By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Why Ethics of AI in UX Research Matters AI is reshaping how we conduct UX research — from automated transcription and sentiment analysis to predictive modeling of user behavior. While these tools bring speed and scale, they also introduce new ethical challenges. UX researchers must ensure that automation doesn’t come at the expense of consent, privacy, or participant trust. Key Ethical Challenges Informed Consent : Are participants fully

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Why ROI Matters More Than Ever In an era where AI is accelerating workflows and budgets are under constant scrutiny, UX researchers are being asked the same question more often: what’s the measurable business impact of our work?  Demonstrating the ROI (Return on Investment) of UX research is no longer optional — it’s essential for securing executive buy-in, scaling research programs, and proving strategic value. Traditional ROI Challenge

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Resumes have barely changed in decades—static documents, bullet points, and PDFs that rarely capture who you are as a professional. They often feel more like checklists than stories, and they rarely give hiring managers, collaborators, or clients a chance to experience who you are in real time. So, I asked myself: What if a resume could talk back? What if it wasn’t just read—but experienced? That’s exactly what I set out to build with my

As user expectations accelerate and product cycles compress, traditional research methods are giving way to continuous feedback loops. Here's how to build a research practice that keeps pace with modern product development.

As users seamlessly move between devices and platforms, UX researchers must evolve their strategies to capture insights across the entire user journey. Here's how to build research frameworks that work in our multi-device world.

When I first dove into the world of user experience, 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. If you’re aiming to lead advanced UX research and strategy, understanding the core user experience principles is non-negotiable. These principles guide us in creating products and services that are not only usable but also delightful and effective. Let’s exp

🎯 Background An e-commerce retailer noticed unusually high shopping cart abandonment rates. Initial analytics showed a sharp drop-off at...

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader AI is no longer a buzzword in UX research—it’s becoming part of the toolkit. From auto-summarizing interviews to clustering survey responses, AI promises speed and efficiency. But here’s the catch: AI should augment human insight, not replace it. The real power lies in combining the scale and speed of AI with the empathy, curiosity, and contextual understanding that only humans bring. AI and UX Research Strategy: Why AI Alone Falls Shor

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader When you share research findings with executives, you’re not just presenting data—you’re competing for attention in a world of financial reports, roadmap debates, and urgent fires. A 50-slide deck packed with numbers might check the box, but it won’t spark action. That’s where storytelling as strategy  comes in. Storytelling transforms findings from facts into memorable, influential narratives  that stick with leaders long after the meet

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Every product team needs direction. Just as navigators use the North Star to stay oriented on long journeys, UX researchers need a guiding vision that ensures every study contributes to the bigger picture. Without it, research risks becoming scattered—reacting to requests instead of strategically driving impact. Why a North Star Matters in UX Research Prevents Random Acts of Research Without a guiding vision, teams often jump into ad-hoc

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader For many organizations, UX research is synonymous with usability testing. It’s the familiar, tactical method: put a prototype in front of users, observe their struggles, and fix obvious issues. While useful, this narrow focus misses the strategic potential of UX research —to shape product direction, align stakeholders, and reduce risk long before designs hit the screen. It’s time to shift from UX Research Tactics to Strategy Why Staying

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader When an organization grows, so does the demand for research. Suddenly, it’s not just a handful of product teams asking for insights—it’s dozens of teams, across multiple regions, each needing reliable evidence to guide design and business decisions. Without structure, research becomes fragmented, inconsistent, and hard to operationalize. Scaling UX research isn’t about doing more studies ; it’s about building systems that ensure quality,

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader We’ve all been there: you finish a research project, craft a beautiful report, share it with stakeholders—and then… silence. The findings are appreciated, but they don’t translate into decisions, design changes, or business impact . The truth is: a research report isn’t the end of the work.  It’s the bridge  between evidence and action. To be influential, reports must not only inform  but also inspire and direct . Why Research Reports Of

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s quickly becoming a core part of how UX researchers work. From automating repetitive tasks to uncovering new insights, AI tools can enhance efficiency, but they must be used thoughtfully. The goal is not to replace the researcher’s judgment, but to augment human expertise with machine speed and scale . Why Pair UX Research and AI? Efficiency:  Automate time-consuming tasks like transcription, clus

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader When people think of UX Research Ops, they often imagine dedicated specialists supporting large research teams. But what if you’re a team of one—responsible for planning, running, and delivering every study? The truth is: ResearchOps is even more essential in this context. With limited time and resources, building repeatable systems allows you to scale yourself  and still deliver meaningful impact. Why UX Research Ops Matters for a Solo

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader In today’s fast-moving digital world, UX research isn’t just about running studies and collecting data—it’s about building systems that help organizations make better, evidence-based decisions. For leaders managing large UX research teams, the role expands beyond methods and deliverables. It’s about vision, alignment, and people development . The Role of a UX Research Leader At scale, leadership becomes less about conducting studies your

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Diary studies are one of the most underutilized but powerful methods in the UX researcher’s toolkit. They give us a window into users’ real lives—capturing behaviors, thoughts, and emotions as they unfold naturally over time. Unlike lab studies or one-off interviews, diary studies help uncover longitudinal patterns  and contextual insights  that are easy to miss in snapshot research. What Are Diary Studies? A diary study asks participant

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader Remote and hybrid work have permanently reshaped how teams connect, collaborate, and grow. While the tools have changed, one timeless leadership model continues to stand out: servant leadership . Rooted in empathy, trust, and empowerment, servant leadership is especially powerful in distributed workplaces where face-to-face connections are limited. What is Servant Leadership? Servant leadership flips the traditional hierarchy. Instead of

# Building a Strong UX Research Foundation: The Essential Steps By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader 1. The Business Case Defines the “Why” The business case sets the stage for our research. It answers essential questions: Why are we doing this research? What business decision or risk does it support? Example Customer service calls about claims submissions have increased by 30%, costing $250K per quarter. We need to understand what’s driving this friction to reduce costs a

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader In today's fast-paced digital world, user experience (UX) design directly impacts the success of products and services. Research is a cornerstone of this process, but it has often been confined to specialized teams. This can create gaps between user insights and the wider product development team. Now, a shift towards democratizing UX research is allowing everyone on the team to have a voice in the research process. This inclusive approa