Two years ago, I had a vision of a physical research handbook that helped me conduct impactful UX research. I searched for this book but never found it. So I thought “Why not write it?”

I “knew” how this book should work, feel and even weigh. I told myself that a tangible book sitting on your desk was the only thing worth doing.

To write the best physical book possible, I:

• Worked with 100s of talented researchers across many countries, backgrounds, industries, skillsets, and tenure
• Took pages of notes and drew hundreds of diagrams to make sense of the wisdom they shared
• Learned about theoretical ideas that I’ve never heard before

I unlocked more about the application and impact of UX research in the last two years than I ever thought possible.

But, along the way, I got lost.

To be candid, I didn’t set out to write a book for these researchers or the larger UX research community.

I started writing this book for selfish reasons:

• I wanted to become a better researcher
• I wanted to work at prestigious companies
• I wanted to get promoted to senior and research manager roles
• I wanted my research to be consumed, shared, discussed, and used to build better products

Ironically I lost sight of the most important person: you.

Through my conversations, I recognized how many UX researchers had similar challenges and dreams as me:

• Many found stakeholders unwilling or unable to conduct research
• Many were searching for resources to get better but such a thing didn’t exist
• Many found that they weren’t actually helping build products to improve the lives of those around them

They were searching for the thing I was trying to create. So I went back to start again.

And you know what?

I fell out of love with my vision for a selfish, physical book in favor of something impactful for you.

This amazing field is dynamic and changing every day. So how can a physical book keep up?

It can’t.

While nice to touch and hold, a physical book:

• Sits quietly, getting outdated with each passing year. Eventually, it'll be obsolete.
• Can’t keep up with you and the ways you work. Late at night? In the field? On your phone?
• Can get dirty, ripped, destroyed, or lost.
• Can’t be used over and over. Write in it once and your notes and scribbles will stay etched in it forever.

After two years and countless hours of writing and rewriting, the Apple & Banana team and I feel we’ve arrived at something more valuable than a physical book.

Something that’s accessible wherever you have Internet.

Something that meets you where you are, both in your work and your working style.

Something that grows every quarter just like you.

‍Something built to be challenged and improved so you learn about the best, most practical approaches to try.

Something written in simple, accessible language to help you easily absorb ideas and communicate the value of research to your stakeholders.

While I could describe what we’ve made, I believe you should see it for yourself. I welcome you to take an early sneak peek at our advanced digital library and toolkit.

While I know a physical book may come in the future, I strongly believe that what we’ve created — and will regularly expand — will offer you more value than yet another book that sits on your shelf.