Understanding how people act and make decisions can unlock powerful opportunities for any organization. Behavioral data reveals patterns in customer actions, preferences, and habits. When used correctly, this data helps businesses make smarter decisions, improve products, and tailor experiences that truly resonate. This post explains how to collect, analyze, and apply behavioral data to gain clear strategic insights. How to Use Behavioral Data to Drive Strategic Insights What

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers powerful tools that can transform research strategies across industries. Yet, integrating AI into research requires careful planning to avoid risks such as data misuse, bias, and loss of human insight. Leaders face the challenge of balancing innovation with responsibility to ensure AI supports research goals safely and effectively. This post explores practical steps leaders can take to introduce AI into their research processes while mainta

Creating a culture where user experience (UX) efforts lead to clear, measurable results is a challenge many UX leaders face. Without measurable outcomes, teams struggle to prove the value of their work, and organizations miss opportunities to improve products based on real data. This post explores practical ways UX leaders can build a culture focused on measurable outcomes, helping teams deliver stronger results and gain greater influence within their organizations. Build a C

Recruiting the right participants is one of the biggest challenges in UX research. Without suitable users, even the best-designed studies can fail to deliver meaningful insights. Finding people who match your target audience, are willing to participate, and provide honest feedback requires careful planning and smart strategies. This post explores practical ways to recruit participants effectively, helping you gather valuable data that drives better user experiences. Participa

User experience research shapes how we design products that truly meet people’s needs. Over two decades in this field, I have seen trends come and go, tools evolve, and teams grow more diverse. Yet, some lessons remain constant. These insights come from real projects, challenges, and successes that have shaped my understanding of what makes UX research effective and impactful. This post shares 20 key lessons learned from 20 years of UX research. Whether you are new to the fie

If you’ve been in UX research long enough, you’ve heard some version of this: “We love research.”“This is great insight.”“Super interesting.” And then… nothing happens. No roadmap change. No decision shift. No follow-up questions. The research isn’t challenged — it’s simply bypassed . This disconnect isn’t hypocrisy. It’s a signal that something fundamental is misaligned. A cluttered desk with research papers and coffee, showing the chaos behind ignored research Liking resear

For years, UX research has been judged on the wrong axis. Teams ask: Did we run enough studies? Did we talk to enough users? Did we deliver insights on time? And yet, despite more tools, more data, and more research activity than ever, a familiar complaint keeps surfacing: “The research was interesting… but it didn’t change anything.” That’s not a tooling problem.It ’s not a storytelling problem.And it’s definitely not a “researchers need to be louder”  problem. It’s a framin

When I first started working in UX research, the process often felt slow and repetitive. Gathering user feedback, analyzing data, and generating insights took weeks, sometimes months. I knew there had to be a better way. That’s when I began exploring agentic AI—intelligent systems that can act autonomously to support and improve UX research workflows. Since then, I’ve seen firsthand how this technology can transform the way we work, making research faster, more accurate, and

When I first stepped into a UX research leadership role, I quickly realized that guiding a team through complex projects was far more challenging than I expected. Mistakes happen, but some can slow down progress or even damage the credibility of UX research within an organization. Over time, I learned which pitfalls to watch for and how to steer clear of them. If you lead a UX research team or aspire to, this post will help you avoid common errors and build stronger, more eff

Using research effectively can transform how designers and product managers (PMs) make decisions. Yet, many teams struggle to integrate research into their daily workflows. I’ve seen firsthand how coaching can bridge this gap, helping teams not only understand research but also apply it in ways that improve products and user experiences. In this post, I’ll share practical strategies I’ve used to coach designers and PMs to get more value from research. These approaches focus o

When I first joined a product team, I quickly realized we lacked a clear way to measure how users experienced our product. We relied on gut feelings and anecdotal feedback, which made it hard to know what truly worked or where to improve. Building a UX measurement framework changed everything. It gave us clear data to guide decisions and improve user satisfaction. If you want to create a similar system in your organization, here’s how to start. UX Measurement Framework: Under

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working in UX research, my focus was narrow: understand users for a single product, gather feedback, and improve that product. Over time, I realized this approach misses a bigger opportunity. UX research can and should extend beyond individual products to shape broader strategies that benefit entire organizations and ecosystems. This shift changes how we think about users, data, and design decisions. In this post, I’

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first joined a product team, I quickly noticed a recurring tension between the UX research group and the product management team. Both sides aimed to build the best product possible, yet their approaches often felt like they were pulling in different directions. Over time, I realized this misalignment wasn’t about conflicting goals but about how each team defined and executed their strategies. Understanding where UX research strat

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research plays a crucial role in shaping products that meet users' needs effectively. Yet, as organizations grow, their approach to UX research must evolve to keep pace with changing goals, teams, and resources. What works for a startup may not suit a mature company with multiple product lines and diverse user bases. Understanding how UX research strategies change with organizational maturity helps teams build strong

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader In business and decision-making, it’s easy to assume that gathering more research automatically leads to better strategies. The idea seems logical: the more information you have, the smarter your choices will be. Yet, in practice, this is not always true. Sometimes, an overload of data can cloud judgment, delay action, and even lead to poor decisions. Understanding why more research doesn’t always improve strategy can help leaders and te

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research is essential for designing products that meet real user needs. Yet, even when the research itself is thorough and well-executed, the overall UX research strategy can still fail. This disconnect often leaves teams frustrated and products underperforming. Understanding why this happens helps avoid wasted effort and ensures research truly drives better design decisions. Workspace showing UX research materials a

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Research plays a crucial role in shaping products, services, and business decisions. Yet, within the research field, terms like ResearchOps and Research Strategy often cause confusion. Both are essential but serve different purposes. Understanding how they differ helps teams work more effectively and deliver better outcomes. What is ResearchOps? ResearchOps, short for Research Operations, focuses on the practical side of research. It inv

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Effective UX research drives product success, but teams often struggle to manage incoming research requests and decide what to prioritize. Without a clear system, research efforts can become scattered, delayed, or misaligned with business goals. This post explores practical frameworks for UX research intake and prioritization that help teams stay focused, deliver timely insights, and support better decision-making. Organizing UX research

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research has always played a key role in shaping products that meet user needs. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming this field, shifting UX research from a purely tactical function to a strategic driver of innovation and business growth. This change affects how teams gather insights, make decisions, and design experiences that truly resonate with users. UX researcher reviewing AI-driven insights AI En

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding how users interact with a product or service is essential for making smart business choices. UX metrics provide clear, measurable data that reveal how well a design meets user needs. When used correctly, these metrics can guide strategic decisions that improve customer satisfaction, increase engagement, and boost overall success. This post explores how to use UX metrics effectively to shape strategy. It covers key types of