What's the State of UX Research? Here's What Designers Say.

A lot has been said about the importance of UX research, but less has been done to measure how designers approach it. So we decided to asked them. 

To be specific, we surveyed over 100 UX professionals across 25 industries to find out what research techniques they use, what their biggest challenges when doing research, and if they're happy with the amount of time they spend getting to know users. 

Then we analyzed the responses and wrote a report about the State of UX Research. 

(You can download the full report here.) 

And for your viewing pleasure, we put together this infographic with the principle findings. 

What Does It All Mean?

Multiple industry reports suggest the prominence of user research is growing. A study by Tetra Research found that 84% of companies conduct more research now than they did two years ago.

The more businesses that prioritize research the better. However, there remains room for growth. 

The exact manner in which research is integrated into project timetables needs substantial improvement. The emergence of terms like “research ops” indicates solutions to the problem are already in motion.

But at this moment, most designers don't feel like they're investing adequate time building empathy with their audience.

In addition, certain research techniques like field studies, eye tracking, and benchmarking are used sparingly by most respondents, although they could have a marked impact on the shape of the final design. 

Validating the design and utility of a product with the people who will actually use it will always be paramount. There's just no other way to combat the risk of wasting time and money on something no one wants.