The Heart of UX guides the researcher into deeper states of connection, with their participants, their peers, and most importantly, themselves. It affirms that, at its roots, UX is about connection - and that the most immediate means of connection are made relationally - person to person. Establishing and skillfully maintaining these connections leads directly to grounded, authentic insights that then translate into more meaningful and useful products.

It helps one to become a "Connected Researcher" - one who moves with passion and fluidity, mastering the art of insightful, meaningful research. It presents specific principles, techniques, and real-world examples from the field. It is based on our 20+ years of research experience, as well as our studies in mindfulness, somatic psychology, neuroscience, and physics.

From the Foreward:

“An important trait for designers, according to almost every article on design one reads today, is empathy. Empathy for the user. Empathy is a great thing. Here are two fundamental questions:

1 – Can empathy be taught, or is it just present (or not) congenitally, like red hair or left-handedness?
2 – If it can be taught, how might it be taught?

In Heart of UX Jessica and Jon-Eric Steinbomer offer a hearty ‘yes’ to question number one, and then spend about 200 clearly-written pages offering expert and tested techniques for how to cultivate one’s own empathy.”

Randolph G. Bias, Ph.D. - Professor, School of Information, University of Texas at Austin and Co-Editor of “Cost-Justifying Usability.”