Link to speaker page
Kasia Zaniewska
Kasia Zaniewska
Kasia
Zaniewska
Company:
Klarna
Kasia is a research lead at Klarna and an AI bootcamp lecturer for Tech to the Rescue.
LinkedIn profile of
Kasia Zaniewska
boutique event
Berlin UXR Lab
hosted by uxcon & Employed.world
Good research deserves better than “nice-to-have” status. Join us for a day of sharpening your skills, rethinking your process, and getting practical about what research can really do.
Nov 20th
2025
Engelnest
Berlin, Germany
60 spots
available
.png)
.png)
About the event
One full day of hands-on sessions, practical input, and honest exchange with people who care about doing good UX research. A chance to step out of your routine, sharpen your skills, and focus on what makes research valuable – in your team and in your everyday work. You’ll get:
Two workshops complemented by talks that offer fresh perspectives
Space to connect with others who care about good research
Fresh input that helps you approach challenges in a new way
When Vienna’s structure meets Berlin’s edge, something interesting happens. It’s thoughtful, a little bold, and full of character – just like the kind of research we believe in. Brought to you by uxcon vienna and Employed.world – because good things happen when curious minds from different cities team up.
Speakers
Experts who lead by doing – and share what actually works.
Link to speaker page
Vanessa Arango García
Vanessa Arango García
Vanessa
Arango García
Company:
Delivery Hero
Vanessa is a UXR director at Delivery Hero, local leader IxDF and leadership & UX mentor.
LinkedIn profile of
Vanessa Arango García
Link to speaker page
James Lang
James Lang
James
Lang
Company:
Together By Design
James is a founder at Together By Design and Hopeful Futures.
LinkedIn profile of
James Lang
Topics
What really moves UX research forward.
Scaling research
How do you grow research across teams and products – without losing focus, energy, or clarity? We’ll look at what scalable research really needs.
Getting research heard
You’ve got the insights – now what? We’ll talk about making research visible, valuable, and part of the actual decision-making process.
Unpacking AI Bias
Explore how AI narratives shape our thinking – and how to challenge bias, shift perspectives, and use speculative methods to ask better questions.
Working with humans
Tools are easy. People are hard. We’ll look at how to work across teams, manage different personalities, and build a research culture people actually want to be part of.
When & Where?
Engelnest, Berlin, Germany
November 20th, 2025
Engelnest used to be a pallet factory for over 30 years – now it’s a relaxed, welcoming space where people come together to share ideas, learn from each other, and get inspired. It’s got a creative, easygoing vibe – the kind of place that feels inspiring without trying too hard.
.jpg)
For who?
This day isn’t for people collecting name tags. It’s for people doing the work – and wanting to get better at it.
Experienced UX researchers who want to sharpen their practice or rethink their approach
Product folks who believe good decisions start with good questions
Team leads who care about building better research culture
Anyone tired of surface-level talks and looking for honest, useful input
If you care about doing research well – and learning from others who do too – you’ll fit right in.
What you'll learn
You’ll learn how to scale research across teams, make your insights heard where it matters, and use GenAI to bring ideas to life. Along the way, you’ll pick up practical methods, fresh perspectives, and concrete ways to strengthen your research practice:
How to scale UX research across teams and departments
How to make research visible and impactful
How to spot hidden bias and reshape AI conversations
How to build research-friendly culture
Whether you're leading research, mentoring others, or refining your own practice – you'll leave with hands-on methods, fresh perspectives, and a few “I’m stealing that” moments.
Schedule
The when, where, and what of your day.
Thursday
Nov 20th
9.00am
60min
Arrival & check-in
Make yourself at home.
10.00am
15min
Official start & welcome
by uxcon vienna & Employed.world
10.15am
30min
Opening keynote: Hopeful futures for UX Research
James Lang
UX research is going through a turbulent time. AI and 'research democratisation' are challenging the way we work. Layoffs, fear of layoffs and 'doing more with less' can add to the pressure. Researchers are questioning their role and their value.
And yet... hopeful futures are possible. In fact, the current moment of churn and change offers a window of opportunity for us to address some of the existing issues in our field: organisational power dynamics, dysfunctional relationships with other disciplines, lack of diversity, ethical qualms, and others.
In this session, we’ll share what the Hopeful Futures project has been learning through crowdsourcing and interviews with thought leaders, and invite you to take part in co-designing what UX research might look like in the coming years.
11.00am
120min
Leading UX Research across complex systems: Scaling, integrating, and creating impact
Vanessa Arango
In many organizations, research is often seen as a secondary function or an afterthought. In this session, I’ll walk through how to build and scale a research operation from scratch, transforming it into a strategic function that drives product innovation and business success.
We will explore the critical steps for defining a research strategy, building the right systems, and creating processes that allow research to scale effectively across teams, product verticals, and business units. This talk will focus on how to embed research into decision-making and ensure that it delivers value at every level of the organization, from product teams to senior leadership.
As a UX leader, I’ll share the key leadership principles that are necessary for creating a thriving, research-driven culture, including how to inspire and empower teams, overcome challenges, and align research initiatives with broader business goals.
By the end of the session, attendees will have a comprehensive framework for building a research function that scales, integrates seamlessly across teams, and delivers measurable business value. Whether you’re building a research team from the ground up or looking to scale an existing function, this talk will provide the tools and strategies needed to turn research into an integral part of your organization’s growth and success.
11.00pm
120min
Beyond the hype: How to navigate biases embedded in AI
Kasia Zaniewska
A lot of narratives on AI use either the language of dystopian future or hype.
In this workshop Kasia will share her work on mapping narratives beyond that as well as biases of AI. The participants will use the uncovered tensions to discover and shape their positionality. Leveraging the Speculative Futures framework they will create directions that challenge the industry directory.
Looking behind the hype we will develop narratives and mitigations that swap to AI trends for systemic foresight. The outcomes can be applied to creating alignment on strategic direction within the org or reframing conversation with clients.
1.00pm
60min
Lunch
The mind can’t work on an empty stomach.
2.00pm
120min
Leading UX Research across complex systems: Scaling, integrating, and creating impact
Vanessa Arango
In many organizations, research is often seen as a secondary function or an afterthought. In this session, I’ll walk through how to build and scale a research operation from scratch, transforming it into a strategic function that drives product innovation and business success.
We will explore the critical steps for defining a research strategy, building the right systems, and creating processes that allow research to scale effectively across teams, product verticals, and business units. This talk will focus on how to embed research into decision-making and ensure that it delivers value at every level of the organization, from product teams to senior leadership.
As a UX leader, I’ll share the key leadership principles that are necessary for creating a thriving, research-driven culture, including how to inspire and empower teams, overcome challenges, and align research initiatives with broader business goals.
By the end of the session, attendees will have a comprehensive framework for building a research function that scales, integrates seamlessly across teams, and delivers measurable business value. Whether you’re building a research team from the ground up or looking to scale an existing function, this talk will provide the tools and strategies needed to turn research into an integral part of your organization’s growth and success.
2.00pm
120min
Beyond the hype: How to navigate biases embedded in AI
Kasia Zaniewska
A lot of narratives on AI use either the language of dystopian future or hype.
In this workshop Kasia will share her work on mapping narratives beyond that as well as biases of AI. The participants will use the uncovered tensions to discover and shape their positionality. Leveraging the Speculative Futures framework they will create directions that challenge the industry directory.
Looking behind the hype we will develop narratives and mitigations that swap to AI trends for systemic foresight. The outcomes can be applied to creating alignment on strategic direction within the org or reframing conversation with clients.
4.00pm
30min
Coffee break
Somewhere between a Berlin pace and a Viennese coffee.
4.30pm
30min
Closing session
A final thought to take with you – and carry into your work.
5.00pm
120min
Mix & mingle
Slow down, grab a drink, and talk to someone you haven’t met yet.
Tickets
Your access to a full day of doing, thinking, and talking UXR.
Berlin UXR Lab
regular
when your organization is covering the cost or reimbursing you later
What's inside?
All sessions and both workshops
Working materials
Snacks, drinks & lunch
Post-event get-together
€ 450
+vat
Berlin UXR Lab
freelancer & group
when you won't be reimbursed
(e.g. self-employed, unemployed, student) or join as a group (2+)
(e.g. self-employed, unemployed, student) or join as a group (2+)
What's inside?
All sessions and both workshops
Working materials
Snacks, drinks & lunch
Post-event get-together
€ 350
+vat
What's next
See what other events we've got in store for you.
.png)
.png)
