The User Research Task Force (UTC) held its 2026 onboarding session, bringing members together around a shared user-centred design approach for the .Stat Suite. The session introduced the UTF mandate, the common research-to-delivery process, and practical ways to gather, structure, and act on feedback from data users, data producers, and API users.
Members explored ongoing work on user satisfaction surveys, segmentation, user journeys, prototype testing, accessibility, usage analytics, and product dashboards. They were also encouraged to further develop activities related to user satisfaction surveys and segmentation, as these represent essential first steps toward building a structured user profile database. Establishing such a database is critical for embedding a strong user-centred design practice, as it enables continuous engagement with the end-user community and supports ongoing, evidence-based product improvement.
The complete user-centred design approach was presented with the new overview experience story of the .Stat Data Explorer. Several design proposals were shared, and members were invited to begin engaging with the feedback process by selecting their preferred method for providing input. This approach aims to ensure that members perspectives are effectively captured and integrated into the design refinement process.
The session also highlighted priority areas for 2026, including SEO and GEO, user behaviour tracking, workshops, usability testing, and the use of AI to support user research and insight synthesis.
The web accessibility plan was also shared, emphasizing the importance of making the .Stat Data Explorer accessible by default by the end of the year.
