User research

User research is a crucial part of the design process. Designers and researchers use it to study the product’s target audience and understand user behavior, needs, and motivations. The goal is to uncover problems and spot design opportunities so creators can build better, more thoughtful experiences.

UX research draws from psychology, marketing, ethnography, and related fields. To keep the work focused, teams usually move through several stages:

• Objective: define what you want to learn and why it matters for the product.
• Hypothesis: outline what you think is happening based on existing knowledge or assumptions.
• Methods: decide which research techniques will help you validate or challenge the hypothesis.
• Conduct: run the sessions, gather data, and capture observations without bias.
• Synthesize: turn raw notes into insights and patterns that can guide design decisions.

When planning any research, consider the product’s high-level goals and the resources available. This helps teams choose the right approach and keep the work actionable.