PHILIP BURGESS

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working in UX research, the process often felt slow and repetitive. Gathering user feedback, analyzing data, and generating insights took weeks, sometimes months. I knew there had to be a better way. That’s when I began exploring agentic AI—intelligent systems that can act autonomously to support and improve UX research workflows. Since then, I’ve seen firsthand how this technology can transform the way we work, maki

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first stepped into a UX research leadership role, I quickly realized that guiding a team through complex projects was far more challenging than I expected. Mistakes happen, but some can slow down progress or even damage the credibility of UX research within an organization. Over time, I learned which pitfalls to watch for and how to steer clear of them. If you lead a UX research team or aspire to, this post will help you avoid com

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Using research effectively can transform how designers and product managers (PMs) make decisions. Yet, many teams struggle to integrate research into their daily workflows. I’ve seen firsthand how coaching can bridge this gap, helping teams not only understand research but also apply it in ways that improve products and user experiences. In this post, I’ll share practical strategies I’ve used to coach designers and PMs to get more value

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first joined a product team, I quickly realized we lacked a clear way to measure how users experienced our product. We relied on gut feelings and anecdotal feedback, which made it hard to know what truly worked or where to improve. Building a UX measurement framework changed everything. It gave us clear data to guide decisions and improve user satisfaction. If you want to create a similar system in your organization, here’s how to

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working in UX research, my focus was narrow: understand users for a single product, gather feedback, and improve that product. Over time, I realized this approach misses a bigger opportunity. UX research can and should extend beyond individual products to shape broader strategies that benefit entire organizations and ecosystems. This shift changes how we think about users, data, and design decisions. In this post, I’

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

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research shapes how products and services meet real user needs. When done well, it drives better design decisions, improves satisfaction, and boosts business outcomes. Yet many UX research efforts fall short because they lack a clear foundation. Building a high-impact UX research practice requires focus on five key pillars that guide every step from planning to delivery. This post breaks down those pillars and offers

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research often generates valuable insights, but connecting those insights directly to business outcomes remains a challenge for many organizations. Without clear key performance indicators (KPIs), UX efforts risk being seen as abstract or disconnected from company goals. This post explains how to build KPIs that link UX research to measurable business impact, helping teams demonstrate the value of their work and guid

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Aligning research goals with business goals is essential for companies that want to make informed decisions and drive meaningful growth. When research efforts connect directly to what a business aims to achieve, the results become more actionable and valuable. This post explains how to create that alignment clearly and practically. Researcher analyzing data charts to align goals Understand the Business Goals Clearly Before setting resear

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research often struggles to make a real impact on product decisions. Teams collect data, run surveys, and conduct interviews, but the insights rarely translate into meaningful changes. The problem is not the research itself but how the strategy is built and integrated into the product development process. This post explains how to create a UX research strategy that drives clear, actionable decisions and improves your

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research has always played a key role in shaping products that meet user needs. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming this field, shifting UX research from a purely tactical function to a strategic driver of innovation and business growth. This change affects how teams gather insights, make decisions, and design experiences that truly resonate with users. UX researcher reviewing AI-driven insights AI En

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Ambiguous problem statements often block progress in research projects. When the problem is unclear, teams struggle to focus their efforts, wasting time and resources. Turning vague questions into clear, strategic research objectives is essential for meaningful results. This post explains how to break down unclear problems and build focused research goals that guide effective investigation. Transforming unclear problems into clear resear

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Executive leaders face constant pressure to make decisions that drive business success. They rely on clear, reliable information to guide product development, customer experience, and strategic planning. UX research can provide this information, but only if it meets the specific needs of these leaders. Understanding what executive leaders truly want from UX research helps teams deliver insights that influence decisions and create real im

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Understanding how users interact with a product or service is essential for making smart business choices. UX metrics provide clear, measurable data that reveal how well a design meets user needs. When used correctly, these metrics can guide strategic decisions that improve customer satisfaction, increase engagement, and boost overall success. This post explores how to use UX metrics effectively to shape strategy. It covers key types of

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research often gets boxed into the role of a service team that delivers usability tests or user feedback on demand. This limits its potential and undervalues the insights it can provide. To truly benefit from UX research, organizations need to position it as a strategic partner that shapes product direction, business decisions, and customer understanding. This post explores how to shift the perception of UX research

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research is essential for designing products that meet real user needs. Yet, even when the research itself is thorough and well-executed, the overall UX research strategy can still fail. This disconnect often leaves teams frustrated and products underperforming. Understanding why this happens helps avoid wasted effort and ensures research truly drives better design decisions. Workspace showing UX research materials a

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader In business and decision-making, it’s easy to assume that gathering more research automatically leads to better strategies. The idea seems logical: the more information you have, the smarter your choices will be. Yet, in practice, this is not always true. Sometimes, an overload of data can cloud judgment, delay action, and even lead to poor decisions. Understanding why more research doesn’t always improve strategy can help leaders and te

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader User experience (UX) research plays a crucial role in shaping products that meet users' needs effectively. Yet, as organizations grow, their approach to UX research must evolve to keep pace with changing goals, teams, and resources. What works for a startup may not suit a mature company with multiple product lines and diverse user bases. Understanding how UX research strategies change with organizational maturity helps teams build strong

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Research plays a crucial role in shaping products, services, and business decisions. Yet, within the research field, terms like ResearchOps and Research Strategy often cause confusion. Both are essential but serve different purposes. Understanding how they differ helps teams work more effectively and deliver better outcomes. What is ResearchOps? ResearchOps, short for Research Operations, focuses on the practical side of research. It inv

Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader Exploring AI + UX Research to shape better human experiences Why Strategy Matters in UX Research UX research is more than usability tests and surveys—it’s a strategic function that shapes how organizations understand customers and make decisions. Without a clear strategy, research risks becoming a series of disconnected projects that struggle to influence product direction. A strong UX research strategy ensures that insights are relevant, t