Overview

""Anyone who seeks to understand people-in design, business, or the social sciences-should read this book carefully, and more than once. I know I will."" -Christian Madsbjerg, Author of Sensemaking: What Makes Human Intelligence Essential in the Age of the Algorithm ""Inviting Depth is a master class for every researcher who wants to lead effective interviews."" -Chris Chapman, PhD, President, Quantitative User Experience Association ""A groundbreaking book with clear, practical techniques for making the participant's experience of an interview better for opening up and sharing more."" -Steve Portigal, Author of Interviewing Users Seeing people deeply is essential for creating emotionally resonant products and services. But reaching that depth means moving beyond conventional interviewing practices. Inviting Depth is a practical guide for product design and UX researchers who want to move beyond surface-level interviews and create the conditions for research participants to share openly and meaningfully. It provides concrete, actionable guidance on how small shifts in mindset and practice can lead to more thoughtful conversations and more grounded product decisions. Drawing on extensive industry research experience, Brandon Berry and Tom Williams argue that rich understanding doesn't come from better questions alone. It comes from intentionally designing the interview experience around how participants actually want to feel: prepared, appreciated, engaged, and-above all-empowered to speak in their own authentic voice. More than a traditional research manual, Inviting Depth reimagines what interviewing asks of researchers in the AI era. It introduces a participant-centered framework that doubles down on what humans do best: empathy, emotional attunement, and genuine connection. Through 28 field-tested techniques and a wide range of real-world examples, the book shows how to help participants feel at ease and share more deeply. Written for practitioners in product development, design and UX research, and innovation teams, Inviting Depth reframes interviewing as a human encounter-one where care, presence, and attention to participant experience are essential tools for understanding people well.

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Reviews

""Practical, compassionate, and profoundly human, this book shows how small gestures-curiosity, transparency, humility-can unlock the depth every researcher seeks. It's a reminder that genuine connection is the most powerful research tool we have."" -Nicole Bacchus, Senior Director of Research, Thumbtack ""This book is a beautiful reminder that interviews aren't transactions or just a means to an end. Inviting Depth captures the intangibles that first drew me to the social sciences: human connection. It's what gives our work, and our lives, meaning. What resonated most with me is the book's deep reverence for the participant. Inviting Depth is an inspiring and necessary reminder that deep, authentic connections with interview participants aren't just valuable-they're essential to uncovering meaningful insight."" -Vanessa Whatley, UX Research Director, Twilio ""Inviting Depth offers an indispensable path to put humanity back into research when it's needed most. The authors share 28 smart, practical techniques for practicing empathy. It's a refreshing invitation to slow down, connect deeply, and rediscover the joy and meaning that come from truly seeing the people we study."" -John Douglass, Senior Director, Consumer Insights, Nike ""Inviting Depth is a book that reminds you why this work matters. It shows how empathy, care, and genuine connection with participants can transform interviews into spaces of trust and discovery. As someone who's spent years leading and mentoring researchers, I found its techniques both practical and quietly profound. It serves as a guide not just to better conversations, but to a more human way of doing research."" -Naomi Grewal, PhD, Director of Research, LinkedIn ""The skill of interviewing is usually taught as more of an art than a science, but Inviting Depth manages to articulate what often goes unspoken. The authors have delivered a deeply practical guide to the secrets of successful research interviews."" -Brandy Parker, Senior Design Director, IDEO

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