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Outstanding User Research

URI consistently attracts repeat clients who reap the rewards of our skilled research and recruitment teams. Our proficiency lies in conducting both quantitative and qualitative user research, generating concrete outcomes for product development.

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Earn money by taking part in user research and product development.

Are you looking to make some extra money? Participate in studies and fuel the innovation of product development through the URI Participant Portal. With new studies added daily, you’re sure to find something that interests you! Studies typically last between 60-90 minutes and most can be completed from the comfort of your own home. Join today and get involved in the latest products!

Targeted Recruitment

URI locates individuals that meet even the most challenging criteria.

URI’s propriety panel of over 76,000+ qualified participants, along with our full-service recruiting staff, can help you conduct the thorough research you need by providing participants that fit your user profiles. At URI, we employ specialized recruiting applications to streamline the research process and find the perfect participant for your project.

World-Class UX Design

Our team of UX Designers has 20+ years experience delivering genuine value to businesses and their customers.

We know that UX Research and UX Design go better together, ensuring your products and services gain a sustainable advantage over your competitors.

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User Research International is founded on in-person research.

At URI, you can find research labs to meet your needs, all of which offer remote moderation capabilities and enable you to monitor your session from any internet-enabled location. To ensure safety in light of COVID-19, URI also offers Contactless Lab Pods and has a dedicated team to manage these spaces with technical support. Furthermore, they can build custom labs at your requested location.

On-demand Researchers, Recruiters and more.

Remote or on-site staffing for contract, contract-to-hire or permanent positions.

Our candidates are evaluated based on their specialized skills and techniques tailored to the industry, enabling us to find the perfect fit for your project. We can provide a staff member or complete research teams if needed. 

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Researched projects.

URI has mapped out customer journeys, delivered competitive benchmarks and opportunity assessments, and much more.

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Have a unique profile that you need to recruit for a study? URI has your custom recruitment covered.

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URI’s global reach allows you to conduct studies with users of different cultural backgrounds and languages.

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URI has an ever-expanding and comprehensive database of authenticated, receptive participants.

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Research across all the major AI and Machine Learning technologies, as well as developer platforms and services that utilize AI technologies. Learn more.

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make insights your advantage

UX research services that transform customer insights into product success and business impact

full-service ux research from AnswerLab

Creating experiences people love starts with listening. We leverage qualitative and quantitative UX research to get companies the firsthand insights that shape better products and better results at the scale and speed business demands. 

Qualitative to quantitative UX research , we provide custom research solutions to answer your questions and uncover what drives your users.

We make it easy to reach your ideal participants by handling all research operations and logistics and bringing all of our experience to bear for your project. 

With decades of UX expertise, we can help you shape an ongoing, scalable customer insights program to support your product roadmap.

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real-world results

Our insights help clients deliver better customer experiences that deliver business value.

• Increase mobile conversions
• Grow market share
• Apply AI for customer growth

Google asked us: How do we help our clients increase conversions from mobile traffic so they continue to invest in and see value in mobile advertising?

AnswerLab helped a client establish baseline metrics, identify areas for improvement, & set targets for product development with benchmarking UX research.

A major e-commerce client asked us: What do our users want from a shopping experience powered by conversational AI? How could an AI assistant address their needs while they shop?

make the most of our industry expertise

At AnswerLab , we look at the big picture and take the deep dives. Our industry-specific practices and methodologies ensure you talk to the right people and get a breadth of the most valuable perspectives. And with the agility to see where sectors intersect and overlap, we can help you find more robust answers.

uncovering your best answers

Our specialized teams are fully immersed in the latest advances and ongoing trends in their practice areas. From building more inclusive user research practices to exploring emerging domains, we help you explore how your digital interactions shape your customer connections.

We have invested ahead of the curve in emerging technologies, like voice, AR/VR, and AI.  When you’re ready to expand your research approaches, our emerging technologies practice is ready to help with experience and expertise in a range of new modalities, platforms, and features.

Our extensive experience in recruiting diverse participants and uncovering insights to make products more inclusive has given us specialized expertise in DEI research. Our approaches will help you better understand how underrepresented populations experience your products and services.

Our UX research and research ops specialists have experience across platforms, assistive technologies, industries, and populations to solve critical accessibility concerns. 

Hardware products should be tested with potential users early and often. Our iterative research approach can provide your team with hardware and human factor recommendations.

what research leaders are saying

When it comes to the difference AnswerLab can make in the human-centered design process, our clients say it best.

The insights are now a key reference point as we continue to expand features " The researcher's work had a significant impact on our team. Our chief Design Officer and other team members praised the report's clarity and actionability. The insights are now a key reference point as we continue to expand features across web and mobile platforms, driving our ongoing projects with clear, actionable insights." Casey Schnoor | UX Researcher, Twitch

AnswerLab’s quality has been top notch "AnswerLab’s quality has been top notch. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with AnswerLab and hope for the opportunity to do so in the future." Director | User Experience Design, LinkedIn

Their research design provided actionable insights "From our initial discussions to the final presentation of findings, AnswerLab demonstrated a strong understanding of our industry, our business needs, and our customers. Their research design provided actionable insights. We were able to benchmark our site, validate the changes we made, and identify areas for future improvement. They are truly a strategic partner." Steven Abatiello | Manager, Web Operations at National Grid

Critical in guiding our global website redesign "AnswerLab's ongoing benchmarking research has been critical in guiding our global website redesign, and now we will have a continuous reference point for our decision-making going forward." CMO | Global Retailer

Helped my team understand where and how we should most effectively prioritize our resources "UX benchmarking has provided my org with a more nuanced and descriptive means to track our progress towards our annual objectives. Through two rounds of benchmarking, AnswerLab has helped my team track how well new feature launches are supporting user needs – or where they’re falling flat. AnswerLab’s insights have helped my team understand where and how we should most effectively prioritize our resources to ensure we’re best supporting our users across our product." UX Researcher | Google

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Join fellow product leaders to learn how you can successfully weave UX research into product roadmaps

Wondering where to start with UX research for AI-powered experiences? Luckily, established UX research methods like diary studies, concept testing, and journey maps still work great.

Is accessibility UX on your mind? Download our new guide of tried-and-true strategies, best practices, and helpful resources.

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We’d love to know your thoughts, so we can keep making Google products that fit your needs. You’ll get to influence things millions of people use every day, from email and productivity apps to tools for developers and educators. 

Even if you don’t currently use Google products, you can still sign up for a chance to participate in our research. If one of our studies is a good fit for you, we’ll get in touch with details and next steps. Most participants will get a thank-you gift.

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Use UX Research Methods throughout Development

The Nielsen Norman Group—an industry-leading UX consulting organization—identifies appropriate UX research methods which you can use during a project’s four stages . Key methods are:

Discover – Determine what is relevant for users.

Contextual inquiries – Interview suitable users in their own environment to see how they perform the task/s in question.

Diary studies – Have users record their daily interactions with a design or log their performance of activities.

Explore – Examine how to address all users’ needs.

Card sorting – Write words and phrases on cards; then let participants organize them in the most meaningful way and label categories to ensure that your design is structured in a logical way.

Customer journey maps – Create user journeys to expose potential pitfalls and crucial moments.

Test – Evaluate your designs.

Usability testing – Ensure your design is easy to use.

Accessibility evaluations – Test your design to ensure it’s accessible to everyone.

Listen – Put issues in perspective, find any new problems and notice trends.

Surveys/Questionnaires – Use these to track how users’ feel about your product.

Analytics – Collect analytics/metrics to chart (e.g.) website traffic and build reports.

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Whichever UX research method you choose, you need to consider the pros and cons of the different techniques . For instance, card sorting is cheap and easy, but you may find it time-consuming when it comes to analysis. Also, it might not give you in-depth contextual meaning. Another constraint is your available resources , which will dictate when, how much and which type of UX research you can do. So, decide carefully on the most relevant method/s for your research . Moreover, involve stakeholders from your organization early on . They can reveal valuable UX insights and help keep your research in line with business goals. Remember, a design team values UX research as a way to validate its assumptions about users in the field , slash the cost of the best deliverables and keep products in high demand —ahead of competitors’.

User research methods have different pros and cons,and vary from observations of users in context to controlled experiments in lab settings.

Learn More about UX Research

For a thorough grasp of UX research, take our course here: User Research – Methods and Best Practices

Read an extensive range of UX research considerations, discussed in Smashing Magazine: A Comprehensive Guide To UX Research

See the Nielsen Norman Group’s list of UX research tips: UX Research Cheat Sheet

Here’s a handy, example-rich catalog of UX research tools: 43 UX research tools for optimizing your product

Questions related to UX Research

UX research is a good career for those who enjoy working with a team and have strong communication skills. As a researcher, you play a crucial role in helping your team understand users and deliver valuable and delightful experiences. You will find a UX research career appealing if you enjoy scientific and creative pursuits. 

Start exploring this career option; see the User Researcher Learning Path .

Studies suggest that companies are also willing to pay well for research roles. The average salary for a UX researcher ranges from $92,000 to $146,000 per year.

In smaller companies, user research may be one of the responsibilities of a generalist UX designer. How much can your salary vary based on your region? Find out in UI & UX Designer Salaries: How Much Can I Earn .

Research is one part of the overall UX design process. UX research helps inform the design strategy and decisions made at every step of the design process. In smaller teams, a generalist designer may end up conducting research.

A UX researcher aims to understand users and their needs. A UX designer seeks to create a product that meets those needs.

A UX researcher gathers information. A UX designer uses that information to create a user-friendly and visually appealing product.

Learn more about the relationship between UX research and UX design in the course:

User Experience: The Beginner’s Guide

If we consider a very broad definition of UX, then all user research is UX research.

However, in practice, there is a subtle difference between user research and UX research. While both involve understanding people, user research can involve users in any kind of research question, and some questions may not be that directly connected to user experience.

For example, you might do user research relating to a customer’s experience in relation to pricing, delivery or the experience across multiple channels.

Common UX research methods are usability testing, A/B testing, surveys, card sorting, user interviews, usage analytics and ethnographic research. Each method has its pros and cons and is useful in different scenarios. Hence, you must select the appropriate research method for the research question and target audience. Learn more about these methods in 7 Great, Tried and Tested UX Research Techniques .

Get started with user research. Download the User Research template bundle .

For a deep dive into usability testing—the most common research method, take the course Conducting Usability Testing .

Having a degree in a related field can give you an advantage. However, you don’t need a specific degree to become a UX researcher. A combination of relevant education, practical experience, and continuous learning can help you pursue a career in UX research. Many UX researchers come from diverse educational backgrounds, including psychology, statistics, human-computer interaction, information systems, design and anthropology.

Some employers may prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree. However, it does not have to be in a UX-related field. There are relatively fewer degrees that focus solely on user research.

Data-Driven Design: Quantitative Research for UX

User Research – Methods and Best Practices

Every research project will vary. However, there are some common steps in conducting research, no matter which method or tool you decide to use: 

Define the research question

Select the appropriate research method

Recruit participants

Conduct the research

Analyze the data

Present the findings

You can choose from various UX research tools . Your choice depends on your research question, how you're researching, the size of your organization, and your project. For instance:

Survey tools such as Typeform and Google Forms.

Card sorting tools such as Maze and UXtweak.

Heatmap tools such as HotJar and CrazyEgg

Usability testing (through first-click testing and tree-testing) tools such as Optimal Workshop and Loop 11

Diagramming applications such as Miro and Whimsical to analyze qualitative data through affinity diagramming.

Spreadsheet tools such as Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel for quantitative data analysis

Interface design and prototyping tools like Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch and Marvel to conduct usability testing.

Presentation tools such as Keynote, Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Many of these tools offer additional features you can leverage for multiple purposes. To understand how you can make the most of these tools, we recommend these courses:

There are relatively fewer degrees that focus solely on user research.

While there are no universal research case study formats, here’s one suggested outline: 

An overview of the project: Include the problem statement, goals and objectives.

The research methods and methodology: For example, surveys, interviews, or usability testing).

Research findings

The design process: How the research findings led to design decisions.

Impact of design decisions on users and the business: Include metrics such as conversion and error rates to demonstrate the impact.

Optionally, include notes on what you learned and how you can improve the process in the future.

Learn how to showcase your portfolio to wow your future employer/client in the How to Create a UX Portfolio course.

While AI can help automate tasks and help UX researchers, it will not completely replace them. AI lacks the creativity and empathy that human designers bring to the table.

Human researchers are better at understanding the nuances of human behavior and emotions. They can also think outside the box and develop creative solutions that AI cannot. So, AI can help researchers be more efficient and effective through data analysis, smart suggestions and automation. But it cannot replace them.

Watch AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career to learn how you can work with AI.

Agile teams often struggle to incorporate user research in their workflows due to the time pressure of short sprints. However, that doesn’t mean agile teams can’t conduct research. Instead of seeing research as one big project, teams can break it into bite-sized chunks. Researchers regularly conduct research and share their findings in every sprint.

Researchers can involve engineers and other stakeholders in decision-making to give everyone the context they need to make better decisions. When engineers participate in the decision-making process, they can ensure that the design will be technically feasible. There will also be lower chances of errors when the team actually builds the feature. Here’s more on how to make research a team effort .

For more on bite-sized research, see this Master Class: Continuous Product Discovery: The What and Why

For more practical tips and methods to work in an agile environment, take our Agile Methods for UX Design course.

User research is very important in designing products people will want and use. It helps us avoid designing based on what we think instead of what users actually want.

UX research helps designers understand their users’ needs, behaviors, attitudes and how they interact with a product or service. Research helps identify usability problems, gather feedback on design concepts, and validate design decisions. This ultimately benefits businesses by improving the product, brand reputation and loyalty. A good user experience provides a competitive edge and reduces the risk of product failure.

Learn more about the importance of user research in the design process in these courses:

Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide

Answer a Short Quiz to Earn a Gift

What is the primary purpose of UX research in design processes?

• To ensure the product is visually appealing.
• To reduce the cost of marketing the product.
• To understand user needs and enhance design decisions.

Which type of UX research do designers use to collect non-numerical data such as opinions and motivations?

• Behavioral research
• Qualitative research
• Quantitative research

Which UX research method involves users sorting terms into categories to help structure design logically?

• Card sorting
• Information architecture
• Usability testing

What is a potential drawback of using card sorting in UX research?

• It can be expensive and requires special software.
• It may not provide deep contextual insights.
• It only works for digital products.

How does UX research primarily benefit a design team in a business context?

• It focuses exclusively on the aesthetic aspects of product design.
• It reduces dependency on technology.
• It validates design assumptions and keeps products competitive.

Better luck next time!

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Literature on UX Research

Here’s the entire UX literature on UX Research by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:

Learn more about UX Research

Take a deep dive into UX Research with our course User Research – Methods and Best Practices .

How do you plan to design a product or service that your users will love , if you don't know what they want in the first place? As a user experience designer, you shouldn't leave it to chance to design something outstanding; you should make the effort to understand your users and build on that knowledge from the outset. User research is the way to do this, and it can therefore be thought of as the largest part of user experience design .

In fact, user research is often the first step of a UX design process—after all, you cannot begin to design a product or service without first understanding what your users want! As you gain the skills required, and learn about the best practices in user research, you’ll get first-hand knowledge of your users and be able to design the optimal product—one that’s truly relevant for your users and, subsequently, outperforms your competitors’ .

This course will give you insights into the most essential qualitative research methods around and will teach you how to put them into practice in your design work. You’ll also have the opportunity to embark on three practical projects where you can apply what you’ve learned to carry out user research in the real world . You’ll learn details about how to plan user research projects and fit them into your own work processes in a way that maximizes the impact your research can have on your designs. On top of that, you’ll gain practice with different methods that will help you analyze the results of your research and communicate your findings to your clients and stakeholders—workshops, user journeys and personas, just to name a few!

By the end of the course, you’ll have not only a Course Certificate but also three case studies to add to your portfolio. And remember, a portfolio with engaging case studies is invaluable if you are looking to break into a career in UX design or user research!

We believe you should learn from the best, so we’ve gathered a team of experts to help teach this course alongside our own course instructors. That means you’ll meet a new instructor in each of the lessons on research methods who is an expert in their field—we hope you enjoy what they have in store for you!

All open-source articles on UX Research

7 great, tried and tested ux research techniques.

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4 Common Pitfalls in Usability Testing and How to Avoid Them to Get More Honest Feedback

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6 Tips for Better International UX Research

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• 10 mths ago

Collaborating with Your Team for Research

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In 9 chapters, we’ll cover: conducting user interviews, design thinking, interaction design, mobile UX design, usability, UX research, and many more!

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What is UX Research: The Ultimate Guide for UX Researchers

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User experience research is a crucial component of the human-centered design process and an essential part of creating solutions that meet user expectations and deliver value to customers. This comprehensive guide to UX research dives into the fundamentals of research and its various methods and includes tips and best practices from leading industry experts.

Make informed design decisions with user research

Validate ideas, test prototypes, assess usability, and deliver real, actionable insights to your product team.

UX research: Your ultimate guide to nailing user experience and exceeding expectation

User experience research, or UX research , is the process of gathering insights about users' behaviors, needs, and pain points through observation techniques and feedback methodologies. It’s a form of user research that looks at how users interact with your product, helping bridge the gaps between what you think users need, what users say they need—and what they actually need.

The goal of UX research is to understand your users and gain context and perspectives to help make informed decisions and build user-centered products. It’s an essential part of designing, developing, and launching a product that will be an instant hit—but it should also be used throughout the product’s lifecycle post-launch to keep updated, and ensure new features are relevant to your audience.

As Sinéad Davis Cochrane , UX Manager at Workday, explains: “UX research represents insights gathered directly from users and customers, that helps you make product decisions at every stage of the development process.”

Is UX research the same as user research?

The terms ‘user research’ and ‘UX research’ are often used interchangeably, but they do differ. User research is the parent of UX research; it’s a broader research effort that aims to understand the demographics, behaviors, and sentiments of your users and personas.

UX research, on the other hand, is a type of user research that’s specific to your product or platform. Where user research focuses on the user as a whole, UX research considers how they interact with, respond to, and feel about your product or concept itself.

In both cases, the overarching goal is to get to know your users, understand what they need from your product, gain context to help make informed decisions, and build human-centered experiences.

Involve your users at every stage of your design process

Create research projects with Maze using customizable templates, and start making data-informed product decisions

Why is conducting UX research important?

In an ideal world, users would find your product easy to navigate, your net promoter score (NPS) would be off the charts, and you’d see adoption and activation rates skyrocket. In reality, however, this can be a challenging dream to achieve—but it is possible. The only way to build a product that users really resonate with is by involving them throughout the development process and building with them.

UX research is more than just a single ‘step’ in the development process: it should happen continuously, throughout the product lifecycle—so whether you’re building new products or iterating on existing ones, every decision is informed by user insights.

Here’s what you can achieve with continuous UX research:

Make informed decisions based on data

Our 2023 Continuous Research Report shows that 74% of people who do research (PWDR) believe research is crucial to guiding product decisions. Plus, 60% of respondents find that user recommendations inspire new product ideas.

Getting stakeholder buy-in to product decisions can be challenging, but when you suggest changes based on UX research, you have data to back up your suggestions. Your users inform your product, becoming the decision-makers as well as the customer.

UX research helps reduce and mitigate the risk of building the wrong thing—or building the right thing in the wrong way.

Sinéad Davis Cochrane , UX Manager at Workday

Reduce bias in the UX design process

There are hundreds of cognitive biases identified by psychologists, many of which unknowingly influence our decisions and the products we build. But a key principle of great UX design is to put aside existing beliefs, and learn from your users.

“You have to be humble, optimistic, and open-minded,” says Bertrand Berlureau , Senior Product Designer at iMSA. Using effective UX research, you can root out bias or assumptions, and follow real human behavior to inform product decisions.

According to Sinéad, you should consider these questions early in the design process:

• “What are your assumptions?”
• “What are some of the assumptions you’ve been making about your end-users and product without any evidence?”
• “What are the anecdotes or coincidental pieces of information that you hold, and how can you challenge them?”

Biases can subconsciously affect research and UX design, and it can be tricky to identify them. The first step to overcoming cognitive biases is by being aware of them. Head to chapter three of our cognitive biases guide to discover how.

Test and validate concepts

The power of UX research is that it can prove you right or wrong—but either way, you’ll end up knowing more and creating a product that provides a better user experience. For Bertrand, an idea without a test is just an idea. So, before the design process, his team starts with these user research methods:

• Face-to-face and remote user interviews
• Focus groups
• Co-creativity sessions through design sprints, quick prototyping, and hypothesis concepts
• User testing

UX research is the only way to unequivocally confirm your product is solving the right problem, in the right way. By speaking directly to real users, you can pinpoint what ideas to focus on, then validate your proposed solution, before investing too much time or money into the wrong concept.

Work on solutions that bring real value to customers

Another main benefit of UX research is that it allows product teams to mitigate risk and come up with products users want to use. “One of the main risks we need to control is whether users actually want to use a solution we've implemented,” explains Luke Vella , Group Product Manager at Maze. “UX research helps us reduce this risk, allowing us to build solutions that our customers see as valuable and make sure that they know how to unlock that value.”

Luke works on pricing and packaging, an area that requires constant user research. On one hand, he and his team want to understand which problems their users are facing and come up with plans to satisfy those different needs. On the other hand, they need to make sure they can monetize in a sustainable way to further invest in the product. You can only get this perfect balance by speaking to users to inform each step of the decision.

Market your product internally and externally

UX research also plays a crucial role in helping product marketers understand the customer and effectively communicate a product's value to the market—after all, a product can only help those who know about it.

For example, Naomi Francis , Senior Product Marketing Manager at Maze, uses different research methods to inform marketing strategy. Naomi conducts user interviews to build personas, using user research to collect insights on messaging drafts, product naming, and running surveys to gather user feedback on beta products and onboarding.

Understanding how and why customers need and use our product pushes marketing launches to the next level—you can get a steer on everything from messaging to language and approach.

Naomi Francis , Senior Product Marketing Manager at Maze

Types of UX research

All UX research methods fit into broader UX research techniques that drive different goals, and provide different types of insight. You can skip to chapter seven for a rundown of the top 9 UX research methods , or keep reading for a deep dive on the main types of UX research:

• Moderated and unmoderated
• Remote and in-person
• Generate and evaluate
• Qualitative and quantitative
• Behavioral and attitudinal

Where moderated/unmoderated and remote/in-person refer to the way research is conducted , the other types of UX research reflect the type of data they gather.

The most powerful insights come from a mixture of testing types—e.g. attitudinal and behavioral, generative and evaluative, and quantitative and qualitative. You don’t need to run all types of research at all times, but you’ll benefit from gathering multiple types of data throughout different stages of product development.

Moderated research

Moderated research is any research conducted with a facilitator or researcher present. A moderator may observe research sessions and take notes, ask questions, or provide instruction to participants where needed.

Like all research, it’s crucial a moderator doesn’t overly guide participants or influence results. Due to certain types of cognitive biases , people may behave differently while being observed, so researchers often opt for unmoderated methods to avoid results being impacted.

UX research methods for moderated research

• User interviews to speak directly with your target user face-to-face
• Focus groups to gather feedback on a variety of topics
• Moderated usability testing to hear the thought process behind the actions

Unmoderated research

As the name suggests, unmoderated research refers to the lack of a moderator. Often used in tandem with remote research , users complete tasks independently, guided by pre-written instructions.

Unmoderated research is helpful to ensure users are acting entirely of their own volition, and it has a lower cost and quicker turnaround than moderated research—however it does require efficient planning and preparation, to ensure users can navigate the tasks unaided.

UX research methods for unmoderated research

• Unmoderated usability testing to see how easily users navigate your product
• Live website testing to witness users interacting with your product in real time
• Surveys to have users answer specific questions and rate design elements

Remote research

An incredibly flexible approach, remote research is often favored due to its time-to-results and cost savings. Remote research can be moderated or unmoderated, and is conducted using UX research tools which record user behavior, feedback, and screen recordings.

Another key benefit is its reach and accessibility—by moving research to a virtual platform, you can access users from anywhere in the world, and ensure research is inclusive of those with different abilities or requirements, who may otherwise be unable to take part in traditional in-person research.

UX research methods for remote research

• Usability testing to evaluate how accessible your product is
• Card sorting to understand how users categorize and group topics
• Concept testing to assess what ideas users are drawn to
• Wireframe or prototype testing to invite users to test a rough version of the design

In-person research

Research conducted in-person is typically more expensive, as it may require travel, accommodation, or equipment. Many traditionally in-person research methods can easily be performed remotely, so in-person research is often reserved for if there’s additional needs for accessibility, or if your product requires physical testing, safety considerations or supervision while being tested.

UX research methods for in-person research

• Guerrilla research to speak to random users and gather feedback
• User interviews to connect with users and read body language
• Field studies to gauge how your product fits into a real world environment

Generative research

Generative research provides a deep understanding of your target audience’s motivations, challenges, and behaviors. Broadly speaking, it pinpoints a problem statement, identifies the problem to be solved, and collects enough data to move forward.

It should happen before you even begin designing, as it helps you identify what to build, the types of problems your user is facing, and how you can solve them with your product or service.

UX research methods for generative research

• Field studies to get familiar with users in their authentic environment
• User interviews to ask open-ended questions about pain points
• Diary research to keep a log of users’ behaviors, activities, and beliefs over time
• Open card sorting to have users define and name their own categories

Evaluative research

Evaluative research focuses on evaluating a product or concept in order to collect data that will improve the solution. Evaluative research usually happens early on and is used in a continuous, iterative way throughout the design process and following launch. You can use this type of UX research to assess an idea, check navigation, or see if your prototype meets your user’s needs.

UX research methods for evaluative research

• Usability testing to see if your platform is easy and intuitive to use
• A/B testing two versions of a design to see which one works best
• Tree testing to assess if your website’s information architecture (IA) makes sense
• Five-second tests to collect first impressions

Behavioral research

This type of research refers to observation—it’s human nature that sometimes what we say, or what we think we’ll do doesn’t match up to what we actually do in a situation. Behavioral research is about observing how users interact with your product or how they behave in certain situations, without any intervention.

UX research methods for behavioral research

• Observation in labs or real environments to witness behavior in real time
• Tree testing to view which paths users take on a website
• Diary research to see how users interact with your product in real life

Attitudinal research

Attitudinal research is the companion to behavioral research—it’s about what people say, and how they feel. In attitudinal research, you ask users to share their own experiences and opinions; this may be about your product, a concept, or specific design element. With a mix of attitudinal and behavioral research, you can get a broader picture of what your user truly needs.

UX research methods for attitudinal research

• Focus groups to understand users’ perspectives on your product
• User interviews to ask people questions about your product directly
• Surveys to gather insights on user preferences and opinions

Quantitative research

Quantitative and qualitative research methods are two types of research that can be used in unison or separately. Quantitative research comes from data and statistics, and results in numerical data.

It allows you to identify patterns, make predictions, and generalize findings about a target audience or topic. “[At iMSA] We analyze a lot of metrics and specific data like traffic analytics, chatbot feedback, user surveys, user testing, etc. to make decisions,” explains Bertrand. “The convergence of all the data, our user’s needs, governs the choices we make.”

Types of quantitative results you can find through UX research include:

• Time spent on tasks
• Net promoter score (NPS)
• System usability score (SUS)
• Number of clicks taken to complete a task
• Preference percentage on A/B tests

UX research methods for quantitative research

• A/B testing to see which option your users likes best
• Tree testing to get data on which paths users follow on your website
• Usability testing to get a score on system usability
• Heatmaps to spot where users spend most of their session time

Qualitative research

Qualitative research is about understanding the why behind the data. It comes from comments, opinions, and observations—this type of research answers why and how users think or act in a certain way. Qualitative data helps you understand the underlying motivations, thoughts, and attitudes of target users. For this reason, attitudinal research is often qualitative (though not always).

UX research methods for qualitative research

• Interviews to discover your users’ motivations and frustrations
• Open question surveys to learn users’ pain points in their own words
• Focus groups to observe users’ interacting with your product
• Think aloud usability tests to hear commentary behind each user decision

💡 Product tip:

Maze allows you to record your participants' screen, audio, and video with Clips, so you can collect qualitative and quantitative insights simultaneously.

When should you conduct UX research?

The truth is, you should always be researching. When NASA wants to send a new shuttle into space, they don't build a rocket and launch it right away. They develop a design, test it in simulations and lab environments, and iterate between each stage. Only once they’ve run all the foreseeable scenarios do they put a person on the ship. Why should your product be any different?

With an overwhelming 83% of product professionals surveyed in our 2023 Continuous Research Report believing research should happen at all stages, it’s surprising that just 36% run tests after launch. While time and budget can make continuous research a challenge, testing at different stages gives you access to unique insights about your users and how they interact with your product.

That being said, if you can only afford to research a few times throughout the development process , here are some key moments to focus on:

Before developing the product

This is when you need to conduct the most extensive and detailed part of your research. During this phase, you’ll want to conduct generative research to get to know exactly:

• Who your user is
• The types of problems they’re facing (and what kind of product they want to solve them)
• What their expectations on a product or service like yours are
• What they like or dislike about your competitors
• Where they currently go to solve the mentioned problems
• What needs to happen for them to change companies (if they’re using a different product)

You can use a variety of UX research methods like focus groups and surveys to gather insights during this stage.

Remember: This step applies even if your product is already live, if you’re thinking of introducing a new feature. Validate your idea and investigate potential alternatives before you spend time and money developing and designing new functionality.

When you want to validate your decisions

This is the point where you’ll run through a few cycles of researching, building, and iterating, before launching your product. The Maze Product team does this through continuous product discovery, via a dual-track habit:

Conduct research regularly while developing and building your product to see if you’re headed in the right direction. Let the research findings feed your deliverables.

Gather qualitative insights on user sentiment through surveys or focus groups. Test your wireframe or sketches to get quantitative answers in the form of clicks, heatmaps, or SUS. Use card sorting to generate ideas, tree testing to assess IA, or prototype testing to assess the usability of a beta version. The options are endless, so there’s no reason to miss maximizing your research at this stage and gather insights to power product decisions.

To evaluate product accessibility

Your product will be used by a multitude of diverse, unique users. Your research participants should be representative of your real audience, which means including all usage scenarios and user personas. Usability testing is one form of UX research that can be used here to ensure your product works for all its users, regardless of ability or need.

There are many ways to ensure your design is inclusive and accessible , including:

• Testing alt-texts, screen-reading capabilities, and color combinations
• Avoiding screen flashes or sudden pop-ups that may be triggering for certain conditions
• Being intentional in what language and imagery is used

Once your product is live

Research doesn’t end once you push your platform to production. Conduct Live Website Testing to evaluate how well your product is meeting your users' expectations and needs. This type of research invites you to answer the question: did we nail it?

Testing your live website also allows you to see how your users interact with your design in a real environment, so you can identify and solve mistakes fast. Pay close attention to loading times, error messages, and other quantitative data that may indicate bugs. You can also conduct regular sentiment checks by embedding feedback surveys into your product itself, to assess user satisfaction and NPS in a few clicks.

TL;DR: Why, how, and when to conduct UX research

The more you understand your customers, the better you can create products that meet expectations, tailor your strategy to their specific needs, and increase your chances for success. Plus, UX research allows you to create unbiased products that put your customers at the center of your business.

To conduct UX research, you’ll need to mix the stage of your product lifecycle with the right research type and methods. Meaning, while you need to conduct UX research continuously, you should look for different types of insights depending on the development stage you’re at and what your current objective is.

For example, if you want to test your live product, you should conduct a mix of quantitative and qualitative evaluative research. That means you might want to perform:

• Usability tests
• Feedback surveys
• Five-second tests
• Prototype testing

Now we’ve covered the what and why of UX research, let’s get into the how. Continue to the next chapter to learn how to create a UX research strategy that blows your competitors away.

Frequently asked questions

What are some examples of UX research?

Some examples of UX research include:

• A/B testing
• Prototype or wireframe testing
• Card sorting
• User interviews
• Tree testing
• 5-second testing
• Usability testing

What are the basics of UX research?

The basics of UX research are simple: you just need a clear goal in mind and a mix of quantitative and qualitative tests. Then, it's a case of:

• Determining the right testing methods
• Testing on an audience that’s an accurate representation of your real users
• Doing continuous product discovery
• Performing unbiased research to build an unbiased design
• Iterating and building user-centric products

UX research gets easier when you use a product discovery platform like Maze. This tool allows you to run multiple types of product research such as usability, prototype, card sorting, and wireframe tests—and get answers within hours.

Is UX research hard?

UX research isn’t hard, especially when you use an intuitive tool for product discovery—like Maze. Maze allows you to build tests using its multiple available templates. It also lets you bring your own users or recruit from its panel and creates an automated, ready-to-share metrics report. Maze gives you answers to tests within hours so you can improve your UX based on real user feedback fast.

Building a UX research strategy

When to Use Which User-Experience Research Methods

July 17, 2022 2022-07-17

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The field of user experience has a wide range of  research methods  available, ranging from tried-and-true methods such as lab-based usability testing to those that have been more recently developed, such as unmoderated UX assessments.

While it's not realistic to use the full set of methods on a given project, nearly all projects would benefit from multiple research methods and from combining insights. Unfortunately, many design teams only use one or two methods that they are most familiar with. The key question is what to use when.

In This Article:

Three-dimensional framework, the attitudinal vs. behavioral dimension, the qualitative vs. quantitative dimension, the context of product use, phases of product development (the time dimension), art or science, 20 ux methods in brief.

To better understand when to use which method, it is helpful to view them along a  3-dimensional framework  with the following axes:

• Attitudinal vs. Behavioral
• Qualitative vs. Quantitative
• Context of Use

The following chart illustrates where 20 popular methods appear along these dimensions:

This distinction can be summed up by  contrasting "what people say" versus "what people do"  (very often the two are quite different). The purpose of attitudinal research is usually to understand or measure people's stated beliefs, but it is limited by what people are aware of and willing to report.

While most  usability studies should rely on behavior , methods that use self-reported information can still be quite useful to designers. For example,  card sorting  provides insights about users' mental model of an information space and can help determine the best information architecture for your product, application, or website.  Surveys  measure and categorize attitudes or collect self-reported data that can help track or discover important issues to address.  Focus groups tend to be less useful for usability  purposes, for a variety of reasons, but can provide a top-of-mind view of what people think about a brand or product concept in a group setting.

On the other end of this dimension, methods that focus mostly on behavior seek to understand "what people do" with the product or service in question. For example  A/B testing  presents changes to a site's design to random samples of site visitors but attempts to hold all else constant, in order to see the effect of different site-design choices on behavior, while  eyetracking  seeks to understand how users visually interact with a design or visual stimulus.

Between these two extremes lie the two most popular methods we use: usability studies and  field studies . They utilize a mixture of self-reported and behavioral data and can move toward either end of this dimension, though leaning toward the behavioral side is generally recommended.

The distinction here is an important one and goes well beyond the narrow view of qualitative as in an open-ended survey question. Rather, studies that are qualitative in nature generate data about behaviors or attitudes based on observing or hearing them  directly , whereas in  quantitative studies , the data about the behavior or attitudes in question are gathered  indirectly , through a measurement or an instrument such as a survey or an  analytics tool . In field studies and usability testing, for example, researchers directly observe how people use (or do not use) technology to meet their needs or to complete tasks. These observations give them the ability to ask questions, probe on behavior, or possibly even adjust the study protocol to better meet study objectives. Analysis of the data is usually not mathematical.

In contrast, the kind of data collected in quantitative methods is predetermined — it could include task time, success, whether the user has clicked on a given UI element or whether they selected a certain answer to a multiple-choice question. The insights in quantitative methods are typically derived from mathematical analysis, since the instrument of data collection (e.g., survey tool or analytics tool) captures such large amounts of data that are automatically coded numerically.

Due to the  nature of their differences ,  qualitative  methods are much better suited for answering questions about  why  or  how to fix  a problem, whereas  quantitative  methods do a much better job answering  how many  and  how much  types of questions. Having such numbers helps prioritize resources, for example to focus on issues with the biggest impact. The following chart illustrates how the first two dimensions affect the types of questions that can be asked:

The third distinction has to do with how and whether participants in the study are using the product or service in question. This can be described as:

• Natural  or near-natural use of the product
• Scripted  use of the product
• Limited  in which a limited form of the product is used to study a specific aspect of the user experience
• Not using  the product during the study (decontextualized)

When studying  natural use  of the product, the goal is to minimize interference from the study in order to understand behavior or attitudes as close to reality as possible. This provides greater external validity but less control over what topics you learn about. Many ethnographic field studies attempt to do this, though there are always some observation biases. Intercept surveys and data mining or other analytic techniques are quantitative examples of this.

A  scripted  study of product usage is done in order to focus the insights on specific product areas, such as a newly redesigned flow. The degree of scripting can vary quite a bit, depending on the study goals. For example, a benchmarking study is usually very tightly scripted, so that it can produce reliable  usability metrics by ensuring consistency across participants.

Limited  methods use a limited form of a product to study a specific or abstracted aspect of the experience. For example, participatory-design methods allow users to interact with and rearrange design elements that  could  be part of a product experience, in order discuss how their proposed solutions would meet their needs and why they made certain choices. Concept-testing methods employ an expression of the idea of a product or service that gets at the heart of what it would provide (and not at the details of the experience) in order to understand if users would want or need such a product or service.  Card sorting and tree testing focus on how the information architecture is or could be arranged to best make sense to participants and make navigation easier.

Studies where the  product is not used  are conducted to examine issues that are broader than usage and usability, such as a study of the brand or discovering the aesthetic attributes that participants associate with a specific design style.

Many of the methods in the chart can move along one or more dimensions, and some do so even in the same study, usually to satisfy multiple goals. For example, field studies can focus a little more on what people say (ethnographic interviews) or emphasize studying what they do (extended observations); concept testing, desirability studies, and card sorting have both qualitative and quantitative versions; and eyetracking can be natural or scripted.

Another important distinction to consider when making a choice among research methodologies is the phase of product development and its associated objectives.  For example, in the beginning of the product-development process, you are typically more interested in the strategic question of what direction to take the product, so methods at this stage are often generative in nature, because they help generate ideas and answers about which way to go.  Once a direction is selected, the design phase begins, so methods in this stage are well-described as formative, because they inform how you can improve the design.  After a product has been developed enough to measure it, it can be assessed against earlier versions of itself or competitors, and methods that do this are called summative. This following table describes where many methods map to these stages in time:

While many user-experience research methods have their roots in scientific practice, their aims are not purely scientific and still need to be adjusted to meet stakeholder needs. This is why the characterizations of the methods here are meant as general guidelines, rather than rigid classifications.

In the end, the success of your work will be determined by how much of an impact it has on improving the user experience of the website or product in question. These classifications are meant to help you make the best choice at the right time.

Here’s a short description of the user research methods shown in the above chart:

Usability testing (aka usability-lab studies): Participants are brought into a lab, one-on-one with a researcher, and given a set of  scenarios that lead to tasks  and usage of specific interest within a product or service.

Field studies : Researchers  study participants in their own environment (work or home), where they would most likely encounter the product or service being used in the most realistic or natural environment.

Contextual inquiry : Researchers and participants collaborate together in the participants own environment to inquire about and observe the nature of the tasks and work at hand. This method is very similar to a field study and was developed to study complex systems and in-depth processes.

Participatory design : Participants are given design elements or creative materials in order to construct their ideal experience in a concrete way that expresses what matters to them most and why.

Focus groups : Groups of 3–12 participants are led through a discussion about a set of topics, giving verbal and written feedback through discussion and exercises.

Interviews : a researcher meets with participants one-on-one to discuss in depth what the participant thinks about the topic in question.

Eyetracking : an eyetracking device is configured to precisely measure where participants look as they perform tasks or interact naturally with websites, applications, physical products, or environments.

Usability benchmarking : tightly scripted usability studies are performed with larger numbers of participants, using precise and predetermined measures of performance, usually with the goal of tracking usability improvements of a product over time or comparing with competitors.

Remote moderated testing :  Usability studies are conducted remotely , with the use of tools such as video conferencing, screen-sharing software, and remote-control capabilities.

Unmoderated testing: An automated method that can be used in both quantitative and qualitative studies and that uses a specialized research tool to capture participant behaviors and attitudes, usually by giving participants goals or scenarios to accomplish with a site, app, or prototype. The tool can  record a video stream of each user session, and can gather usability metrics such as success rate, task time, and perceived ease of use.

Concept testing : A researcher shares an approximation of a product or service that captures the key essence (the value proposition) of a new concept or product in order to determine if it meets the needs of the target audience. It can be done one-on-one or with larger numbers of participants, and either in person or online.

Diary studies : Participants are using a mechanism (e.g., paper or digital diary, camera, smartphone app) to record and describe aspects of their lives that are relevant to a product or service or simply core to the target audience.  Diary studies  are typically longitudinal and can be done only for data that is easily recorded by participants.

Customer feedback : Open-ended and/or close-ended information is provided by a self-selected sample of users, often through a feedback link, button, form, or email.

Desirability studies : Participants are offered different visual-design alternatives and are expected to associate each alternative with a set of attributes selected from a closed list. These studies can be both qualitative and quantitative.

Card sorting : A quantitative or qualitative method that asks users to organize items into groups and assign categories to each group. This method helps  create or refine the information architecture  of a site by exposing users’  mental models .

Tree testing : A quantitative method of testing an information architecture to determine how easy it is to find items in the hierarchy. This method can be conducted on an existing information architecture to benchmark it and then again, after the information architecture is improved with card sorting, to demonstrate improvement.

Analytics : Analyzing data collected from user behavior like clicks, form filling, and other recorded interactions. It requires the site or application to be instrumented properly in advance.

Clickstream analytics:  A particular type of analytics that involves analyzing the sequence of pages that users visit as they use a site or software application.

A/B testing  (aka  multivariate testing , live testing, or bucket testing): A method of scientifically testing different designs on a site by randomly assigning groups of users to interact with each of the different designs and measuring the effect of these assignments on user behavior.

Surveys : A quantitative measure of attitudes through a series of questions, typically more closed-ended than open-ended .  A survey that is triggered during the use of a site or application is an intercept survey, often triggered by user behavior. More typically, participants are recruited from an email message or reached through some other channel such as social media.

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More details about the methods and the dimensions of use in the full-day training course  User Research Methods: From Strategy to Requirements to Design  and the article  A Guide to Using User-Experience Research Methods .

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6 User Research Methods & When To Use Them

Learn more about 6 common user research methods and how they can be used to strengthen your UX design process.

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User research is the process of understanding user needs and desires through observation and feedback. 

It's one of the most important aspects of UX design, and it's used to inform all aspects of the design process, from initial sketches to the final product. Through user research, we can answer important questions about our design, such as Who are our users? and What do they need?

In this blog post, we will discuss six common user research methods, what they are, when to use them, and some common challenges associated with each one.

Let’s get started …

What is User Research?

Why is user research integral to the ux process, 6 common user research methods, how to get started with user research in ux design projects, key takeaways.

User research is a process of gathering data about users in order to design better products that meet their needs . 

It's used in every part of the design process, from the initial market research and concepting stages, through the final interface design testing and iteration stages.

The goal: to gather data that will allow you to make informed decisions as you create design solutions.

Term Check: User Research vs. UX Research

Depending on what you read, you might come across the terms user research , UX research , or simply design research —all used interchangeably. 

While they all tend to refer to the process of collecting user-centric data, there is some distinction that can be applied:

The term user research is often used when you want to learn more about the target audience for a product or service; who they are, how they think, what their goals are, etc.

UX research , on the other hand, tends to be used when you’re conducting research that focuses on how users interact with a product or service. 

In this article, we’ll be looking at user research holistically, whether specifically talking about the users themselves, or learning more about how they interact with and experience your design work.

User research is an integral part of the design process: it ensures you have enough data and insights to make informed decisions about the design work you produce, reducing the risk of making assumptions and creating something no one truly wants.

Successful UX design requires a deep understanding of the people who will be using your product and how they interact with it. No matter how experienced you are as a designer, there is no way to validate your assumptions about design solutions without data. And the only way to acquire this understanding is by collecting data from the users themselves.

There are a variety of user research methods, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are 6 common methodologies that are easy to incorporate into your UX design process.

1. User Interviews

Interviews are a type of user research method in which the researcher talks with participants to collect data. This method is used to gather insights about people's attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and experiences. Interviews are a great way to gather in-depth, qualitative data from users. 

Interviews are best conducted in a live conversation, whether that takes place in person, on a video call, or even on the phone. They can be structured or unstructured, depending on what best fits your research needs:

• Structured interviews follow a set list of questions
• Unstructured interviews are intended for more open-ended conversation

Challenges:

When deciding whether to use interviews as a user research method, it is important to consider the goals of the research, the target audience, and the availability of resources. Interviews are extremely time-consuming, both for the interviewer and the interviewee. However, if the goal of the research is to observe behavior in a natural setting, or if the target audience is not available to participate in interviews, then another user research method may be more appropriate.

Surveys are a user research method in which participants are asked to answer a series of questions, usually about a specific topic. Surveys are well suited for collecting data that can be quantified, but they are not as well suited for collecting qualitative data, since answers are often nuanced and lack appropriate context.

Surveys are best used when …

Since surveys can be easily distributed to a large number of people, they’re often a good choice for gathering information from people who might not be able—or willing—to participate in other types of user research (such as usability testing). 

Since surveys rely on self-reported data, it’s important to avoid phrases or words that might influence the users’ answers. Furthermore, this type of user research often provides data without context, since you aren’t able to follow up and understand some of the nuances of the responses.

3. Focus Groups

Focus groups are a type of user research method in which a group of people are brought together to discuss a product, service, or experience. Focus groups provide an opportunity for users to discuss their experiences and opinions with each other in a guided setting. When done correctly, focus groups can provide valuable insights that can help shape both product design and marketing strategies.

Focus groups are best used when … 

Focus groups can help uncover user needs and perspectives that may not be apparent through individual interviews or surveys.

Tips to make it work:

To get the most out of a focus group, it is important to carefully select participants that are representative of the target audience, as well as those who represent various accessibility needs, which might otherwise be overlooked or receive less consideration. The moderator should also be skilled in leading discussions and facilitating group dynamics to avoid participants from influencing each other.

4. A/B Testing

A/B testing is a user research method in which two versions of a design are created, then tested against each other to determine which is more effective. 

These versions can be identical except for one small change, or they can be completely different. Once the two versions have been created, they are then assigned to users at random. The results of the test are then analyzed to see which version was more successful. 

A/B testing is best used when …

You can incorporate A/B testing at any stage of the design process, but you might find you get the most helpful insights when you’re in a state of refinement, or are at a crossroads and need some data to help you decide which route to take. 

Once you have your design variations ready to test, it’s up to the developers (or an A/B testing software program) to make the test live to users. It’s important to let the test run long enough so that any statistical significance is steady and repeatable. (If the test does not provide statistically significant results, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and try out a different variation.)

5. Card Sorting

Card sorting is a user research method that can be used to help understand how people think about the items in a given category. Card sorting involves providing users with a set of cards, each of which contains an item from the category, and asking them to sort the cards into groups. The groups can be based on any criteria that the users choose, and the sorted cards can then be analyzed to identify patterns in the way that the users think about the items. Card sorting can be used with both small and large sets of items, making it a versatile tool for user research.

Card sorting is best used when …

You are looking for insight into categorical questions like how to structure the information architecture of a website.

For example, if you were designing a website for a library, you might use card sorting to understand how users would expect the website's content to be organized.

Like the other research methods mentioned so far, a successful card sorting exercise requires a significant amount of thought and setup ahead of time. You might use an open sorting session , where the users create their own categories, if you want insight into the grouping logic of your users. In a closed sorting session , the categories are already defined, but it’s up to the participants to decide where to file each card. 

6. Tree Test

Tree testing is a user research method that helps evaluate the findability and usability of website content. It is often used as a follow-up to card sorting, or when there are large amounts of website content, multiple website navigation structures, or changes to an existing website.

To conduct a tree test, participants are asked to find specific items on a website, starting from the home page. They are not told what the navigation options are, but are given hints if they get stuck. This helps researchers understand how users find and interact with the website content.

Tree testing is best used when ...

This method is most effective when combined with other user research methods, such as interviews, surveys, and focus groups. This is because it’s really a way to finesse the user’s experience at the end of the design process, rather than a method of collecting the preliminary data that’s needed to arrive at this point.

Tree testing can be a challenging method to conduct, as it requires specific instructions and data collection methods for each test. In addition, participants may not use the same navigation paths that you intended, making it difficult to analyze the results. To account for this, it’s important to have a large enough sample size to be able to differentiate between outliers and general trends.

User research is a critical part of any project or product development process. It helps you to understand the needs and expectations of your target users, and ensures that your final product meets their requirements. 

There are many different ways to conduct user research, but the most important thing is to start early and to continually iterate throughout the development process.

For this, you’ll need to make sure that you have enough resources to incorporate the research successfully, which includes:

• A budget that accounts for the various expenses incurred during the research process, whether that’s subscribing to a user research tool or compensating participants for their time.
• An awareness of your own personal biases, and how they might affect the data you collect and the interpretation of results.
• Time for research and analysis , since you might need to adjust the research method, or number of participants, that you were initially planning on including.
• Buy-in from stakeholders , since the results might be jarring and contradict some of the assumptions that the project was built on.

Finally, it is important to be aware of your own personal biases. Despite these challenges, user research is an essential tool for designers, as it provides insights into how people interact with products and what their needs and wants are. 

• User research is essential for designing products that meet the needs of your target audience.
• By understanding your users, you can design better products that meet user needs and improve the overall user experience.
• Getting started with user research can be daunting, but there are a few common methods that are easy to learn and incorporate into your design process.
• By being aware of the challenges involved in conducting user research, you can create a research plan that minimizes potential problems and maximizes the chances of obtaining valuable insights.
• Once you have collected your data, it is important to analyze and interpret it so that you can use it to improve your product or design process. 
• User research can be challenging, but by following best practices and being prepared for common challenges, you can conduct successful user research studies that will help you create better products.

To learn more about establishing a UX design practice rooted in research and user-centered data, check out UX Academy Foundations , an introductory course that teaches design fundamentals with practical, hands-on projects and 1:1 mentorship with a professional designer.

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Three UX Lab examples with the latest UX research tools

A UX Lab (or usability lab) is used for usability testing and user experience research. Users are observed in a specific environment while interacting with a product or system. Their interactions are important, as the usability of a product or system is key to its success. Most UX research is conducted in state-of-the-art UX labs.

Over the past few years we’ve been involved in some of the most amazing UX labs. From gaming research labs to modern social media labs and purpose-built usability testing labs. Let me share three recent examples of UX labs that we’ve helped establish in recent years, including the latest UX research tools.

Dubai's first purpose-built usability lab

Home to some of the world’s tallest buildings and most luxurious hotels, Dubai is increasingly becoming a smart city where technological innovation is key. User experience experts Digital of Things identified the growing need for good UX in the region and established the UAE’s first purpose-built, state-of-the-art usability testing lab.

The Digital of Things usability lab is a high-tech user testing lab with world class analytical features, including  facial expression analysis with FaceReader . 

Together with Noldus, they've set up an ultra-modern usability lab , equipped with the most advanced software for user experience testing. The lab has a comfortable living room atmosphere so testers feel at home, ensuring reliable results from user testing. Thanks to the one-way mirror, cameras and microphones in each room, testers are observed unobtrusively.

These lab facilities and their expertise enable Digital of Things to combine quantitative data with qualitative insights, and provide their clients with useful recommendations.

Discover NoldusHub , the all-in-one research platform for human behavior studies. This software suite will streamline multimodal research from start to finish, providing high-quality data, and insights into human behavior. 

Social Media Lab at Mons, Belgium

Closer to home, we’ve set up a lab that is adapted to our modern digital world. Everybody uses social networks like Facebook and Instagram, but are not really aware of how their data is used.  

The Social Media Lab  in Mons, Belgium brings together researchers, students, and professionals from different disciplines as communication, marketing, journalism, computer science, and more. Together they try to understand the digital world, train themselves in the use of new technology, and learn more and advice about new professional practices. They conduct tests to find out how people make sense of data, and data visualizations.

They use tools like The Observer XT for easy data integration and behavior analysis, and MediaRecorder for synchronous AV recording .

The Social Media Lab at the University of Louvain uses Noldus' software to integrate different data streams and set up experiments. 

Montréal-based UX Lab

Most recently we teamed up with the Tech3Lab at HEC Montréal. Prof. Pierre-Majorique Léger tells more about user experience research, and how to measure users' interactions with technology in the video below.

Thanks to research in their UX lab, they have designed a new technology for UX research compatible with Noldus tools. This cloud-based software platform combines behavioral data collected from human behavior research in order to provide fast and rich insights to professionals developing human experiences.

From data collection to insightful results at this Canadian UX Lab

Cognitive and emotional data collected during user experience tests are usually visualized into heat maps. Going beyond traditional gaze heat maps used in eye tracking, it captures the complete user experience. Thanks to the triangulation of facial expressions, physical reactions, and eye tracking data, it provides UX researchers and designers with unique insights on what generates emotion or cognitive load on their interface.

The world of user experience research is always developing and we can't wait to see what other usability and UX labs will be set up in the future!

Do you want to learn more how to set up a usability lab? Read on for the perfect tips & tricks!

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UX Research Tools for analyzing and visualizing your user research

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Usability Lab: What Is It, When, and How It Is Used

Usability is a critical factor in the success of any product, be it a website, a mobile app, or a physical device. Understanding how users interact with your product and make improvements based on their feedback is essential. This is where a Usability Lab comes into play. 

In this blog, we’ll explore what a Usability Lab is, when to consider using one, and how to set it up.

What is a Usability Lab?

A Usability Lab is a specialized and controlled environment designed for a specific purpose: to observe and evaluate how users interact with a product. This product can be software, a website, a mobile app, or any other item intended for user interaction.

The key goal of a Usability Lab is to provide a space where designers, researchers, and developers can closely watch and study how real users perform various tasks with the product. To effectively study and understand user interactions, Usability Labs are equipped with various tools and technologies. These tools can include:

• Screen Recording: Usability Labs often have setups to record everything happening on a user’s screen. This includes what they click, where they move the mouse, and what they type. Screen recordings provide a detailed visual record of a user’s actions.
• Eye-Tracking Devices: Some Usability Labs use eye-tracking technology. This technology records where a user is looking on the screen. It’s valuable for understanding what parts of a user interface attract the most attention.
• Microphones: Recording audio allows researchers to capture user comments, questions, or expressions of frustration or satisfaction during the testing process. These verbal cues can provide insights into the user experience .

In the context of project management, Usability Labs play a critical role in developing software, websites, and apps. It adheres to user-centric design principles and ensures that the final product provides a superior user experience. Here’s how it works:

• Validation of User-Centric Design: Usability Labs confirm that the product is being developed with the user in mind. It’s not just about making a product that works; it’s about making it intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable for users.
• Identifying User Pain Points : By observing users in action, developers can identify any challenges or difficulties that users encounter. This helps in pinpointing and addressing issues before the product is released.
• Continuous Improvement: The insights gathered from Usability Labs can lead to iterative improvements. Designers and developers can fine-tune the product based on real user feedback, making it more user-friendly and effective.

In a nutshell, a Usability Lab is a vital tool in ensuring that a product is designed and developed with the user’s needs, preferences, and behaviors in mind. It’s a structured way to gather data, observe users, and ultimately create a product that delivers an exceptional UX.

When to Use a Usability Lab?

As we learned, the usability lab is a powerful tool for assessing the user-friendliness and effectiveness of a product or interface, and it can be used in various stages of the product development and improvement process. Here are some critical scenarios when to use a usability lab:

Product Development

It is often used to assess early prototypes and concepts during product development. By testing a product with real users, designers and developers can identify usability issues before they become costly problems.

Redesign or Updates

Even after product launch, usability labs are valuable for assessing updates or redesigns. They can help identify areas that need improvement and ensure that changes positively impact the user experience.

Competitive Analysis

It can also be used to compare your product to competitors. By understanding where your product excels and falls short in comparison, you can make strategic decisions to stay ahead in the market.

User Testing

When adding a new feature or functionality, performing usability testing in a usability lab is a good practice. This can help ensure the new addition aligns with user expectations and behavior.

User Training and Onboarding

It can also be used to test the effectiveness of user training and onboarding materials. This ensures that new users can quickly learn how to use the product.

How to Set Up a Usability Lab

Setting up a usability lab requires careful planning and consideration of the equipment, space, and resources you’ll need. Below, I’ll outline the steps to set up a usability lab:

1. Define Your Objectives:

Begin by clearly defining the goals and objectives of your usability lab. What are you trying to achieve? Are you testing a specific product, conducting general usability research, or benchmarking your product against competitors?

2. Choose a Location:

Select a suitable space for your usability lab. It should be quiet, free from distractions, and comfortable for test participants and observers. Choose a room with one-way mirrors or video streaming capabilities to facilitate observation.

3. Acquire the Necessary Equipment:

Here is a list of essential equipment you’ll need for a basic usability lab setup:

• Computers or devices for participants to interact with.
• Cameras to capture the participant’s face, hands, and screen.
• Microphones to record participant comments.
• Eye-tracking equipment, if necessary.
• Screen recording software.
• Usability testing software for creating tasks and collecting data.
• Comfortable seating for participants.
• Observation room with a one-way mirror or video streaming capabilities.
• Note-taking materials for observers.

4. Prepare the Lab Environment:

• Arrange the space to simulate the typical usage test environment for your product. Ensure proper lighting, comfortable seating, and a clean, clutter-free workspace.
• Set up cameras and microphones to capture the participant’s interactions. Position them so that they capture the participant’s face, hands, and screen simultaneously.
• Test all equipment to ensure that it’s functioning correctly.

5. Develop User Scenarios and Tasks:

Create realistic user research projects, scenarios, and tasks for participants during the usability tests. These tasks should mirror actual user interactions with your product.

6. Recruit Participants:

Identify and recruit participants who represent your target audience. The number of participants will depend on your UX research goals, but testing with at least five users is a standard guideline.

7. Conduct Pilot Testing:

Before conducting formal usability tests, conduct a pilot test with a small group of users to ensure that the lab setup, equipment, and tasks are working as intended.

8. Conduct Usability Tests:

Once everything is prepared, conduct usability tests with your recruited participants. A moderator should guide the participants through the tasks and collect data.

9. Record and Analyze Data:

• Record and capture data from the usability tests, including video, audio, screen recordings, and participant feedback.
• Analyze the data to identify usability problems, pain points, and areas for improvement.

10. Report and Recommendations:

Generate a detailed report summarizing the findings from the usability tests. Include recommendations for improvements based on the data collected.

11. Iterative Testing:

Usability testing is often an iterative process. After making improvements based on the initial findings, conduct additional tests to verify that the changes have had the desired effect.

12. Maintain and Update the Lab:

Regularly maintain and update the lab equipment and software to remain effective and current.

Which Method Can Be Used in Usability Lab?

The choice between moderated and unmoderated usability testing methods depends on several factors, including the specific goals of the usability test, the resources available, and the target audience ‘s characteristics. Both methods have their advantages and are used in different situations.

Moderated Usability Testing:

• A facilitator or moderator guides the participants through the usability test in moderated testing.
• This method is often used when a more in-depth understanding of user behavior and thought processes is needed. The moderator can ask questions, probe for insights, and assist when participants encounter issues.
• Moderated testing is particularly useful for complex or novel interfaces and when you want to gather qualitative data.
• It’s commonly used in usability labs where the moderator and participant are in the same physical location.

Unmoderated Usability Testing:

• Unmoderated testing involves users conducting usability tests independently without direct facilitation.
• This method is often used for remote or large-scale testing, where having a moderator for each participant may need to be more practical.
• Unmoderated testing can provide a large quantity of data quickly and at a lower cost, making it useful for identifying common usability issues.
• It’s typically used with online usability testing tools and platforms where participants can interact with the product remotely.

The choice between these methods often depends on the specific needs of a usability study. Moderated testing is used more in usability labs when researchers require deeper insights and are willing to invest more time and resources into the testing process. 

On the other hand, unmoderated testing is often used for larger-scale, remote, or cost-effective usability studies, focusing on quickly identifying common issues and trends. Both methods have their place in usability research, and the choice should be based on your study objectives and constraints.

Benefits of Usability Labs

Usability labs offer several key benefits in the product development process:

• User-Centered Design: Usability labs ensure that a product’s design and functionality align with the needs and expectations of the end-users.
• Early Issue Identification: Problems can be identified and addressed early in development, reducing the cost of fixing issues post-launch.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Conducting usability testing provides concrete data and insights, which can guide design decisions and lead to a more successful product.
• Competitive Advantage: By regularly assessing usability by usability specialists, you can stay ahead of the competition by continuously improving your product.
• Enhanced User Satisfaction: A user-friendly product is likelier to satisfy its target users, leading to higher customer retention and positive word-of-mouth.

Usability Labs are invaluable for understanding how users interact with your products and websites. By utilizing it, you can identify and address usability issues, resulting in a better user experience and increased customer satisfaction. 

Whether you’re in the early stages of development, planning updates, or want to compare your product to the competition, a Usability Lab can provide the critical insights you need to succeed in the digital world.

QuestionPro offers robust features for usability labs, including task analysis, heatmaps, and real-time participant feedback, enhancing user experience research. 

The “Start Your Free Trial” button text succinctly encourages users to explore these valuable capabilities, making it an ideal choice for UX professionals seeking powerful research tools.

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Design & Creative Direction

User Research

In User Research at Ubisoft, we’re all about investigating different aspects of player experience to drive impactful improvements in our games. We combine our qualitative and quantitative expertise to get to the heart of user actions and perceptions by designing studies, observing, listening, gathering and analyzing data through a variety of classic and cutting-edge methodologies. The insights we uncover guide game creators to pave the way toward building what players need and enjoy.

LET OUR TEAM MEMBERS TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR JOB

Meet deborah amar : user reasearch mobile manager.

Worldwide Mobile User Research Manager, Déborah Amar’s aim is to decipher player behavior with a view to improving their gaming experience.

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In Game Design and UX Design at Ubisoft, we shape and smooth out the connected systems at the heart of our games. We are creators of innovative features that fuel our wor...

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In Level Design at Ubisoft, we are the architects of worlds packed with things to see and do. Infusing our games with a sense of purpose and variety, we are user-centric ...

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In Narration and Realization at Ubisoft, we give greater depth and meaning to our gaming experiences, drawing players into compelling stories that make them care and feel...

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Rent the User Research Lab

For more information and for rates, contact Kathryn Summers .

Where we are:

University of Baltimore Academic Center, Suite 239 1420 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201

Get directions and view the campus map .

The lab can be reserved for scheduled research between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The UBalt User Research Laboratory and research services can be rented on a full-day or half-day basis, enabling businesses and organizations to take advantage of cutting-edge research tools in a university applied research setting. The rental includes the assistance of a graduate student to set up and run the eye-tracking equipment. For further information and rates, please contact Kathryn Summers . 

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Why conduct user research?

User research ensures your intended audience can carry out tasks—such as purchasing items, identifying relevant information and communicating with appropriate parties—efficiently, effectively and satisfactorily. Therefore, user research can help your organization:

• achieve more sales, higher productivity and better customer satisfaction ratings
• reduce the number of support calls and complaints
• alleviate the need for training
• minimize maintenance and repair costs.

Our research services provide high-quality support for your user research needs.

The User Research staff, led by Professor Kathryn Summers in the Division of Science, Information Arts and Technologies , provides support to complement your research needs. This may include:

• eye-tracking setup
• technical support of data collection
• data export
• complete study design*
• data analysis*
• report generation* 
• consultation on and review of test protocols
• Tobii eye-tracker recording of participant actions and speech as .avi data files
• data file transfer to a fire-wire hard drive provided by the client
• six months archiving of the study database.

* may incur additional costs to be negotiated separately

Hear from our clients...

"We've enjoyed using the usability lab at the University of Baltimore to test both PC- and browser-based games. It is conveniently located in the heart of Baltimore and has up-to-date equipment and recording software, and we really enjoy having the real-time eye-tracking capacity. The staff are professional and courteous, and we look forward to running many more studies in their lab." — Jason Schklar, Initial Experience Consulting

"We love working with the UBalt Usability Lab. They have the latest eye-tracking equipment and assistants who'll help you set up and analyze your test results. Their location next to Penn Station also makes it convenient for D.C.-area people. They're very professional, knowledgeable and friendly." — Nicole Burton, user experience evangelist, U.S. General Services Administration

The User Research Lab's past clients include:

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17 Best User Research Newsletter To Read in 2024

Hannah Clark is the Editor of The Product Manager. Following six years of experience in the tech industry, she pivoted into the content marketing space. She’s spent the better part of the past decade working in marketing agencies and offering freelance branding and content development services. Today, she’s a digital publisher who is privileged to work with some of the most brilliant voices in the product world. Driven by insatiable curiosity and a love of bringing people together, her mission is to foster a fun, vibrant, and inspiring community of product people.

Discover best user research newsletters with insights on UX design, user behavior, research methodologies, and industry trends to keep you informed and ahead in your field.

User research newsletters are absolute godsends for honing your craft. There are so many nuances and schools of thought in this field, and great newsletters allow you to take in a variety of perspectives on topics related to, well, taking in a variety of perspectives!

Here's a summary of each newsletter to help you understand who it's for and why it's valuable.

Best User Research Newsletter Shortlist

Here is the shortlist of the best user research newsletters that I believe are worth joining in 2024:

• User Weekly — For weekly user research insights
• User Research Academy — For in-depth user research articles
• Nielsen Norman Group — For expert UX research findings
• UX Collective — For curated UX design stories
• The ¼″ Hole — For practical user research tips
• User Interviews — For participant recruitment strategies
• UX Matters — For comprehensive UX research discussions
• User Research Bi-weekly — For bi-weekly user research updates
• Pixels of the Week Newsletter — For design and research highlights
• UX.EMAIL — For UX research and design news
• Boagworld — For digital strategy and UX insights
• UX Design Weekly — For weekly UX design and research news
• People Nerds — For user research case studies
• UX Notebook Newsletter — For UX career advice and research tips
• Built From Mars Newsletter — For product design and research stories
• UX Beginne r — For beginner-friendly UX research content
• Research For All! — For inclusive research practices

Find more details about each newsletter below.

Overview Of The Best User Research Newsletter

1. user weekly — for weekly user research insights.

The user weekly newsletter by Jan Ahrend provides cutting-edge updates on UX research trends and GenAI applications, as well as curated user research articles and podcasts from hundreds of sources around the internet.

• Audience: User-experience researchers and professionals
• Newsletter Frequency: Weekly
• Subscribe Here

Why Subscribe:  

User Weekly offers updates on the newest techniques and trends in UX research, such as utilizing ChatGPT and other AI tools, including in-depth articles, videos, and conferences, in a thorough rundown in just a few minutes. Additionally, subscribers will have access to cutting-edge resources, practical applications, and best practices, which enable them to stay ahead of UX developments.

2. User Research Academy — For in-depth user research articles

User Research Academy by Nikki Anderson offers resources like articles, guides, podcasts, and methodologies to enhance user research practices and career development.

• Audience : UX researchers and professionals 
• Size : 8,000+ subscribers
• Newsletter Frequency : Bi-weekly
• Monthly: $21 ($22.06)
• Yearly: $240 ($242.68)

Why Subscribe : 

User Research Academy provides access to in-depth articles, practical project walk-throughs, and curated resources, including the most creative and informative user research content. Subscribers also gain exclusive access to the Dear Nikki podcast, which offers personalized advice on user research challenges. This newsletter combines expert insights, real-world applications, and community-driven discussions

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3. Nielsen Norman Group — For expert UX research findings

Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) newsletter delivers the latest usability, design, and UX research articles, offering authoritative insights and practical guidance based on their extensive research and consulting experience.

• Audience : UX professionals and researchers.
• Newsletter Frequency : Weekly

Nielsen Norman Group's newsletter offers unparalleled access to expert insights from leading UX researchers like Jakob Nielsen and Don Norman, ensuring you stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in user experience. The newsletter provides diverse, actionable content, including in-depth articles, videos, and exclusive resources, helping you apply cutting-edge methodologies and frameworks in your work. 

4. UX Collective — For curated UX design stories

UX Collective newsletter offers curated stories on user experience, visual, and product design, helping product teams and designers evaluate their work. 

• Audience : UX designers and researchers
• Size : 110,000+ subscribers

UX Collective newsletter offers curated insights on various UX design topics, such as interaction design, user research, and the influence of AI. With articles discussing recent issues like collaboration costs in Figma and the implications of AI metaphors, the newsletter provides valuable perspectives from industry experts and guest writers.

5. The ¼″ Hole — For practical user research tips

The ¼″ Hole is a Substack newsletter focused on user research and UX, delivering detailed articles on research methodologies, industry trends, practical guides, opinion pieces, and creative approaches to UX challenges.

• Audience : User researchers looking for practical tips and resources.
• Size : 2,000+ subscribers
• Newsletter Frequency : Monthly

The ¼″ Hole immerses you in the evolving landscape of UX research with detailed explorations of industry trends, actionable frameworks, and innovative problem-solving techniques. The newsletter covers everything from strategies for building a UX portfolio without formal experience to understanding the impacts of industry changes like layoffs. Each edition is designed not only to inform but also to engage you in meaningful discussions.

6. User Interviews — For participant recruitment strategies

User Interviews newsletter delivers thought-provoking podcasts, in-depth articles, yearly reports like the "State of User Research," and essential tools while offering opportunities for community engagement and professional insights.

• Audience: UX researchers, designers, and professionals
• Size: 100,000+ subscribers

Why Subscribe:

The User Interviews newsletter features detailed case studies highlighting real-world applications of UX research, offering practical insights into how strategies are implemented. It includes guides tailored for startups and advanced readers, covering everything from basic research methods to complex analysis techniques, helping everyone enhance their skills. 

The newsletter also promotes webinars and live events, offering opportunities to learn from industry experts and stay engaged with current discussions. Additionally, it provides curated job listings and career resources to help subscribers advance their professional development.

7. UX Matters — For comprehensive UX research discussions

The UX Matters newsletter by Pabini Gabriel-Petit offers in-depth content on key UX topics and delivers practical advice, best practices, and strategic insights. It covers a wide range of subjects, from actionable tips to emerging trends in digital experiences.

• Audience: UX designers, visual interface designers, and healthcare professionals
• Size: 35,000+ subscribers
• Newsletter Frequency: Bimonthly
• Cost: Free 

UX Matters provides expertly curated content that covers every aspect of User Experience, from practical how-tos and best practices to in-depth thought pieces on strategic and emerging trends. It offers detailed case studies that reveal the real-world application of UX principles, critical book reviews to keep you updated on essential literature, and comprehensive event coverage that distills key insights from major industry conferences.

8. User Research Bi-weekly — For bi-weekly user research updates

The User Research Bi-weekly newsletter delivers the top five most creative, helpful, and informative user research articles, podcasts, templates, events, books, and academic resources directly to your inbox.

• Audience: User researchers at all levels
• Newsletter Frequency: Bi-weekly

User Research Bi-weekly provides access to reliable, innovative resources that enhance creativity and confidence in conducting user research. Subscribers can submit questions personally answered by the authors, offering a fresh, creative perspective on UX research.

9. Pixels of the Week Newsletter — For design and research highlights

Pixels of the Week newsletter by Stephanie Walter offers a curated selection of content focused on user experience design, mobile interfaces, and web development. Each edition includes detailed articles, practical tutorials, and insights into the latest trends, strongly emphasizing mobile and responsive design.

• Audience: Designers, UX researchers, and tech enthusiasts
• Size: 2700+ subscribers

Pixels of the Week gives you access to a meticulously curated collection of the most relevant and cutting-edge UX design, web development, and technology content, including the latest in HTML, CSS, and SVG. Each issue delivers actionable insights and innovative tools and informs subscribers about upcoming events, workshops, articles, and podcast episodes.

10. UX.EMAIL — For UX research and design news

UX.EMAIL newsletter provides links and summaries of the most interesting stories in UX/UI Design, UX Research, and Product Management. It is designed to keep readers informed about everything that matters in UX today in just 5 minutes.

• Audience: UX/UI designers, UX researchers, and product managers
• Newsletter Frequency: Daily

UX.EMAIL gives you access to thoughtfully curated articles that focus on practical strategies like optimizing user flows, mastering Figma's latest features, and staying updated on the developments of AI and systems. It delivers diverse content to deepen your expertise and keep you ahead in the field—all efficiently packaged to fit your busy schedule.

11. Boagworld — For digital strategy and UX insights

Boagworld is a well-respected newsletter created by industry expert Paul Boag, offering in-depth insights on integrating UX principles with digital strategy to enhance website performance and drive business success.

• Audience: UX designers, digital strategists, and business owners looking for practical advice on enhancing digital experiences.
• Size: 10,000+ subscribers.
• Newsletter Frequency: Bi-Weekly
• Cost : Free

The Boagworld newsletter provides a consistent stream of actionable insights and practical advice tailored to the constantly changing fields of web design, UX, and digital strategy. In addition to receiving expert tips on enhancing website performance and aligning digital projects with business goals, subscribers can access a free course on securing design approvals and a comprehensive guide to initiating a user experience revolution.

12. UX Design Weekly — For weekly UX design and research news

UX Design Weekly newsletter is a highly curated resource that delivers the latest and most relevant content in user experience design. Each edition compiles top articles, practical tutorials, essential tools, and industry insights, focusing on the latest trends and best practices in UX.

• Audience: UX/UI designers, researchers, and product managers seeking the latest in design trends and research.
• Size: Estimated 30,000+ subscribers.

UX Design Weekly offers a carefully curated selection of the most relevant and impactful UX content, featuring industry leaders' latest tools, in-depth articles, and case studies. It is ideal for those looking to refine design processes, stay informed on cutting-edge trends, or discover new resources to enhance user experiences. Additionally, this newsletter delivers actionable insights and expert knowledge that significantly contribute to professional growth in the UX field.

13. People Nerds — For user research case studies

People Nerds offers a newsletter dedicated to user research and studying human behavior in digital environments. It covers a range of research methodologies, providing practical advice, case studies, and insights to enhance the quality and effectiveness of user research.

• Audience: UX research teams, designers, and anyone interested in understanding user behavior through research.

People Nerds provides a deep dive into the latest user research methodologies, offering actionable insights and tools that help refine and elevate research practices. Each issue delivers a carefully curated selection of research findings, practical tips, and academic summaries designed to make complex concepts accessible and immediately applicable. 

The newsletter strongly emphasizes ethical considerations, inclusivity, and empathy in research, ensuring that subscribers can design user experiences that are effective, socially responsible, and inclusive.

14. UX Notebook Newsletter — For UX career advice and research tips

UX Notebook Newsletter, curated by Sarah Doody, delivers behind-the-scenes UX tips and actionable advice on applying UX and design principles to grow your team, product, and career. It offers practical insights and strategies tailored to help readers navigate and succeed in the dynamic field of user experience design.

• Audience: UX professionals, especially those focused on career growth and research techniques.
• Size: 53,000+ subscribers.

The UX Notebook provides essential content for mastering the technical and strategic dimensions of UX design. Offering a unique blend of actionable insights and detailed guidance on user research, prototyping, and stakeholder communication, it also includes strategies for scaling products and teams. 

With its focus on real-world applications and directly applicable advice, the newsletter equips readers with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in the complex challenges of UX.

15. Built From Mars Newsletter — For product design and research stories

Built From Mars newsletter by Peter Ramsey is focused on product design and research, providing readers with in-depth stories and analyses of successful product creation. It offers valuable insights into the strategies and processes behind effective product development.

• Audience: Product designers, UX researchers, and anyone interested in the product development process
• Size: 36,000+ subscribers
• Newsletter Frequency: Bi-monthly
• Product Builders ( $10/month billed annually)
• Teams ( $51/month billed annually)

Built From Mars offers detailed case studies that dissect successful digital product design and development processes, including apps and websites. The newsletter analyzes how these products tackle user challenges, optimize flows, and create smooth interfaces, revealing A/B testing, user feedback integration, and iterative design techniques.

This in-depth examination provides subscribers with a clear, actionable understanding of how to apply similar methods to their projects, making it a valuable tool for mastering product design.

16. UX Beginner — For beginner-friendly UX research content

UX Beginner is a dedicated resource for those new to UX design, offering tailored guidance on building foundational skills, creating portfolios, and navigating the early stages of a UX career. It provides curated learning paths, actionable career advice, and beginner-friendly tools and resources to help subscribers confidently enter and succeed in the UX industry.

• Audience: Aspiring UX designers and beginners looking for foundational knowledge and career advice.

The UX Beginner newsletter offers a structured, step-by-step approach to mastering UX design, featuring curated learning paths that cover essential skills like user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. Each path is designed to guide you through the learning process with the right resources and tools at every stage, ensuring a solid grasp of key UX principles. 

The newsletter also provides actionable career advice, including tips on building a strong UX portfolio, crafting compelling case studies, and preparing for interviews. Additionally, you'll receive recommendations for beginner-friendly tools and templates that simplify complex tasks, helping you confidently apply your new skills as you begin your UX career.

17. Research For All! — For inclusive research practices

Research For All! is a compact UX research newsletter that provides practical, easily digestible insights and strategies that focus on making UX research more accessible and effective, emphasizing inclusivity and real-world application in design and product creation.

• Audience: UX researchers, academics, and anyone interested in inclusive research methods.
• Newsletter Frequency: Monthly

Research For All! provides practical, actionable advice tailored for those conducting UXR (UX research) with limited resources. This newsletter offers expert tips on time-saving research tools, exclusive discounts on courses and webinars, and a bonus Research Plan Template to help streamline the research process. It’s designed to make UX research more accessible and effective, ensuring subscribers can conduct thorough and impactful research, even on a budget.

Join For More Insights

Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more product management resources and guides , plus the latest podcasts, interviews, and other insights from industry leaders and experts.

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Importance of Reporting Harmful AI Events Gets Attention from Web Hosting Industry

• Press Release

September 12, 2024

UL Research Institutes Launches State-of-the-Art Materials Discovery Laboratory Focused on Sustainability

EVANSTON, Ill. (Sept. 12, 2024) — Global safety science leader UL Research Institutes (ULRI) today launched a state-of-the-art materials science laboratory designed to accelerate the discovery of new materials. The new lab harnesses the power of automated instrumentation and artificial intelligence (AI) to generate results far more quickly than traditional testing methods.

Encompassing 19,366 square feet, ULRI’s new Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) laboratory in Skokie, Illinois, works to develop and deploy new materials with the potential to address global safety challenges like climate change and related risks to humanity and the planet. New advanced materials are considered a cornerstone of emerging clean technologies in energy, decarbonization and other areas essential to a sustainable future.

“Our new laboratory is progressive and innovative because we’ve combined a digital-first infrastructure that enables accelerated discovery by leveraging state-of-the-art machine learning with automated instrumentation,” said Dr. Stuart R. Miller , MDRI’s vice president and executive director. “We’re working to reduce the time it takes to develop a new material from conception to commercialization from about 15 years to only a couple of years.”

The fifth research institute within ULRI, MDRI was publicly launched in September 2022 as a key component of expanding the scope and scale of ULRI’s efforts to advance its mission of working for a safer world. Current MDRI research focuses on the creation of sustainable, low-cost materials for energy generation and storage, decarbonization and water security.

The new Skokie laboratory accelerates traditional materials discovery processes by leveraging cutting-edge instrumentation, including the following equipment.

• A 3D metal NanoPrinter, one of the first of its kind installed throughout the world. The VSParticle NanoPrinter combines the generation, combination and deposition of nanoparticles in one automated process.
• Fully customized Chemspeed SWINGXL, SWAVE and Flex synthesis platforms that automate the complete synthetic process — managing multiple steps that have traditionally been human tasks. Employing automated synthesis technology improves safety and accuracy while enabling a significantly larger number of reactions through 24/7 operations.

“As we work to address really challenging safety issues — energy resilience, for example — we need to ensure that our talented researchers have the tools and equipment to be the best at what they do,” said Dr. Christopher J. Cramer , ULRI’s interim president and chief research officer. “Our state-of-the-art MDRI lab provides those tools, reflecting our commitment to a safer and more sustainable world in which everyone can thrive.”

About UL Research Institutes

UL Research Institutes is a leading independent safety science organization with global reach. Dedicated to exploring vital questions related to public safety, we sense and act on risks to humanity and our planet.

Since 1894, our trusted research has engaged the ingenuity of top minds across scientific disciplines to engineer a safer and more sustainable world. Science builds the knowledge required to mitigate increasingly urgent safety problems like environmental and chemical pollution or artificial intelligence inequities — and our rigorous, objective investigations uncover that knowledge.

In collaboration with a global network of scientists and safety professionals, we define the safe and sustainable use of things ranging from legacy materials to new and emerging technologies. Our discoveries support the development of practical standards and policies by UL Standards & Engagement. Together, we are advancing safety science for the greater good.

Kristen Delphos Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs UL Research Institutes [email protected]

Michelle Johnson Director, External Communications UL Research Institutes [email protected]

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• Abbott Laboratories-stock
• News for Abbott Laboratories

Hold Rating on Abbott Laboratories Amid Lingo’s Launch: Balancing Positive User Experience with Market Challenges

In a report released today, Patrick Wood from Morgan Stanley maintained a Hold rating on Abbott Laboratories ( ABT – Research Report ), with a price target of $107.00 .

Patrick Wood has given his Hold rating due to a combination of factors that include the overall user experience and market considerations for Abbott Laboratories’ new product, Lingo. The device was delivered remarkably quickly and featured an easy setup process, which exceeded expectations in terms of speed. The quality of packaging and branding was also notably high, and the device integrates well with the accompanying app that focuses on health and wellness, particularly in monitoring and categorizing glucose levels. This positive user experience seems to suggest a product that could be well-received by consumers interested in health monitoring. However, despite the promising aspects of Lingo, there are broader market challenges that could impact the stock’s performance. The ongoing debate regarding market churn versus market size implies there may be uncertainty about the sustained growth and adoption rates of the product. This uncertainty, coupled with the need for consumers to actively log their data to fully utilize the device’s capabilities, suggests that while the product has potential, there are considerable factors that could limit its impact on Abbott Laboratories’ market performance, leading to a Hold rating on the stock.

Wood covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Boston Scientific, Abbott Laboratories, and Dexcom. According to TipRanks , Wood has an average return of 7.6% and a 55.81% success rate on recommended stocks.

In another report released on August 26, Jefferies also assigned a Hold rating to the stock with a $120.00 price target.

TipRanks tracks over 100,000 company insiders, identifying the select few who excel in timing their transactions. By upgrading to TipRanks Premium, you will gain access to this exclusive data and discover crucial insights to guide your investment decisions. Begin your TipRanks Premium journey today.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Company Description:

Abbott Laboratories offers a diversified line of healthcare products. It operates through four reportable segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products International (includes international sales of branded generic pharmaceutical products), Nutritional Products Diagnostic Products and Medical Devices. The company was founded by Wallace Calvin Abbott in 1888 and is headquartered in Abbott Park, IL.

Read More on ABT:

• Medtronic CEO: We’ve pivoted from a tech perspective
• Abbott announces Lingo CGM system available in U.S.
• Abbott initiates TRANSCEND study
• Abbott expands Pure Bliss line of infant formulas
• Abbott price target raised to $127 from $119 at Citi

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