UX Research in Action: Collaboration & Impact in Design

SoCal UX Designers is proud to host our very first live panel discussion with five outstanding UX researchers from across the field—startups, global orgs, freelance, and solo roles.

Whether you're a designer, developer, researcher, product manager, or just research-curious, this evening will give you real insight into how UX research fits into product development, collaboration, strategy, and storytelling.

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## 🎙️ What to Expect

• A panel discussion featuring five UX researchers with diverse backgrounds
• Real-world insights on collaboration, communication, research impact & more
• Audience Q&A — submit your questions with your Meetup RSVP, live at the event, or via Google Form QR code
• A short group survey, which gives you a chance to win a very special surprise
• Time to mingle and connect with the local UX community!

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## 🧠 About the Panelists

Adam Valerio (he/him)
Technical UX Researcher at Deloitte
Adam is a PhD-trained researcher with over 15 years of experience. He’s served as a Senior and Lead UXR at startups and now leads a government UXR program, transforming how engineering teams work.

Melissa Murphy (she/her)
UX Researcher at Capsule
Melissa is a solo UX researcher with a rich background in psychology, academia, music studies, and web development. She's co-founder and co-host of SoCal UX Designers and is currently leading research on a team creating innovative apps in the ticketing and events space.

Mimi Nguyen (they/them)
Freelance UX Researcher
Mimi is a mixed-methods researcher with a social science lens—grounded in sociology, psychology, and demographic analytics. They’ve led strategy and research across grassroots nonprofits, third-party consultancies, and in-house teams. They love unearthing global insights, talking to people, applying advanced stats, and aligning diverse stakeholders.

Yinyin Wen (she/her)
UX Researcher at McGraw Hill
Yinyin is a mission-driven researcher who is passionate about partnering with teams to create thoughtful, usable solutions. She has previously worked in a variety of organizational contexts, including a seed-stage tech startup, a non-profit, and a global education company.

Nicolas Doyle (he/him)
Spanish-Dominant UX Researcher at Collective Health
Nick is a UX researcher with a PhD in Applied Linguistics and 10+ years of experience across government, civic tech, and education. Specializing in multilingual user experiences, he has led research strategy for a bilingual benefits portal at USA.gov and currently leads Spanish UX research in healthcare. He thrives on collaboration and enjoys creatively navigating constraints to deliver impactful research.

Moderated by: Benji Tobi (he/him)
Content Designer at OKX
Benji has always been enamored with the power of storytelling. With a background in writing and digital marketing, he’s spent the last 3 years in UX as a content designer at tech startups and now OKX. He’s passionate about building community and connecting people through clear, meaningful communication.

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## 🗓️ Event Schedule (subject to change)

6:00 – 7:00 PM: Check-in & Mingling
7:00 – 8:00 PM: Panel Discussion
8:00 – 8:10 PM: Short Break
8:10 – 8:40 PM: Audience Q&A
8:40 – 8:50 PM: Group Survey + Giveaway Entry
8:50 – 8:55 PM: Giveaway Live Raffle
8:55 – 9:05 PM: Final Remarks
9:05 – 9:50 PM: Informal Networking
10:00 PM: Room Closes (must vacate by 10:00 sharp)

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## 📝 What to Bring

• Questions or curiosity about UX research
• A phone to scan QR codes
• Something to take notes (optional)
• Openness to connect with other attendees!

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### 📍 Location & Logistics

Irvine Ranch Water District Community Meeting Room
15500 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine, CA 92618

• Free parking and kitchenette available on-site
• You may bring your own refreshments/snacks (please help us keep the venue clean!)
• No recording of the full panel, but by attending, you understand and agree that photos and short videos may be taken during the event and used for promotional materials.

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Irvine Ranch Water District makes its facilities available for use by residents and nonprofit organizations merely as a public service, but does not, by allowing this use, endorse or support the purpose of the event or its sponsor.