The global research and discovery conference by Maze

Opening remarks from Maze CEO and Co-founder, Jo Widawski, on what brings us together, a look back at the year, the key trends in research, and how that's informing what's new and forthcoming from the Maze platform.

Hear from Chief Product Officer, George O'Brien, and the Maze Product Leads on how the platform has evolved to help its customers get user insights at scale across the key phases of product development. The keynote will announce exciting new features and provide a vision for where the platform is headed.

This talk explores the role of AI in nascent design research, focusing on the key considerations for effective and responsible usage. We'll begin with a brief history of AI, tracing its evolution and major milestones. Next, we'll dive into current trends in AI & product-oriented research, examining its growing impact across the discipline. Ethical considerations, such as data privacy and algorithmic bias, will be discussed alongside the limitations of AI tools for business contexts. Finally, David will share a personal window into how he integrates AI into his own research approach, highlighting both its benefits and constraints.

Andy shares stories of using research throughout his two decades building products at big tech and hyper-growth companies, including Airtable, Dropbox, Google, Instagram, Microsoft, and Uber.

Navigating stakeholder relationships can feel like piloting through turbulence, especially when dealing with the trickiest personalities. In 'Be the calm pilot: Moving from ticket-taker to partner', you'll meet the five most challenging stakeholder archetypes that can derail your projects and learn practical strategies to handle each one. From the indecisive to the micromanager, this talk will equip you with tools to stay composed, build trust, and transform these tough interactions into collaborative partnerships. Master the art of stakeholder management and position yourself as a steady, reliable partner in every scenario.

Discover how to elevate your research practice and drive meaningful change in your organization with the GAME Framework, a method designed to increase research reach and value. Learn how to implement Genuine Engagement, Agile Education, Maturity in Research, and an Emphasis on Innovation to transform your approach. This session will provide you with practical tools and techniques for building trust with participants and stakeholders, adapting educational initiatives for democratized research, and promoting a culture of continuous innovation.

During intermission, it’s time to choose your own path of discovery—say hello to our partners, chat with the day’s speakers in our Speakers Corner, get product demos of the latest Maze features, or sit back and groove to our custom DJ set on the main stage!

While technical expertise can open the door to a UX Research role, it's the ability to compellingly advocate for your research that truly sets you apart as a practitioner. In this talk, we'll delve into psychology-based marketing techniques designed to inform and captivate busy stakeholders. We'll discuss how to select, structure and balance your content in order to transform your research findings into actionable insights, ultimately driving meaningful change within your organization.

Operations doesn’t have to be complex; when done right, it can empower your teams by providing the structure designers and researchers need to excel in their roles together, leading to higher quality work, more efficient projects, and a genuinely satisfied team. In this presentation, Ellis shares what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for investing in operations that can help your teams work smarter and ship better products, faster.

Navigating change is a critical skill for everyone on a product team. This presentation explores how to take charge of the changes you care about most, driving user-centered innovation, and making a lasting impact as researchers, designers, or product managers. Drawing from over a decade of experience, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to embrace your role as an agent of change. Whether you're part of a big company or small startup, you'll walk away with practical tools and frameworks to help you lead and innovate through change with confidence.

In their presentation, 'Silos to Synergy', Kate Fisher and Julia Cowing will discuss a framework to break down discovery roadblocks, foster collaboration, and streamline product decisions. Say goodbye to siloed efforts and lengthy processes, and hello to faster, validated insights that drive innovation. With practical steps for centralizing data and using triangulation to ensure credibility, you’ll turn scattered information into actionable results. Ready to turn data silos into discovery synergy?

A fireside conversation between Maze CEO and Co-founder, Jo Widawski, and Behzod Sirjani on the key learnings from Disco Conf 2024, how they reinforce or challenge broader changes in UX research, and their perspectives on the emerging topics and trends shaping discourse as we head into 2025.