• How to Measure the Impact of UX Design
    Feb 21 2025

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In this episode, hosts Craig Nishizaki and Michael Woo dive into the essential topic of measuring the impact of UX design. UX is often seen as difficult to quantify, but tying UX metrics to business outcomes is crucial for securing investment, optimizing user experiences, and driving measurable success.


    🔍 What You’ll Learn:

    • Why UX is a critical business investment, not just a visual enhancement
    • How to conduct benchmark studies to measure UX improvements
    • The key UX metrics that connect to business KPIs like revenue and retention
    • How to balance quantitative and qualitative research for deeper insights
    • Real-world examples of UX optimizations that led to major business gains


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    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/


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    Episode Particulars

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    Craig Nishizaki | Head of Business, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignishizaki/

    Michael Woo | Head of Design, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wooman206/


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    Connect with UpTop

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    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/

    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Twitter [X}: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp

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    40 mins
  • From Insights to Impact: Acting on Customer Journey Maps
    Jan 10 2025

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In this episode, hosts Craig Nishizaki and Michael Woo dive deep into the journey mapping process and explore how businesses can identify opportunities for innovation, drive impactful solutions, and align user needs with business goals. Learn how to move beyond the basics of journey mapping to frame opportunities effectively, generate creative solutions, and validate them for maximum impact.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn:

    • Leveraging "How-Might-We" Statements for Problem Framing
    • Common Mistakes in Identifying Opportunities
    • Techniques for Generating and Prioritizing Solutions
    • Validating Ideas Through Usability Testing
    • Communicating UX Impact to Key Stakeholders

    --

    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

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    Episode Particulars

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    Craig Nishizaki | Head of Business, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignishizaki/

    Michael Woo | Head of Design, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wooman206/

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    Connect with UpTop

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    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/

    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Twitter [X}: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp

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    31 mins
  • Uncovering Pain Points: How Qualitative Research Improves Customer Experience
    Dec 12 2024

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In this episode, Michael Woo chats with Cristie Schrader, a seasoned UX researcher and product designer at UpTop, about the transformative role of qualitative research in creating exceptional customer experiences.

    From identifying emotional pain points to bridging the gap between customer needs and business goals, Cristie shares real-world examples and best practices from her extensive experience, including consulting for the world’s largest e-commerce company.


    🔍 What You’ll Learn:

    • Why qualitative research is essential for uncovering customer pain points
    • How qualitative and quantitative research complement each other
    • Best practices for conducting impactful qualitative studies
    • Real examples of using insights to influence product roadmaps
    • The power of empathy in UX design

    --

    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Tags: UX design, UX strategy, user experience, business strategy, qualitative research, quantitative research

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    Episode Particulars

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    Michael Woo | Head of Design, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wooman206/

    Cristie Shrader | Product Designer, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristieschrader/


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    Connect with UpTop

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    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/

    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Twitter [X}: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp


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    PODCAST Links

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    26 mins
  • From Misalignment to Momentum: A Leader’s Guide to Breaking Down Silos and Driving Collaboration
    Nov 22 2024

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In our latest episode, Craig Nishizaki chats with Deborah Roberts, Senior UX designer at UpTop, about the challenges and solutions for bridging silos in companies. Deborah shares her experiences working with major brands like Amazon and B2B companies like F5 and Everbridge, discussing the impact of organizational structure, communication, and cultural dynamics on team alignment. Together, they explore actionable steps to foster collaboration, including structured workshops, user journey mapping, and regular check-ins that build trust and empathy across departments.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn:
    • Why silos form and their impact on user experience
    • Practical strategies to promote cross-functional teamwork
    • The role of leadership in sustaining alignment
    • Tools like user journey maps and North Star prototypes to visualize collaboration goals

    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

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    Episode Particulars
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    Craig Nishizaki | Head of Business, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignishizaki/

    Deborah Roberts | Sr. UX Designer, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahrobertsdesign/

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    Connect with UpTop
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    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/
    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/
    Twitter [X]: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp

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    PODCAST Links

    --------------------------

    Amazon Music/Audible

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    30 mins
  • Unclear Requirements: The #1 Reason Projects Fail
    Oct 25 2024

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In this episode, UpTop's Craig Nishizaki and Michael Woo discuss the challenges of handling unclear requirements in fast-paced projects. Based on their own experience, Craig and Michael unpack how unclear product visions, tight deadlines, and internal miscommunication can derail a project while emphasizing the importance of proper planning, aligning stakeholders, and addressing red flags early.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn:

    • The danger of unclear requirements and moving too fast
    • Identifying and responding to yellow and red flags
    • Importance of stakeholder alignment in product development
    • Tips for balancing speed with quality in project timelines

    --

    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

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    Episode Particulars
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    Craig Nishizaki | Head of Business, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignishizaki/

    Michael Woo | Head of Design, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wooman206/


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    Connect with UpTop
    --------------------------
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/
    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/
    Twitter [X]: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp

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    PODCAST Links

    --------------------------

    Amazon Music/Audible

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    36 mins
  • How Business and Design Leaders Can Work Together to Unlock Customer Value
    Sep 13 2024

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In this episode, UpTop’s Michael Woo is joined by Troy Parke, and they talk about how business and design leaders can collaborate more effectively to generate greater value for their customers.

    Troy is the Director of UX How, a resource for UX Design “How To” insights, and Method Toolkit LLC. He has experience at Bank of America, ESPN, Disney, and Alaska Airlines. Troy was previously a design leader on Rolling Stone, Microsoft, Nickelodeon, and Marvel projects.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn:

    • How integral business and UX are to one another
    • Why business decision-makers should prioritize UX
    • How to leverage envisioning to help influence business decisions
    • Tips on how design professionals can better understand the businesses they work for

    --

    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Tags: UX design, UX strategy, user experience, business strategy

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    Episode Particulars

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    Michael Woo | Head of Design, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wooman206/

    Troy Parke | Director of UX How: https://www.uxhow.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyparke/

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    Connect with UpTop

    --------------------------

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/

    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Twitter [X}: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp


    --------------------------

    PODCAST Links

    --------------------------

    Amazon Music/Audible

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    42 mins
  • Mastering the Art of Effective Storytelling
    Aug 23 2024

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In this episode, UpTop’s Craig Nishizaki and Chris Hare, founder of The Storied Future, talk about the power of storytelling, and how stories—particularly atomic stories—can help businesses establish a brand and grow. Learn the difference between stories and narratives, and how you can create your own brand narrative through different storytelling techniques.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn:

    • The difference between stories and narratives
    • What atomic stories
    • How to tell a story effectively
    • How to use atomic stories to build a brand narrative

    --

    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Tags: atomic stories, atomic storytelling, storytelling, storytelling techniques

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    Episode Particulars

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    Craig Nishizaki | Head of Business, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignishizaki/

    Chris Hare | Founder, The Storied Future: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hareforce1/

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    Connect with UpTop

    --------------------------

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/

    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    Twitter [X}: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp


    --------------------------

    PODCAST Links

    --------------------------

    Amazon Music/Audible

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    39 mins
  • Building Trust and Embracing Change: Key Strategies for Digital Transformation
    Jul 19 2024

    Welcome to UpTop’s podcast series, Results by Design: UX Insights for Business Leaders!

    In this episode, Craig sits down with Andrew Walsh, CEO of Applicate Commerce, to discuss the pivotal moments and strategies that have driven the company's successful transition into the digital age. From embracing e-commerce to integrating AI into their core processes, Andrew shares invaluable insights on how businesses can stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving industry.

    🔍 What You’ll Learn:

    • Strategies for winning both physical and digital carts
    • The impact of AI on distribution and digital business
    • Building strong relationships with stakeholders for a successful digital transformation
    • Aligning vision and strategy to drive business success
    • Fostering optimism and excitement in the face of change


    --

    Join us as we explore innovative approaches to enhance your products and services, optimize customer interactions, and ultimately drive success for your organization.

    Learn more about and visit our website: https://uptopcorp.com/

    #uxdesign #uxstrategy #uxmethods #uxforbusiness #businessleaders


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    Episode Particulars
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    Craig Nishizaki | Head of Business, UpTop: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignishizaki/
    Andrew Walsh | President and CEO, Applicate Commerce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-walsh-applicate-commerce/

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    Connect with UpTop
    --------------------------
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uptopcorp/
    Website: https://uptopcorp.com/
    Twitter [X}: https://twitter.com/UpTopCorp
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uptopcorp


    --------------------------

    PODCAST Links

    --------------------------

    Amazon Music/Audible

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    34 mins