, and this is why I love doing what I do. - Ayushi | UX empath #UXDesign #EmpathyInDesign #PsychologyAndUX #NewYorkCity #ProductDesign #StartupLife

I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to speak at BigD again! I’m excited to share how designers can leverage the skills they have to rise above the noise and fears of AI.

❓ Did you know captions are used by 85% of Netflix users (196M+ people!)… even though they were made for the deaf? 🤯 As a product designer, this blew my mind: what starts as a special feature often becomes mainstream UX. Jutta Treviranus, Director and Professor of Inclusive Design Research Centre at OCAD University, said: ��� "when you design for the margins, you get the middle for free." 💡 Lessons for us to build better products: • Think inclusively → edge cases often reveal opportunities for everyone. • Observe real behavior → data can challenge assumptions. • Small features, big impact → accessibility drives engagement and satisfaction. I’ve started designing with captions in mind—even when audio seems obvious—because adding layers of understanding is a core part of thoughtful product design. 💬 I bet your favorite feature started as a niche idea 🤯. True or false? Drop your thoughts 👇 #UXDesign #ProductDesign #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DesignThinking #UXTips #DigitalExperience #Innovation

Check out the newest addition to UX is Fine’s growing streaming library. Inspired by a playthrough of WoW MIDNIGHT, this deep dive explores World of Warcraft’s masterclass in UX housing system design. It serves as a testament to the immense labor that goes into seamless UX. While rebuilding a system is fast when the result is in front of you, creating it from scratch takes tenfold the effort to create a fluid, intuitive experience and make building feel effortless. We break down a snap-build system in Unreal Engine using UMG, blueprints, and tag-based searches. Check the first comment for the breakdown! #UI #UX #gamedev #UnrealEngine #UE5 #UXIsFine #WorldOfWarcraft

The UX job market is tough right now. Even for people with decades of experience. That was one key takeaway from today's Detroit UX Meetup. We also talked about: - AI reshaping UX workflows (often faster than companies can keep up) - Hiring pipelines increasingly driven by automation - A shift toward needing portfolios and proof—even for seasoned professionals who’ve built careers on reputation One insight that stuck: 👉 “Human-made is going to become a differentiator.” — Meghan B. Here’s the part people don’t talk about enough: You’re far more likely to find your next opportunity through people than through applications. That’s why these meetups matter. In one hour, people: - Shared portfolios and invitations for feedback - Compared job search realities (including scams and long timelines) - Challenged each other on AI, privacy, and where UX is headed Most importantly—we learned from each other. If you want a deeper look at where AI in UX research is going, we discussed this Maze report, The Future of UX Research 2026. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gwjx35gj If you're navigating your next move—or just want to stay sharp—join us 💙 👉 RSVP for the next Detroit UX Meetup (May 6): https://lnkd.in/gAtbJsua #UXResearch #UXDesign #UserExperience #DesignCommunity #DetroitUX #Networking #CareerGrowth #AIinUX #UXJobs #DesignLeadership

Discover the unique user experience path that Rachel E. Blackburn, Ph.D., M.F.A., Senior Learning & Enablement Consultant at UserTesting, followed in this fourth episode of Season 4. #ux #uxresearch #userexperience #podcast https://lnkd.in/e46D9CTq Main points: 1. UX is every interaction, not just screens 2. There is no single path into UX - diverse backgrounds are valuable 3. Your past experience equals transferable skills 4. Research reduces uncertainty to learn just enough to move forward 5. Small UX changes can have real-world impact 6. Don’t assume and always test 7. Stop pigeonholing yourself, and you’re more than your job title 8. AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment 9. Great UX is rooted in empathy and understanding people 10. Thoughtfulness matters, and consider emotional and edge-case scenarios 11. Imposter syndrome is normal, and you’re likely more qualified than you think

I had fun catching up with Rachel E. Blackburn, Ph.D., M.F.A. on UX Pathways. One point that connected was that a lot of your existing skills are more transferable to UX than you think. #ux #uxresearch #userexperience #podcast https://lnkd.in/eQUXgDRR