Jordan Birkbeck

Jordan sitting on front steps

I'm a user researcher at Goodnotes, across both our B2B and B2C products. I'm good at starting with an open-ended product question, working out what the team actually needs to decide, and carrying the research through to something they can use. I'm currently living in Hong Kong, although I'm open to relocating globally for the right role.

Outside of work I love socialising with friends, and I like balancing sporty things with a creative outlet. I'm currently learning Muay Thai. I love the sportsmanship, the constant gratification of improving at a combat sport, and the sense of community.

For the creative side, I'm several years deep into a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with an old friend group. I fell in love with D&D as a teenager, and it's been a staple of my life for the last 13 years.

How I actually work

  1. Relationships are the job

    Andrew Bosworth's line is that communication is the job. I think that is true, and I would take it one step further. Relationships are the job. A researcher who has the product trio's trust will do better work than one who doesn't.

  2. A research pragmatist

    I take methods and rigour seriously. I also know I'm not a scientist in the lab sense. User research is messier than that, with time, stakeholders, and things going wrong. The useful researcher is the one who can work on their feet, adapt when the plan changes, and still have a clear hold on what they're delivering, scoped tightly and planned properly.

  3. I learn fast

    Previous managers have described how quickly I learn as a superpower. I pick up feedback, or a new skill, and get it into practice quickly. The other side is I can go too fast and miss details. Knowing that about myself is what lets me catch it. I build in ways to notice when I've skipped something, and I collaborate openly and early with the team.

Work history

  1. Goodnotes — User Researcher

    Nov 2023 – Present

    Hong Kong

  2. Goodnotes — Technical Customer Support Specialist

    Apr 2021 – Nov 2023

    London

  3. Freetrade — Customer Operations Associate

    Aug 2020 – Apr 2021

    Remote

Education and qualifications

  1. Professional Certificate in User Research — UX Design Institute

    2025

  2. Insights for Innovation — IDEO U

    2023

  3. Google UX Design Certificate

    2022 – 2023

  4. MA History, First Class Honours — University of Aberdeen

    2016 – 2020