From Storytelling to Research
How Documentary Filmmaking Shaped My UX Research Practice
As a UX researcher with a background in documentary-making, I can see that both processes share a similar foundation. Both start with genuine curiosity. Both require listening and observation skills, and the capacity to build empathy with your research subjects. In my experience, researchers and documentary-makers are alike: the value of their work comes from their ability to share their learnings with others in a meaningful way.
Before I discovered UX research, I was a documentary/ video filmmaker. Some of my projects were about autism awareness and cultural identity—topics that required me to understand complex human experiences and translate them into stories that could create empathy and drive change.
What I didn't realize at the time was that I was already practicing research. I was conducting stakeholder interviews, synthesizing insights, identifying patterns, and presenting findings in a way that moved people to care and to act.
The Research Framework:
Here are six fundamental practices that form the foundation of both documentary filmmaking and UX research:
1. Background Research & Immersion
Before filming my autism documentary, I spent weeks reading articles and books about autism spectrum disorder, watching other documentaries to understand what had already been explored and what gaps remained in public understanding. This immersive research gave me the context I needed to ask informed questions and identify what perspectives were still missing from the conversation.
2. Strategic Stakeholder Identification
Documentary work requires identifying whose voices matter and why. For my autism documentary, I strategically reached out to psychiatrists, teachers, equine therapists, and artists—each bringing a different lens on how autism affects daily life and what support systems exist. I wasn't just looking for any experts; I was identifying specific voices that would provide a complete, credible picture.
3. Building Trust & Conducting Ethical Research
Filming taught me that authentic insights only come when participants feel safe and respected. For my documentaries, I had detailed conversations with the family and professionals about boundaries, what moments we could capture, and what was off-limits. I always presented consent forms upfront and made it clear that participants could pause or stop at any moment. This wasn't just about legal protection; it was about building trust.
4. Synthesizing & Finding Patterns
After filming, I had hours of raw footage and interview transcripts. The challenge was synthesis: watching everything multiple times, identifying recurring themes, and finding the narrative thread that would make the insights accessible and meaningful. What I chose to highlight, and what I left out, shaped the entire impact of the documentary.
5. Prototyping & Testing Ideas
Documentary editing is prototyping. I created rough cuts, shared them with my advisor and colleagues, and refined them based on their feedback. My first draft was always too long, too detailed, or missed the emotional arc. Through iteration, I learned what resonated, what confused viewers, and what needed to be cut to keep the story clear and compelling.
6. Sharing Insights & Driving Impact
Research only has value if it's shared and drives action. My autism documentary wasn't just an academic exercise; it was published on YouTube, shared with schools and associations, and used to educate people who knew little about neurodiversity. The goal was always to help people understand something they didn't before and inspire them to care enough to make a difference.
My Unique Strength: Video as a Research Tool
My background in documentary-making gives me a unique advantage: I know how to use video to make research findings emotionally resonant and memorable.
Stakeholders don't always read research reports, but they watch videos. A 2-minute clip of a user struggling with a feature is more powerful than a paragraph describing the same issue. I can capture those moments, edit them for clarity and impact, and share them in a way that makes teams feel the user's experience—not just understand it intellectually.
Video brings research to life. It creates empathy. It drives action.
The Work
I've applied this research approach to two documentary projects, each teaching me different lessons about human behavior, ethical research, and the power of sharing knowledge:
La Meva Vida als Teus Ulls (My Life Through Your Eyes) — A collaborative research project exploring autism, neurodiversity, and how society supports (or fails to support) those who perceive the world differently.
Peru Made in Barcelona — An independent research project examining identity, migration, and cultural pride through the lens of Peruvian cuisine in Europe.
Both documentaries demonstrate how curiosity, empathy, and rigorous research can create understanding and inspire change.
