Episode web page: https://bit.ly/43n2Y89

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Episode summary:

In this episode of Insights Unlocked, host Nathan Isaacs sits down with Sara Fortier—founder and CEO of Outwitly, Silicon Valley design veteran, and author of the upcoming book Design Research Mastery. Together, they explore the enduring relevance of human-centered design in an age increasingly dominated by AI tools.

Sara breaks down what human-centered design really means and why it remains essential, even as AI accelerates many aspects of product development.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why empathy and qualitative insights are irreplaceable, even with powerful AI tools at your fingertips

How to win over skeptical stakeholders by speaking their language and showing business value

What synthetic users can and can’t do in research workflows

Tips for early-career designers on staying relevant and strategic in a rapidly evolving UX landscape

How to balance AI efficiencies with the human touch in high-stakes product decisions

Sara also explains how AI can give researchers back the time to do more meaningful work—if used wisely—and the kinds of soft skills every designer should prioritize to thrive in the coming decade.

Resources & Links:

Sara on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarafortier/)

Outwitly website (https://outwitly.com/)

Outwitly Academy (https://outwitlyacademy.thinkific.com/courses/design-research-mastery)

Design Research Mastery Book - Preorders (https://a.co/d/apa6alB)

Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast