On-demand | UXR Meetup · Wed, January 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM (UTC)

Charting UX Success in a Changing Landscape: Practical Guidance for 2026

We’re starting to see a shift in UX from specialist roles toward more generalist roles. But what does this mean for UX researchers?

To help you make sense of what this shift means, Darren Hood and Trevor Calabro will join us to share more about why it's happening and provide practical guidance on how to successfully navigate it, and thrive in 2026!

Change can feel daunting, but with the right preparation and insights, it can also be the gateway for meaningful new opportunities!

*All registrants will receive a recording of the session


Our Speakers

Darren Hood

Darren has over 2 decades of experience in design operation, streamlining processes, and improving UX maturity levels for several organizations, including the Fortune 50.

He frequently mentors and engages in educational efforts, hosts The World of UX podcast on CX of M radio via Michigan State University, was identified as a UserInterviews Active UX Leader to Follow, and served as an author for "97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know" (O'Reilly).

Trevor Calabro

Trevor has led user research and built UXR systems for 15+ years, including a statistically valid method of quantifying qualitative research that is still in use today by companies like Siemens, Minitab, and Jungle Scout.

He also shares his UX Research knowledge in his weekly blog, "UX Research in the Wild", and by giving talks at institutions including Stanford, Penn State, and conferences like the Digital Summit and DrupalCon conferences.


What to expect

In this Meetup, we'll discuss what a "UX generalist" is, the pros and cons, and how the shift toward UX generalist roles impacts UX researchers.
Why the trend toward UX generalist roles is happening.
What is a UX generalist and what are the necessary skills associated with them?
Practical advice for researchers to be prepared and set up for success.
What are realistic and unrealistic expectations of a UX generalist?

Register to join

Get a front-row set to your next UXR ‘aha!’ moment.
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026, 4:00 PM (UTC)
Online, Zoom