By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader UX Research (UXR) is one of the fastest-growing fields in design and technology. As businesses strive to deliver seamless user experiences, researchers play a crucial role in uncovering user needs, behaviors, and motivations. If you’ve ever been curious about how people interact with products—or you’ve wanted to make technology more intuitive—UX Research might be the perfect career path. But where do you start? Here’s a clear roadmap for

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Quantitative UX research involves collecting numerical data that can be measured, analyzed statistically, and generalized to larger populations. The focus is on metrics, patterns, and trends—helping teams evaluate usability, identify problem areas, and validate design decisions at scale. Examples of quantitative research in UX include: Surveys & Polls (CSAT, NPS, SUS scores) Task Success Rates (e.g., percentage of users who complete a

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Whether you're running usability tests, conducting interviews, analyzing product usage, or recruiting participants, having the right toolbox is essential. Here's a comprehensive guide to top UX research tools for 2025, categorized by purpose. 1. Usability Testing & User Interviews Maze – A continuous discovery platform offering card sorting, tree testing, prototype testing, surveys, and real‑time reporting. Great for both moderated and

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader UX research is more than a toolkit—it’s a mindset. It’s the discipline that helps teams understand users, reduce risk, and design with empathy. But great research doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on rigor, clarity, and collaboration. Whether you're scaling a global practice or conducting a single usability test, these best practices will help you deliver insights that matter—and drive decisions that stick. 1. Start with Clear Objec

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader Task-based scenarios are the backbone of usability testing. They simulate real-world goals users want to accomplish, helping researchers observe behavior, uncover friction, and validate design decisions. But writing them well is harder than it looks. Too vague, and users flounder. Too prescriptive, and you bias the outcome. The sweet spot? Realistic, goal-driven prompts that let users show you how they think. Here’s how to write UX resea

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research drives product design and improvement, but its impact depends on clear goals and testable assumptions. When UX research objectives and hypotheses connect well, teams gain focused insights that lead to better decisions. Without this connection, research risks becoming vague or unfocused, wasting time and resources. This post explains how to tie UX research objectives and hypotheses together effectively, with

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Usability testing is essential for creating products that truly meet user needs. Choosing between moderated and unmoderated testing methods can shape the quality of insights you gather. Each approach has strengths and pitfalls that affect how well you understand user behavior and preferences. This post breaks down the key dos and don'ts for both moderated and unmoderated usability testing to help you get meaningful results. User particip

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Leading a UX research team in an agile environment requires more than just managing tasks and deadlines. It demands a leadership style that puts the team’s needs first, fosters collaboration, and nurtures growth. Servant leadership offers a powerful approach to achieve this by focusing on empathy, support, and shared purpose. This post explores how servant leadership can transform the way UX research teams operate within agile frameworks

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience research shapes how products meet real user needs. Senior UX researchers carry the responsibility of guiding teams with insights that improve design and functionality. Yet, even experienced professionals can fall into common traps that limit their impact. Recognizing these pitfalls helps senior researchers sharpen their approach and deliver stronger results. Senior UX researcher reviewing user feedback data Overlooking th