Ben Wiedmaier

Ben Wiedmaier is the product evangelist at dscout, a contextual research platform based in Chicago, where he translates business questions into scalable dscout projects, spreads the "good news" of contextual research and impersonates everyone in the office.

Gathering Design "Inspiration" From the Field

Designing without data or user input is a flat, inert exercise. Traditional methods of research, however, can feel inaccessible or out-of-sync with current design processes. Thankfully, emerging technologies—namely the mobile revolution—have made it easier than ever to capture meaningful moments from would-be users.

Ben Wiedmaier and Cam Balzer of dscout will share a contextual data collection platform where research is as easy as, “Show me what’s under your kitchen sink.” These moments, when stitched together, weave a picture of user highs, lows, wishes and needs. By the end, you’ll be armed with an easily-deployable approach to impactfully inform every step of your design process, without the research vernacular or esoteric tool-kit.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Arizona State University
• Master of Arts (M.A.) San Diego State University-California State University
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Michigan State University

Companies

• Lead Content Producer dscout (2022)
• Adjunct Professor DePaul University (2015)
• Content Producer dscout (2021 — 2022)
• Product Evangelist dscout (2017 — 2021)
• Enterprise Account Executive dscout (2016 — 2018)
• Research Consultant dscout mobile research (2016 — 2017)
• Market Research Associate Precision Research, Inc. (2015 — 2015)
• Post-doctoral Associate Northeastern University (2014 — 2015)
• Graduate Campus Director - ASU Downtown Arizona State University (2011 — 2013)