Gamifying UX Research Findings: A Journey with UX Research Bingo
A Playful Approach to Communicating User Research Findings
One of the key aspects of UX Research is the effective dissemination of findings and insights. If we fail to engage our stakeholders when sharing what we found, the impact of our work decreases. So many great studies often fail at this step.
Traditional methods of sharing insights often fall into monotonous patterns, leading to disengaged audiences. Most stakeholders don't want to sit through a 60-minute PowerPoint presentation or read a 20-page report. As a result, UX Researchers have been getting increasingly creative to engage their audiences.
This article explores an innovative approach to sharing UX research findings: UX Research Bingo. Inspired by a post from prolific UX Researcher Nikki Anderson, this method transforms the traditional bingo game into an interactive and engaging way to present usability test results.
The Concept of UX Research Bingo
UX Research Bingo replaces traditional bingo numbers with elements from usability tests and user interviews, such as:
Notable user quotes
Pain points
User needs
Identified bugs
Participants watch clips from the research sessions and mark these elements on a bingo board, making the process both interactive and engaging.
Setting Up UX Research Bingo
Implementing UX Research Bingo required careful preparation. We decided to use this approach to share findings from our continuous discovery research. Below are the steps we took:
Assess suitability: First we determined the suitability of our user interviews for this format, ensuring the issues they presented were straightforward and not overly complex.
Identify elements: We then identified around 30-50 distinct elements from these tests to serve as bingo spaces.
Integrate with data synthesis: This process was incorporated into our data synthesis phase, using tools like Condens for tagging statements (e.g., UXR Bingo tag). This facilitated the next steps of the process.
Execution of the Game
As a fully remote distributed company, we set up the event using a combination of digital tools. For hybrid or in-person companies, you can simplify this by manually creating the Bingo boards and printing them out on the day.
After some googling, I came across a Figma file by Brendan Wu that allows you to create varied bingo boards — Bingo! Each finding was added to a Google Sheet and thanks to Brendan’s plug-in, the information was then fed into the Figma Bingo boards.
The next step was creating a number of randomised boards and adding them to Miro for remote participation. We created about twice as many Bingo boards as the participants we expected just to be safe. Above each board there was a space for the participant name and some red dots that could be used to mark items on the board (see example below).
Next, video clips from user interviews were downloaded from Condens and compiled into a long video using iMovie, with each clip corresponding to different bingo spaces. And with that all the prep was done! Only thing left was inviting our colleagues and running the event.
We ran two events to accommodate multiple timezones but the process was the same. We briefly welcomed the guests, shared the Miro board, and then explained the rules in case they weren’t familiar with Bingo — don’t assume everyone knows how to play, especially in a multicultural environment.
Game Rules:
Choose your Bingo Card: Each player receives a unique Bingo card. Instead of numbers, the squares on the card are filled with common user research findings and quotes. Choose one and add your name.
Watch the User Interviews Video: We will play a video from our user interviews. Pay close attention to what the users say!
Listen and Mark: If you hear a user mention something that matches an item or quote on your card, mark that square. Use the red dots to mark each item.
Aim for Bingo: The goal is to get five marked squares in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Call Out 'Bingo!': If you get a Bingo, unmute your microphone and call it out (or if you're shy write a comment)! We'll check your card to confirm. First 3 win prizes!
Enjoy and Learn: This is a fun way to engage with our user research findings. Enjoy the game and the insights it brings!
Once everyone was ready, it was time to play the compiled video. As the clips played, participants marked the corresponding findings off their boards, adding an element of anticipation and competition to the learning process! This was my favourite bit — participants paying close attention to the clips and being surprised or intrigued by what users had to say, while also trying to win the game.
The game ended once three participants completed a Bingo.
Feedback and Results
The response to UX Research Bingo was overwhelmingly positive. Participants from various departments, including those we seldom collaborate with, found the experience both enlightening and enjoyable. Even one of our co-founders attended the event!
"Such fun! Exemplary intersection of learning and play" - UXR Bingo participant
Another benefit was inspiring other teams to start conducting research to better understand their areas. For example, in the weeks following the UXR Bingo sessions we had colleagues from non Product teams approaching us to learn more about research and collaborate with us!
Reflections and Recommendations
From our experience, a few key recommendations emerge for those considering this approach:
Ensure clarity and relevance: The selected clips and bingo spaces should be clear and directly relevant to the audience's work.
Engage diverse departments: Involve participants from various departments to enhance cross-functional learning. Consider this a step to making your whole company more user-centric and exposing them to user feedback.
Manage time effectively: Consider the length of the session and the number of bingo spaces to maintain engagement. Consider testing with your team before the big event.
Seek feedback: Post-event surveys or feedback sessions are vital for refining the process.
Plan in advance: Last but not least, UXR Bingo is a fun exercise but getting it right is time consuming and requires a lot of effort and preparation. Give yourself and your team some time to prepare for it.
Conclusion
Gamifying UX research findings through UX Research Bingo proved to be an effective way to transform insight sharing into an engaging, educational experience. This approach increased stakeholder engagement and fostered a deeper understanding of user experiences across different departments.
While it may not be a regular method for communicating findings, adopting creative approaches like this can significantly enhance the impact of insights, contributing to more informed and user-centred decision-making in organisations.
Hey there! Just a quick note: This year, I've shared 45 articles with you all. I've been keeping up a nearly weekly schedule, and everything remains freely accessible — the plan is to keep it that way. If you find these insights useful, consider subscribing or even becoming a paid subscriber for the price of a coffee. No pressure though - I'm just glad you're here!
superbe!
Such a powerful solution to an age old problem.