Autodesk is driven to creating a better world for all, ensuring its tools, products and services empowers its customers to help drive business, industry and global solutions.
To support this mission, Autodesk conducts research to hear directly from customers, using real-world data and insights to help influence its technology development to deliver the solutions that matter.
We go behind the scenes and speak with Matteo Zallio, Senior User Experience Researcher, Autodesk Construction Solutions. He tells us how engaging with customers for research supports a passion and drive for inclusivity and accessibility.
How long have you worked at Autodesk?
I’ve been working at Autodesk for more than a year in BIM for Construction Center of Excellence, part of Autodesk Construction Solutions division as a senior UX researcher.
How did you find your way to where you are today? Share a little about your professional journey.
I have always been fascinated by the power of design to create a better and more inclusive world.
My journey as an architect has led me to recognize the importance of considering diverse needs and perspectives in design. I often observed a lack of attention to designing buildings while considering accessibility and neurodiversity principles.
One of the first instances that emphasized the importance of including stakeholders in the design process was when designing housing solutions for multigenerational communities in Italy. By actively involving community members from different cultural backgrounds, we gained insights into their specific needs and preferences. This led to the development of housing designs that considered physical, sensory, and cognitive capabilities, as well as cultural background, age, sex, and gender, among many other influencing factors.
While working for different architectural firms, I also found that often architects are not encouraged to design for accessibility and inclusion. To tackle this challenge, after studying the practices and routines of building industry professionals, I developed a toolkit (https://idea.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com/) at the University of Cambridge to assess the quality of inclusion and accessibility in the built environment. The aim of this tool is to empower building industry professionals to design more inclusively by accommodating the diverse needs of building occupants through a data-informed approach.
These challenges underscored the significance of recognizing and valuing diverse needs and perspectives in design. This realization fuelled my passion for embracing user experience research and applying it to effectively address these challenges, ultimately contributing to developing inclusive software and tools for architects, designers, engineers and creators.
As a researcher, I have delved deep into understanding the complexities of accessibility and its impact on people's lives. This exploration has fuelled my passion for seeking innovative approaches and practical solutions to address the diverse challenges faced by individuals with varying abilities.
What activities in your job have you enjoyed the most and found most interesting or challenging?
At Autodesk, I am excited to support my team members in identifying challenges and transforming them into opportunities through the power of qualitative and quantitative research.
User experience research has the ability to transcend barriers, promote inclusivity, and contribute to a more equitable and accessible world.
This focus on inclusivity presents both challenges and rewards, as it necessitates thoughtful consideration of various factors and the ability to find creative solutions that resonate with a broad audience.
Why is research so important to your role and how much value do you receive from customer feedback and insights?
Research offers the opportunity to discover user needs, motivations, and behaviours of our users. Through user research studies such as interviews, surveys, and usability tests, valuable insights can be collected to inform the design and development of our globally used products.
Another crucial value of research lies in uncovering pain points and challenges that users may encounter when interacting with our products. By identifying these pain points, actionable recommendations can be provided to enhance the user experience and address customer frustrations.
Identifying opportunities is yet another significant value of research, contributing to innovation and product development. By staying connected with users and understanding their evolving needs, researchers can pinpoint gaps in the market and propose ideas for new features or services that align with customer expectations.
Customer feedback and insights hold immense value in my role. They offer real-world perspectives and first-hand experiences that go beyond assumptions or internal viewpoints. Actively seeking and analyzing customer feedback allows for a deeper understanding of their pain points, preferences, and expectations. This information empowers me to advocate for user-centered design decisions and provide informed recommendations for improving the user experience.
Your insights and feedback make a difference. Join the Autodesk Research Community and help our Autodesk research, design and product teams develop the cutting edge technology to help create impactful solutions.
Learn more and sign up here: Autodesk Research Community
You must be a registered user to add a comment. If you've already registered, sign in. Otherwise, register and sign in.