PHILIP BURGESS

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience research often focuses on digital interactions, but understanding users requires looking beyond the screen. Ethnographic methods offer a way to observe and engage with people in their natural environments. This approach reveals insights that traditional usability tests or surveys might miss. By exploring how users behave, think, and feel in real-life contexts, UX researchers can design products that truly fit users’ needs

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research aims to create products that fit users’ needs and environments. One key to achieving this is understanding the context of use —the conditions and situations in which users interact with a product. Without this insight, designs risk missing the mark, leading to frustration or abandonment. This post explores the main methods UX researchers use to uncover context of use, why they matter, and how they shape bett

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader UX research delivers the insights that shape intuitive, impactful products—but even the best research can go unused if the organization doesn’t understand or value it. That’s where evangelizing UX research  comes in. Evangelizing isn’t just “talking about research.” It’s a sustained effort to educate, inspire, and integrate  UX research into decision-making so it becomes a natural part of the product development process. Why Evangelism M

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Recruiting the right participants for UX research can make or break the success of a project. Without genuine user insights, teams risk building products that miss the mark. Yet, finding and engaging suitable participants often proves difficult. This post explores practical strategies to recruit UX research participants, highlights common challenges, and reviews tools that can simplify the process. User research recruitment form on lapto

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Choosing the right sample size in UX research can make or break your study’s success. Too few participants might lead to unreliable results, while too many can waste time and resources. Finding the balance is essential to gather meaningful insights that truly reflect user behavior and preferences. UX researcher reviewing user data on laptop Why Sample Size Matters in UX Research Sample size affects the accuracy and reliability of your fi

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader What It Covers For each key UX method below, you'll find: Definition Usage context  (when to use) Type  (qualitative vs. quantitative) Sample size guidance Drawbacks & limitations Alternatives or related techniques 1. Usability Testing What it is : Observing users as they complete tasks to assess product intuitiveness.  Springboard+14Looppanel+14HubSpot Blog+14 Medium+5Maze+5Nielsen Norman Group+5 Nielsen Norman Groupstudio.ey.com +15UX.

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research shapes how products and services meet real user needs. To design meaningful experiences, understanding users through research is essential. UX research splits into two main approaches: qualitative and quantitative. Each offers unique insights, and mastering both helps create well-rounded, user-centered designs. This post explores key techniques in qualitative and quantitative UX research, showing how to appl

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Design is more than just making things look good. It’s about making products easy to use, intuitive, and enjoyable. The key to achieving this lies in understanding how people think and behave. Cognitive science offers valuable insights into human perception, memory, and decision-making. By applying these insights, designers can create interfaces and experiences that feel natural and reduce user frustration. This post explores some of the

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Usability testing reveals how real users interact with a product, highlighting areas that need improvement. Choosing between moderated and unmoderated testing depends on your goals, resources, and timeline. Both methods offer unique advantages and challenges. Understanding best practices for each can help you gather meaningful insights that improve user experience. User participating in a moderated usability test session Understanding Mo

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding your competitors’ user experience (UX) can reveal valuable insights that help improve your own product. Competitive analysis in UX research goes beyond just comparing features or pricing. It involves studying how users interact with competitor products, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and uncovering opportunities to create a better experience. This post outlines practical steps and best practices to conduct effective

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 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 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

By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader Two decades in UX have taught me something simple but profound: while tools, technologies, and methodologies evolve, human principles never go out of style.  AI may reshape how we collect data, analyze patterns, and scale insights—but the fundamentals of great research remain deeply human. Here are the five principles I live by—and why they matter more than ever today. Five Principles of UX Research 1. Be Relentlessly Curious Curiosity i