Inviting Depth

"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.