When I first joined a UX research team, I quickly realized how much time was wasted reinventing the wheel. Every project required crafting new prompts for interviews, surveys, or usability tests, often from scratch. This slowed down the process and sometimes led to inconsistent data. That’s when I started building a prompt library template tailored for UX research teams. It transformed how we worked, making research faster, clearer, and more reliable. If you are part of a UX

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working in UX design, I quickly realized that understanding users wasn’t just about guessing what they wanted. It required solid research methods that reveal real behaviors and needs. Over time, I learned which UX research methods deliver the most useful insights and how to apply best practices to get the most from them. If you want your designs to truly connect with users, knowing these methods and how to use them e

When I first stepped into the role of a UX research leader, I quickly realized that my job was about more than just gathering user feedback or running usability tests. It was about shaping decisions that impact the entire product and business. Over time, I came to see myself as a decision architect —someone who designs the way decisions are made by providing clear, relevant, and timely insights. This perspective changed how I approached my work and how I helped my teams succe

When I first started crafting my UX research resume, I struggled with one big question: how do I show real impact without resorting to inflated or fake numbers? Many job seekers feel pressured to add flashy metrics that don’t truly reflect their work. But in UX research, genuine impact often comes from insights, decisions influenced, and user experience improvements that don’t always translate into neat percentages or dollar signs. I learned that telling a clear story about m

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started using AI tools in my UX research, I was excited about the speed and scale they offered. But I quickly realized that without clear guardrails, these tools could lead me astray. AI can generate insights fast, but it can also introduce bias, misinterpret data, or overlook important human context. Designing guardrails for AI-assisted UX research is essential to get reliable, ethical, and useful results. In this post, I’l

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first stepped into a leadership role, I believed that being a servant leader meant always having the right answers and making everyone feel comfortable. I quickly learned that leadership is rarely comfortable. The real challenge is sitting with discomfort—leaning into difficult conversations, facing uncertainty, and managing emotions without rushing to fix or avoid them. This skill is essential for anyone who wants to lead with em

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

When you need fast feedback on a product or feature, setting up a full usability study can feel overwhelming. I’ve been there—tight deadlines, limited resources, and pressure to move quickly. That’s why I developed a lightweight usability testing template that helps me run quick, internal tests without sacrificing valuable insights. This approach saves time and keeps the focus on what really matters: understanding how users interact with the product. In this post, I’ll share

When working on user experience (UX) projects, one challenge I often face is managing the wealth of insights gathered from research sessions, usability tests, and user interviews. These insights are valuable, but without a clear system to organize and reuse them, they tend to get lost or forgotten. That’s why I decided to create a UX insight library template—a structured way to capture, store, and retrieve UX knowledge for future projects. In this post, I’ll share how I built