-As a public benefit cooperative, Drill Bit Labs (DBL) is committed to delivering meaningful value to the user experience (UX) community, our clients, and stakeholders. This year, we’ve taken strides to fulfilling our mission of advancing the field of user experience and empowering the community of professionals who have pursued a career in user experience research (UXR), user experience design, or product strategy. We’re pleased to share our 2024 public benefit report below, which highlights some of DBL’s activities over the past year.

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Pro Bono Research and Advising: The UXR Career Path

From late 2023 through mid-2024, we undertook an in-depth pro bono research initiative to address pressing challenges in the UXR job market. Our work culminated in a data-driven UXR career ladder, published freely on our website, to:

• Empower individual contributors: By providing clarity on qualifications and expectations at various career levels, we’ve helped job-seekers better align their career aspirations with market realities.

• Support managers and teams: Our framework has assisted leaders in formalizing job seniority levels, improving resource planning, and establishing professional development goals for their researchers.

This work has reached thousands of UXR professionals, offering them free access to structured, actionable insights without the cost of expensive coaching or seminars. The widespread engagement with our findings demonstrates a clear need for this type of resource within the community.

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Supporting Education and Early-Career Professionals

In line with our mission to foster learning and growth in UX-related disciplines, we provided free educational sessions and career guidance to graduate students studying UX, Human Factors, and Human-Computer Interaction. Institutions served included North Carolina State University and Bentley University. Through lectures and Q&A sessions conducted primarily in September and October, we shared practical knowledge, offered career advice, and provided students with a clearer understanding of the opportunities in UX and related fields. These initiatives continue to inspire and prepare the next generation of UX professionals.

 

Supporting and Building the Community

We proudly sponsored UX Y’all, an annual conference organized by the Triangle UXPA. This vibrant event brought together a diverse group of UX professionals to share knowledge, connect, and collaborate.

• Mission alignment: UX Y’all fosters an inclusive community for UX practitioners of all backgrounds, promoting learning and professional growth.

• Conference highlights: Keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities provided attendees with valuable insights and practical tools to advance their work.

By supporting events like UX Y’all, we contribute to strengthening the UX community, ensuring that professionals at all levels have access to resources, expertise, and a welcoming network.

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Looking Ahead

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made this year in advancing the fields of UX research and design. Our commitment to providing pro bono services, fostering education, and supporting professional communities reflects our dedication to creating a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in this journey. We look forward to another year of collaboration, growth, and meaningful contributions.

-The Drill Bit Labs Team

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