30-day challenge: How a UX researcher embraced creative thinking

The Spark of Inspiration Link to this headline

My team of talented designers is really good at thinking out of the box and quickly putting together simple but quirky visual ideas. This became a place of inspiration, watching how they are able to think so quickly on their feet and come up with something brilliant.

As a UX Researcher, this creative agility isn't typically required of us. We deal with scientific methods and engage the analytical sides of our brains all day. The most creative thing we'd typically do is probably putting together a deck to present our findings.

This realization sparked my next challenge: I wanted to be able to create multiple, creative solutions to problems. Thus began my 30-day creative exercise challenge.

UX research is often associated with rigor—frameworks, processes, and well-defined steps. While these are essential, I realized that I was occasionally hitting mental roadblocks. The structured nature of my work made it easy to fall into familiar patterns. To break free, I started incorporating creativity-driven activities to encourage lateral thinking and challenge my assumptions.

Most notable exercises Link to this headline

Here are a few exercises that had a profound impact on my thought process:

1. The 20 ideas challenge Link to this headline

I had to write down 20 ways to improve a common item (e.g., a coffee mug). This forced me to push beyond obvious ideas and allowed me to become comfortable with thinking of the most obscure solutions. By the time I reached ideas #15-20, I was generating truly innovative concepts that I would have never considered initially.

2. What if? Link to this headline

I posed "What if" questions related to UX. One question I explored was: "What if users could use all their other senses except sight, how would products be designed?" This exercise was incredibly useful as it forced me to think about the user and center the solution around them in entirely new ways. It helped me recognize sensory dimensions of experience that I typically overlooked.

3. Metaphor magic Link to this headline

I wrote 5 metaphors that describe my UX research process (e.g., "UX research is like baking a cake"). I found this particularly fun as it helped me explain my processes in an easy and engaging way. These metaphors have since become valuable communication tools when explaining my work to stakeholders and cross-functional teammates.

4. 3-minutes feedback blitz Link to this headline

I wrote down 3 UX problems in a product I use daily and suggested quick fixes. This exercise helped me become more aware of UX pain points in everyday interactions and developed my rapid problem-solving skills without overthinking. The time constraint was particularly effective in pushing me to trust my instincts.

Challenges and resistance Link to this headline

This journey wasn't without obstacles. Initially, I felt self-conscious about "playing" with creative exercises when I could be doing "real work." I also worried colleagues might perceive these activities as frivolous. However,I started to look forward to them as they became part of my daily routine. Some days, particularly when deadlines loomed, finding time for creative practice felt impossible. On these days, I learned that even five minutes of creative thinking can make a difference.

Major takeaways Link to this headline

1. Creativity is a muscle that needs to be trained Link to this headline

At first, I believed creativity was an innate skill, but this challenge proved otherwise. Creativity is like a muscle—the more you work on it, the stronger it gets. By day 30, ideas flowed more naturally, and I found myself thinking more divergently in all aspects of my work.

2. Breaking routines opens new perspectives Link to this headline

Engaging in creative exercises disrupted my typical thought processes, allowing me to approach problems from different angles and uncover new insights. Some of my best research questions emerged from these creative moments, not from traditional research planning.

3. Bridging creativity and research enhances problem-solving Link to this headline

Applying creativity to research helped me frame questions differently, explore unconventional methodologies, and develop richer insights. My discussion guides and research plans began to incorporate more thoughtful explorations that yielded unexpected participant responses.

4. Thinking like a designer strengthens UX research Link to this headline

By stepping into the mindset of my design colleagues, I gained a greater appreciation for their process and improved how I collaborate with them. The gap between research insights and design solutions narrowed considerably.

Incorporating creative practices into daily work life Link to this headline

After completing this 30-day challenge, I've developed strategies to ensure these creative practices become part of my everyday professional routine:

I now dedicate the first 15 minutes of my workday to a quick creative exercise. This "warm-up" primes my brain for more innovative thinking throughout the day. I keep a small notebook specifically for these exercises and review them periodically for inspiration.Before finalizing any research plan, I now include a 10-minute "What If" brainstorming session. I ask questions like "What if we approached this from the user's emotional rather than functional needs?" or "What if we inverted our assumptions about how this product is used?" This helps me create more comprehensive and insightful research plans.

I've compiled a digital and physical collection of creative prompts, exercises, and inspiration sources that I can quickly reference when I feel stuck. This "creativity emergency kit" has become invaluable during moments of research block.

Looking forward Link to this headline

This 30-day challenge has evolved into a permanent shift in how I approach UX research. Rather than seeing creativity and analytical thinking as opposing forces, I now view them as complementary skills that strengthen each other.

For other UX researchers considering a similar journey, I'd recommend starting small, being consistent, and documenting your progress. The changes might seem subtle at first, but over time, they transform not just how you work, but how you think.

The designer-researcher divide that initially inspired this challenge has now become a bridge. By embracing creative thinking, I've not only enhanced my research practice but also fostered deeper collaboration with my design colleagues. What began as envy has transformed into mutual respect and a more holistic approach to user experience.