Great Research
Deserves a Moment

Great Research
Deserves a Moment

Great Research
Deserves a Moment

Submit entries

Submit entries

Research.

Recognized.

Celebrated.

ABOUT

ABOUT

Introducing the Optimal Experience Awards celebrating the researchers, teams, and leaders who are doing the work that actually matters.

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AWARDS

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AWARDS

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AWARDS

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JUDGES

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JUDGES

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JUDGES

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COUNTRIES

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COUNTRIES

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COUNTRIES

WHY ENTER

Recognition that means something.

The Optimal Experience Awards are judged by practicing researchers and industry leaders. Winning, or even shortlisting, is a genuine signal of quality, backed by rigorous blind review and collective deliberation.

Industry credibility

01

Blind-judged by respected practitioners. A shortlist is something to be proud of.

Industry credibility

01

Blind-judged by respected practitioners. A shortlist is something to be proud of.

Wider visibility

02

Winner spotlights and commentary shared with the broader research community throughout the year.

Wider visibility

02

Winner spotlights and commentary shared with the broader research community throughout the year.

Celebrate your story

03

Submissions are a structured way to document and share work that might otherwise stay internal.

Celebrate your story

03

Submissions are a structured way to document and share work that might otherwise stay internal.

Raise the bar

04

Every submission strengthens the community's shared understanding of what great research looks like.

Raise the bar

04

Every submission strengthens the community's shared understanding of what great research looks like.

WHY WE BUILT THIS

  • "Good research is happening everywhere. But it often goes unrecognized outside the immediate team that did it. The people who ran the study, fought for the findings, and watched their work change something real rarely get to share that story publicly. That's what these awards are for."

    The Optimal Team

  • "Good research is happening everywhere. But it often goes unrecognized outside the immediate team that did it. The people who ran the study, fought for the findings, and watched their work change something real rarely get to share that story publicly. That's what these awards are for."

    The Optimal Team

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Key dates.

Optimal Experience Awards

May 6

Entries open

  • Submissions officially open to the community

  • Use the question docs to draft with your team

  • Enter as an individual or a team

July 10

Entries close

  • Finalize and submit your entry via the online form

  • All answers locked in after this date

  • Closes at midnight UTC

Aug 27

Winners notified

  • All entrants contacted directly

  • Shortlisted finalists confirmed

  • Results stay confidential

Aug 31

Winners revealed

  • Winners announced publicly

  • Spotlights published to the community

  • Your moment to celebrate!

May 6

Entries open

  • Submissions officially open to the community

  • Use the question docs to draft with your team

  • Enter as an individual or a team

July 10

Entries close

  • Finalize and submit your entry via the online form

  • All answers locked in after this date

  • Closes at midnight UTC

Aug 27

Winners notified

  • All entrants contacted directly

  • Shortlisted finalists confirmed

  • Results stay confidential

Aug 31

Winners revealed

  • Winners announced publicly

  • Spotlights published to the community

  • Your moment to celebrate!

May 6

Entries open

  • Submissions officially open to the community

  • Use the question docs to draft with your team

  • Enter as an individual or a team

July 10

Entries close

  • Finalize and submit your entry via the online form

  • All answers locked in after this date

  • Closes at midnight UTC

Aug 27

Winners notified

  • All entrants contacted directly

  • Shortlisted finalists confirmed

  • Results stay confidential

Aug 31

Winners revealed

  • Winners announced publicly

  • Spotlights published to the community

  • Your moment to celebrate!

AWARD CATEGORIES

Six ways to be honored.

Whether you led a groundbreaking project, drove real organizational change, or built a culture of collaboration there's a category for you.

Outstanding User Research Project

The flagship award. For research done right, rigorous, curious, and crafted with care, regardless of methodology, team size, or industry. Open to any domain, any team, any approach.

Submit entry

Download Questions

Outstanding User Research Project

The flagship award. For research done right, rigorous, curious, and crafted with care, regardless of methodology, team size, or industry. Open to any domain, any team, any approach.

Submit entry

Download Questions

Research-Driven Impact

For the teams who took insights all the way through to measurable change. We're looking for a clear before/after story and evidence that the research made the difference.

Submit entry

Download Questions

UX Research Leader of the Year

Recognizing individuals who are raising the bar for the whole discipline through the teams they build, the methods they champion, and the doors they open for others. Self-nominations welcome.

Submit entry

Download Questions

Collaborative Research Excellence

For teams that moved beyond research in a silo. We're looking for genuine shared ownership across disciplines, not just researchers presenting findings to others at the end of a project.

Submit entry

Download Questions

Research for Social Good

Celebrating research in service of people, not just products. Work that addressed underserved communities, improved access, or tackled a civic or environmental challenge with genuine care and rigor.

Submit entry

Download Questions

Best Use of Optimal

For Optimal customers. A chance to showcase innovative, effective, or inspiring use of our tools in your research practice, from a single study to platform-wide adoption. Judged by the Optimal team.

Submit entry

Download Questions

HOW TO ENTER

Ready when you are.

Entries are submitted via our online form. Use the downloadable question documents above to collaborate with your team before you submit, then transfer your final answers when you're ready.

Download.

01

Get the Question Doc for your category and draft with your team.

Download.

01

Get the Question Doc for your category and draft with your team.

Polish.

02

Refine your answers against the judging criteria.

Polish.

02

Refine your answers against the judging criteria.

Submit.

03

Enter your final answers via the links in the categories above.

Submit.

03

Enter your final answers via the links in the categories above.

JUDGES

Judges to be revealed soon.

Our judging panel is made up of respected practitioners from across the industry, chosen for their expertise, their standing in the community, and their commitment to research that genuinely matters.

We'll be revealing our full panel of judges in late May.

Follow us for updates

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A smiling young woman in a pink blouse stands in an office setting, with soft lighting and a professional backdrop.
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A smiling young woman in a pink blouse stands in an office setting, with soft lighting and a professional backdrop.
A smiling young woman in a pink blouse stands in an office setting, with soft lighting and a professional backdrop.
A smiling young woman in a pink blouse stands in an office setting, with soft lighting and a professional backdrop.
A smiling young woman in a pink blouse stands in an office setting, with soft lighting and a professional backdrop.
A confident person with short, styled hair and a leather jacket poses against a dark backdrop.
Smiling person with curly hair, wearing a black shirt, against a warm, dark background.
A smiling young woman in a pink blouse stands in an office setting, with soft lighting and a professional backdrop.
A smiling young woman in a pink blouse stands in an office setting, with soft lighting and a professional backdrop.

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FAQ

FAQs.

Still got questions? Feel free to reach out. We're happy to help.

Ask a question

Who can enter?

Anyone doing user research work, in any industry, any team size, anywhere in the world. You don't need to be an Optimal customer to enter most categories.

Can I enter more than one category?

Yes. If your work fits multiple categories, submit separately for each.

Can I enter as an individual or does it have to be a team?

Both. Some categories are designed for individuals, others for teams. The submission form accommodates either.

How are entries judged?

All submissions go through a blind review process, meaning judges assess the work without knowing who submitted it. Final decisions are made through collective deliberation by our panel of practicing researchers and industry leaders.

When will I hear back?

All entrants will be notified of their outcome by 27 August 2026, ahead of the public announcement on 31 August.

Does my research need to have used Optimal tools?

Only for the Best Use of Optimal category. All other categories are open regardless of the tools or methods you used.