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Rory Madden

@rory.zeroblockers.com
85 followers 89 following 70 posts

Founder of UXDX and ZeroBlockers Framework. Figuring out how to help teams build better software faster.

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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 13/11/2025
I do this but then ask codex to critique the implementation that Claude does. Works really well
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 15/04/2025
But they are different opinions to the ones I like. You can't shore those "other" opinions. If you share the ones I like then it is ok.
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 25/02/2025
Great surprise seeing one of my articles in a newsletter I read every week. If you don't subscribe yet, you should.
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Reposted by Rory Madden
Martin Fowler @martinfowler.com · 20/02/2025
I've been hearing a lot about different programming workflows to make full use of LLMs, but I want in-depth accounts of how it works. This blog by Harper Reed is exactly what I've been looking for. harper.blog/2025/02/16/m...
harper.blog
My LLM codegen workflow atm
A detailed walkthrough of my current workflow for using LLms to build software, from brainstorming through planning and execution.
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 13/02/2025
The research equivalent of "if a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?". If your research doesn't get used did you do any research at all?
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 12/02/2025
I've found that after about two times to fix a bug, it will just make the program worse. But what works is too nice between llms. Chatgpt - Claude - deep seek etc
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 04/02/2025
I think "chat up" is one of those sayings that means different things in different countries. Makes the tweet a lot funnier though. Great to see you're working the neighborhood 🤣
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 05/01/2025
One thing my wife didn't factor in was exhaustion. 30 hours without sleep makes it tough to do anything. The epidural was amazing
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
It doesn't seem to be on Amazon at the moment but you can buy epubs on other platforms www.kobo.com/ie/en/ebook/...
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
Want to run better research interviews? Check out the full article here: blog.zeroblockers.com/p/how-to-run-…
blog.zeroblockers.com
How to Run a Productive Generative Research Interview
Running an interview is not difficult. But running a productive interview that uncovers genuine insights to inform your product is a different challenge. This article introduces a proven approach to help you maximise the value of your interviews, drawing on methods from the Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) framework.
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
Always try to interview in pairs! We all fall into bad habits. One person can rescue the conversation if it drifts into opinion territory. Plus you can play good cop/bad cop to dig deeper into confusing answers. 7/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
People can explain their reasons for actions, but sometimes things don't line up quite right. Want to know what people really value? Give alternatives: "Why not choose the cheaper option?" "Why not hire someone else?" People struggle to explain their choices until you give them contrasts. 6/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
Pro tip: When interviewing, energy matters more than words. When someone gets excited or bored about a topic, that tells you more than what they're actually saying. Dig in to find out why they are so excited, or why the have no interest. 5/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
Broad questions are great to get started, but don't trust these answers! You want to move quickly to evidence, or as Bopb says get into the details. "Show me your workflow" "Can I see your browser history" "What browser tabs do you have open right now?" Real behavior > opinions every time 4/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
Start the research interview with broad, struggle-based questions: Push: "What are you frustrated with?" Pull: "What are you hoping for?" Anxiety: "What worries you?" Habit: "What do you love about your current solution?" This will help you zone in on the most important areas. 3/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
First, the setup is crucial. You want the person to be relaxed so explain there are no "right" answers. Next since you will ask very detailed questions frame the interview like shooting a documentary. This gives you permission to ask detailed questions without making people uncomfortable. 2/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 31/12/2024
Want to start running #ux research interviews but don't know how? When it comes to understanding people's true motivations there is no better interviewer than Bob Moesta. He outlined his approach in the book Demand Side Selling. Here is a quick overview 1/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 29/12/2024
I went to a fortune teller and they said that 2025 was going to be a fantastic year. I will find love, I'll get richer beyond all my dreams and I'll get into better shape. I stood up and slapped them. They were really confused but I always want to strike a happy medium
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Reposted by Rory Madden
UXDX @uxdx.com · 19/12/2024
Messy workflows slowing you down? Priceline’s Aadi & Anthony reveal how #Server-DrivenUI transformed their process into a "#Product superhighway." Alignment, governance & cultural shifts made it possible. Watch Aadi & Anthony break it down: uxdx.com/session/server-driven-ui-a…
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
I use Figma to store these snapshots. I have a research folder and store all of the snapshots in chronological order. In terms of organising it for future decisions: I don't. I've tried complex research repositories but data decay is a real challenge. I think continuous, low effort research is best
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
A structured approach to documenting insights not only makes your write-ups clearer - you end up with better context for each step in their journey. Check out the full article for more info: blog.zeroblockers.com/p/how-to-docu…
blog.zeroblockers.com
How to Document Research Interviews
After doing a customer interview you need to synthesise your insights right away before your memory fades. And because time is always tight, we'll share a quick and simple format so you can get back to other work.
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
Wait - five categories of insights - what if we didn't ask questions covering all of these areas? Don't worry if you're missing insights for some categories. Leaving sections blank is WAY better than making assumptions. Bad assumptions = bad product decisions! 7/8
A sample interview snapshot showing 5 distinct areas: interviewee details, quote, experience map, insights and opportunities. The Insights section is further broken into five areas: Push Forces, Pull Forces, Habit Forces, Anxiety Forces and Trade Offs
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
We can also add a fifth insights category: Trade offs. What compromises are they making? What are they willing to give up to solve their problem? This reveals their true priorities. 6/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
Push forces: What they don't like about their current approach Pull forces: Capture what's attracting them to new solutions Habit forces: Note what keeps them using their current approach Anxiety forces: Record their fears about changing These help understand the motivations behind actions 5/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
When running interviews we should ask questions around the jobs-to-be-done emotional forces that drive decisions: push, pull, habit and anxiety. Structuring your insights using these forces gives clear categories to document against. 4/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
Opportunities are the unmet needs, pain points, and desires that emerge from the interview. The term "insights" though is more vague; defined as everything interesting that is not an opportunity. Without more guidance, I think we risk missing or misinterpreting important information. 3/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
Teresa Torres (@producttalk.bsky.social) has a great interview snapshot template with five parts: Interviewee details Memorable quote Experience (Journey) map Opportunities Insights Most of these are straightforward, but I think there's a problem with how we document insights... 2/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 17/12/2024
#Documentation needs more love! After doing customer #ux interviews, you need to document insights before your memory fades. But what's the best way to do it? Let's break down how to create better interview snapshots 1/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 11/12/2024
DIS = Digital Interaction Score RIS = Retail Interaction Score
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
I can't remember where I saw it but someone gave the example that by the time a report when through 3 levels of hierarchy the real meaning was lost. Execs have really poor visibility of what is really happening on the ground. because everyone wants to downplay issues
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
You should merge different question types to get the best insights. Use evidence-based questions to figure to "what", use emotion-based questions to figure out "why" and use trade-off questions to validate learnings. 8/8 blog.zeroblockers.com/p/5-different…
blog.zeroblockers.com
5 Different Research Interview Question Types
The questions that you ask in an interview can dramatically impact the insights that you glean from the interview. In this article we will go through five different question types and the quality of the responses that you will get from each one.
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
Question Type 5: Trade offs There is never a perfect solution for a problem. When people answer your emotion-based questions providing alternatives can uncover the real values driving their behaviour. “You mentioned you care about value, why didn’t you choose the cheaper generic option?” 7/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
[Emotion cont'd]. Pull: "Show me the last three fashion items you saved on social media. What drew you to each one?" Habit: "Walk me through your typical clothes shopping routine" Using the forces we can uncover the functional, social and emotional roles of each action. 6/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
Question Type 4: Emotion Push: "In your closet what are you ready to replace and why?" Anxiety: "Show me something you almost bought recently but didn't. Talk me through the decision process." The JTBD framework highlights four forces that influence decisions: Push, Pull, Habit and Anxiety 5/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
Question Type 3: Evidence "Can you show me your team's guidelines?" "Let's look at your browser history" (if you're really brave!) Now we're uncovering the real behaviours and how people act. This is a great step forward, but we still don't know the "why" behind the actions. 4/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
Question Type 2: Memory "What was the last piece of clothing that you purchased?" "How often do you shop online?" This is an improvement because we're moving from opinion to real behaviours. BUT our memory really isn't that reliable so we don't always get real answers. 3/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
Question Type 1: Opinions. "What features do you want?" "Why did you choose this product?". Don't do it! The data you gather is completely unreliable and can give you a false sense of confidence in what you're building. 2/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 10/12/2024
If we can't ask what people want in #ux #research interviews how are we supposed to find out what features to build in our products? Luckily there are other, better questions that we can ask. Let's go through 5 different question types that deliver better insights 1/8
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 09/12/2024
Great example of how amazing stuff can happen when people are flying below the radar - in this case building a #design system on borrowed time. It might seem risky but a lot of execs are really happy when people take initiative
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 05/12/2024
Loving the practical example on how to do real #ux user research that goes beyond the theory. Thanks @alistapart.bsky.social for sharing
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Reposted by Rory Madden
UXDX @uxdx.com · 02/12/2024
How do you ensure your usability tests always succeed? Nikki’s guide covers prep to post-test analysis, making your tests efficient & impactful. Fun, quick read here: dscout.com/people-nerds/never-fail-… #UXDesign #UsabilityTesting #ProductDesign #UXDX
dscout.com
Your Never-Fail Usability Testing Checklist
Make sure every usability test goes off without a hitch. We’ve built a robust checklist to ensure you’re prepared for everything prior, during, and after…
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
HI @pawelhuryn.bsky.social - would appreciate an add :) Going to be posting a lot of Product content over the next while. Also some great content from @uxdx.com
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
HI @spavel.bsky.social - would appreciate an add :) Going to be posting a lot of UX content over the next while. Also some great content from @uxdx.com
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
If you want to read more (including a fascinating study on how scientist proved our brains make up logical explanations for any situation) check out the full article here: blog.zeroblockers.com/p/why-can-t-w… [9/9]
blog.zeroblockers.com
Why Can't We Just Ask What People Want?
Product development would be so much easier if we could just ask customers what they want and then deliver that for them. In fact, a lot of companies do just this. The only problem is that what people ask for is rarely what they actually need.
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
We need to use research methods that focus on uncovering the emotional side of the actions that people take instead of the logical (e.g. feature comparison) side. [8/9]
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
Back to #product #research, if we can't ask what customers want (and we can't believe them when they tell us what they want) how do we decide what features to build? [7/9]
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
In a 2002 study, researchers found people with damage to their prefrontal cortex couldn’t make decisions - even small ones like choosing a lunch date - because they had lost the ability to feel emotions. Decisions, it turns out, are emotional [6/9]
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
Side note: All decisions are emotional. You might think you are the picture of rationality but logic alone is not enough to decide on the right option. Our emotions make our decisions. [5/9]
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
Reason #2: People are terrible at predicting their own behavior. When you #interview customers and ask them what they want, their logic brain answers. But the gap between what people say they do and how they actually behave is huge [4/9]
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Rory Madden @rory.zeroblockers.com · 03/12/2024
Reason #1: People care about their problems, not your product. Customers don’t spend as much time thinking about your #product as you do. They just want today’s pain point gone. They can suggest tweaks to make their workarounds easier but you're just fixing symptoms and not the cause [3/9]
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