PHILIP BURGESS

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader When I first started working in UX research, I relied heavily on basic methods like surveys and usability testing. These tools gave me useful insights, but I quickly realized they only scratched the surface of understanding users’ true needs and behaviors. Over time, I explored more advanced UX research methodologies that helped me uncover deeper insights and design better experiences. In this post, I want to share some of those methods,

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader Diary studies offer a unique window into people's daily lives, capturing behaviors, thoughts, and emotions as they happen. Unlike traditional research methods that rely on recall or one-time observations, diary studies collect data over time, providing rich, detailed insights. This approach helps researchers understand patterns and contexts that might otherwise be missed. Diary with handwritten notes and pen What Are Diary Studies? Diary

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 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