By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping the future of UX research. As the field evolves rapidly, experienced professionals have the opportunity to guide newcomers, helping them develop skills, confidence, and leadership qualities. This post explores how mentorship fosters growth in UX research, practical ways to build effective mentor-mentee relationships, and the impact on the broader UX community. Mentor guiding a UX researcher thro

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research shapes how products meet real user needs. Leading a UX research team requires more than technical skills or knowledge of methods. A great UX research leader inspires, guides, and connects teams to deliver insights that truly improve products. This post explores the qualities and practices that define outstanding leadership in UX research. A UX researcher reviewing user feedback on a tablet UX Research Leader

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Managing a UX researcher who is struggling to meet expectations can be challenging. Their role is crucial in shaping user-centered designs, and when performance dips, it affects the entire product team. Addressing this issue requires a clear, thoughtful approach that balances understanding, communication, and accountability. This post offers practical steps to help you navigate this situation effectively. A UX researcher’s cluttered desk

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Starting a UX research team from the ground up can feel overwhelming. You know the value of user insights but may wonder how to assemble the right people, define clear goals, and create processes that deliver meaningful results. This guide breaks down the essential steps to build a UX research team that drives product success and user satisfaction. Workspace with UX research tools and notes Define the Purpose and Scope of Your UX Researc

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Building and guiding a UX research team requires more than just assembling skilled individuals. It demands a clear strategy, a supportive culture, and a focus on delivering meaningful impact. When these elements come together, the team can uncover insights that shape user-centered products and drive business success. A UX researcher reviewing user feedback data on a laptop Defining a Clear Strategy for Leading a UX Research Team A strong

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding users deeply is essential for creating products that truly fit their needs. Diary studies offer a unique way to capture real-life user experiences over time, providing insights that other methods might miss. This post explains what diary studies are, how to conduct them effectively, why they are valuable in UX research, and best practices to follow. User recording daily experiences in a diary What Are Diary Studies in UX Re

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding user experience is essential for creating products that truly meet user needs. One of the most effective ways to gather this understanding is through UX research surveys. When done right, these surveys provide clear, actionable insights that help improve design, functionality, and overall satisfaction. This post explains how to conduct UX research surveys and shares best practices to ensure you get meaningful results. A UX

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) plays a crucial role in the success of any digital product. One effective method to improve UX is heuristic evaluation. This technique helps identify usability problems early, saving time and resources while enhancing user satisfaction. This post explains what heuristic evaluation is, how to conduct it, and shares best practices to get the most from this approach. A UX researcher performing heuristic evaluation on a

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding users is the foundation of creating successful digital products. But with so many UX research methods available, how do you pick the one that fits your study best? Choosing the right method can save time, reduce costs, and deliver insights that truly improve user experience. This guide breaks down key factors to consider and offers practical advice to help you select the ideal UX research method for your next project. Resea

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding how users organize information is key to creating intuitive digital experiences. Card sorting is a simple yet powerful UX research method that reveals how users think about content and structure. By mastering card sorting, designers and researchers can build websites, apps, and products that feel natural and easy to navigate. This post explains what card sorting is, how to run effective sessions, and how to analyze results

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience depends heavily on how easily people find what they need. When websites or apps have confusing menus or unclear navigation, users get frustrated and leave. Tree testing offers a simple but powerful way to improve information architecture by testing how users move through a site’s structure before design or coding begins. This guide explains how tree testing works and how it can help create clearer, more user-friendly navi

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research is crucial for building products that truly meet user needs. Yet, many UX professionals face a common challenge: stakeholders and product owners who do not see the value in investing time and resources into UX research. This resistance can slow down projects, reduce product quality, and create frustration for UX teams. Understanding how to navigate these situations can help you advocate for UX research effec

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research is essential for creating products that truly meet users’ needs. Yet, many teams struggle to turn research findings into real changes. You might have seen this happen: after weeks of interviews, surveys, or usability tests, the insights sit in a report gathering dust. Why does this happen? And how can you make sure your UX research leads to action? This post explores common reasons UX research findings fail

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research shapes how people interact with products and services. A great UX researcher uncovers real user needs and behaviors, guiding design decisions that improve usability and satisfaction. But what qualities set the best UX researchers apart? This post explores the skills, mindset, and approaches that make a UX researcher truly effective. A UX researcher reviewing user feedback notes on a whiteboard Strong Curiosi

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Creating a UX research test plan is a critical step in understanding how users interact with a product. A well-crafted test plan guides the research process, ensures clear objectives, and helps teams gather meaningful insights. Without a solid plan, research can become unfocused, wasting time and resources. This post explores the essential elements that make a UX research test plan effective and practical. A UX research workspace with no

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research plays a crucial role in designing products that truly meet users' needs. Yet, even experienced UX researchers can fall into common traps that reduce the value of their work. These mistakes can lead to misleading conclusions, wasted resources, and missed opportunities to improve user satisfaction. Understanding these pitfalls and learning how to avoid them helps researchers deliver clearer insights and strong

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding users is the foundation of creating meaningful and effective digital experiences. UX research methodologies offer a variety of tools to uncover user needs, behaviors, and pain points. Choosing the right method at the right time can make the difference between a product that delights users and one that frustrates them. This guide breaks down key UX research methods, explaining how and when to apply them for the best results.

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader Being a great manager isn’t just about delivering results—it’s about building the kind of environment where your team can thrive, grow, and feel valued. The best managers are also mentors, guiding their people not only toward business goals but toward personal and professional fulfillment. After years of leading and mentoring teams, here’s what I’ve found matters most: How to be the Best UX Research Manager 1. Put People Before Projects

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader When I think about my role as a leader, one thing always comes to mind: I work for my team, not the other way around.  That mindset is at the heart of servant leadership , and it’s shaped every decision I’ve made in my career. Over the years, I’ve led teams of every size—from one person to fifteen—and in every scenario, my focus has been the same: remove barriers, build trust, and help people grow into their best selves. What Servant Lea

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader In UX research, there’s an old saying: “Numbers tell you what is happening, but stories tell you why.” That’s why—whenever possible—I pair quantitative and qualitative research  in parallel.It ’s not just about collecting data from both ends of the spectrum—it’s about weaving them together to tell a complete, actionable story. Over the years, I’ve found that this combined approach consistently leads to: Deeper, more trustworthy insights