By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding why customers choose a product or service is key to creating solutions that truly meet their needs. Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) interviews offer a powerful way to uncover these motivations by focusing on the tasks customers want to accomplish. This method goes beyond traditional surveys or focus groups by exploring the underlying reasons behind customer behavior. JTBD interviews help businesses discover what drives customer deci

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Focus groups remain one of the most valuable tools for gathering detailed feedback and understanding the opinions of a target audience. When done well, they provide rich insights that surveys or one-on-one interviews might miss. Yet, many focus groups fall short because of poor planning or execution. This post explores practical strategies to help you run focus groups that deliver clear, actionable results. Participants engaged in a focu

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Ethnography offers a unique window into human cultures, allowing researchers to observe and understand social behaviors, traditions, and everyday life from an insider’s perspective. Unlike surveys or experiments, ethnography immerses the researcher in the community, providing rich, detailed insights that other methods often miss. This post explores what ethnography is, how it works, and why it remains a vital tool for uncovering the comp

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Designing products that truly meet user needs requires more than assumptions or surface-level feedback. Contextual inquiry offers a powerful way to understand users by observing and engaging with them in their natural environment. This method reveals insights that traditional interviews or surveys often miss, leading to better, more user-centered designs. Contextual inquiry is a research technique where designers or researchers observe u

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Diary studies offer a unique window into people's daily lives, capturing behaviors, thoughts, and emotions as they happen. Unlike traditional research methods that rely on recall or one-time observations, diary studies collect data over time, providing rich, detailed insights. This approach helps researchers understand patterns and contexts that might otherwise be missed. Diary with handwritten notes and pen What Are Diary Studies? Diary

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding your users is key to building products that truly meet their needs. One of the best ways to gain this understanding is through user interviews. These conversations provide direct access to user thoughts, motivations, and pain points, offering insights that data alone cannot reveal. This post explains how to conduct user interviews that deliver clear, actionable information to improve your product. User interview setup with

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) design shapes how people interact with products, websites, and apps. But creating a smooth, enjoyable experience requires more than just good visuals or intuitive layouts. It demands a deep understanding of user behavior—how people think, feel, and act when they engage with a product. This is where behavioral UX research plays a crucial role. By studying real user actions and motivations, designers can build experie

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) shapes how people interact with products and services. When a design fails to meet user needs, frustration grows, and engagement drops. Evaluative UX research helps identify these issues by testing designs with real users. This process reveals what works, what doesn’t, and where improvements are necessary. Mastering evaluative UX research means creating products that truly serve users, leading to satisfaction and suc

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding what drives people’s choices, behaviors, and needs often requires more than just surface-level data. Generative discovery research offers a powerful way to uncover deep insights by exploring unspoken motivations and hidden patterns. This approach helps researchers, designers, and product teams create solutions that truly resonate with users. Generative discovery research focuses on exploring unknowns rather than testing kno

Discover the fundamentals of UX research and learn how to gather meaningful insights that drive better design decisions.

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing UX research, from automated data analysis to predictive user behavior. Learn best practices for combining AI's analytical power with human expertise.

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing UX research methodologies, making user insights faster, more scalable, and more actionable than ever before.

When I first dove into the world of UX design principles, I quickly realized how crucial they are for creating products that truly resonate with users. It’s not just about making things look good; it’s about crafting experiences that feel intuitive, efficient, and even enjoyable. Whether you’re leading a team or shaping strategy, understanding these principles can transform how your organization approaches design and research. Let’s explore the core ideas behind UX design pri

By Philip Burgess When it comes to building a strong UX research practice, having the right tools can make all the difference. Over the years, I’ve seen how the right software and platforms can transform raw data into actionable insights, helping teams make smarter, user-centered decisions. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best UX research tools that truly streamline your workflow and elevate your strategy? Let’s dive into some of the top tools that I

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader and AI Strategist When I first dove into the world of designing user experiences, I quickly realized it’s more than just making things look pretty. It’s about crafting meaningful interactions that resonate with users and drive real business outcomes. Whether you’re leading a team or shaping strategy, mastering the fundamentals is essential to building scalable, effective UX research practices that empower data-driven decisions. Let’s exp

In the fast-paced world of digital products, understanding your users is not just helpful - it’s essential. I’ve seen firsthand how the right tools can transform UX research from a guessing game into a strategic powerhouse. When you have the right resources, you can uncover deep insights, validate assumptions, and ultimately design experiences that resonate. But with so many options out there, which tools truly stand out? Let’s explore some of the best UX research tools that

The only constant in the world of UX is change. As we look ahead to 2025, several key trends are emerging that will shape the future of UX research. In this post, we'll explore the most significant of these trends and what they mean for UX professionals. Embracing Change in UX Research Change is inevitable in the world of user experience. As we move forward, it's essential to stay informed about the trends that will impact our work. Understanding these trends can help us adap

By Philip Burgess The Power of UX Research: A Guide for 2025 UX Research is the systematic study of users, their behaviors, needs, and motivations to improve product design and usability. It employs various research methods and techniques that gather insights through qualitative, quantitative, or mixed approaches to inform and optimize user experience design throughout product development. Key Aspects of UX Research The main purpose, and power of UX Research, is to understan

When I first encountered affinity mapping, I was struck by its simplicity and power. It’s a method that turns chaos into clarity, helping teams uncover patterns in user data that might otherwise remain hidden. If you’re looking to elevate your UX research and strategy, mastering affinity mapping is a game-changer. It’s not just about organizing notes on a wall; it’s about unlocking insights that drive smarter design decisions and measurable business value. Let’s dive into how

When I first dove into the world of UX, I quickly realized it’s more than just making things look pretty. It’s about crafting meaningful interactions that resonate with users and drive business success. If you’re aiming to build or scale effective UX research practices, understanding the basics of UX design is crucial. It’s the foundation that supports data-driven decisions and measurable improvements in user satisfaction. Let’s explore the core principles, practical strateg