You don't design based on an idea. You design based on data.
UX Research is the process of collecting, analysing and translating this data into useful information.
It helps us understand who the user is, what they do and what problems they encounter. Only then can we design something that really works.
Research and Design: two stages of the same process
UX research comes before design. Not because it is more important, but because without it, design is done blindly.
If research identifies needs and behaviours, design builds solutions on that basis. Good research makes design faster, more targeted, and less prone to costly errors that need to be corrected later.
For this reason, these phases are linked, as the quality of the second depends on the solidity of the first.
A process that never stops
UX Research is not a phase that you close and archive. It is a circular process that accompanies the entire product life cycle.
It is done before the project — to understand where we are and where we want to go. It is done during — to validate hypotheses and correct the course as we plan. It is done after — to see how users actually use the product and what we can improve.
How to conduct research
Research uses different tools, depending on the stage and type of data that needs to be collected.
In the initial phase, it is necessary to understand the context: who the user is, what they do, what problems they have. In this case, the most useful tools are interviews, contextual inquiry, competitor analysis, surveys, and focus groups.
During the design phase, data is needed to validate choices: cognitive walkthroughs, diary studies, prototype testing.
After launch, it is necessary to measure the actual impact: UX KPIs, product analytics, behavioural and economic metrics.
The data collected is then translated into concrete tools — user personas, customer journeys, empathy maps — which are obviously not creative exercises, but working documents that guide the design process.
Why don't we ever skip this step
Skipping research means designing based on assumptions. Assumptions, however reasonable, remain hypotheses until proven otherwise.
Research takes time and resources, but it costs less than building a product that no one wants to use. Or worse, having to start over because it doesn't work.
Understanding before designing is not a luxury, it is fundamental.