If asked, most people would classify UX design as a creative job. But if you work in the field, you know the design part couldn’t be done without conducting research first. What makes UX research such an important stepping stone is that it studies typical users to uncover behaviors and motivations with a specific product. Without it, design changes wouldn’t be effective, and the final product wouldn’t be user friendly. The truth is, our research should be happening throughout the development of the product, so gathering feedback of any kind should be a skill all designers work on. Without it, decisions would be based on assumptions rather than evidence. 

Doing Your Testing Early  

If you only remember one piece of advice, let it be this: do user testing as early as possible. Usability Geek reminds us that all research is valuable, but the most successful design projects conduct research very early in the design process, sometimes even before creation. This way, you’ll know exactly what your users want and need. Not to mention, it will have much more impact on how your final product is received. The information you get from studies early on will continue to inform your reasons for design and help you make more logical choices. Early research is also known to help designers make less last-minute changes because their product has been user-focused since day one. So don’t underestimate the power of getting feedback or getting out in the field as early as possible. 

If your launching a brand new product or redesigning an existing one, engaging with users before anything else is the ultimate design breakthrough.

Create a Research Plan 

Going out to talk to people about your product can be incredibly intimidating. But don’t let it stop you from hearing what people are saying. The key is go with a plan. A user research plan is a document that outlines the goals and logistical considerations of a research project for your internal stakeholders and team. With this plan, you and your team can conduct the right research confidently by understanding the who, what, when, why, and the hows of the project. Otherwise, your team may come back with information that isn’t relevant or worse – unusable. This document ensures that your most important questions are answered, and your target users are participating. This step is key to making sure no one is wasting time engaging or conducting in the research.  

Do a Pilot Study 

Another way to give yourself an advantage when doing user research is to do a pilot study, or a walk through. As you can imagine, the day of your usability testing can go in many different directions, so you need to be as prepared as possible. Practicing what you’re going to say and do during the test is more important than you think, regardless of your role in the research. With your full team, if possible, you should run through the entire test from start to finish. This will help everyone practice asking questions, understand what to do if a user is stuck on a task, and make sure you have all the necessary tools for the test. Even experienced UX researchers need to practice. Every product and interface will benefit from a test run. At the very least, you will feel more prepared once in front of a live audience and know that your test is structured to give you the answers that you need.  

Find the Joy 

Without thoughtful and consistent research, our future products run the risk of failing when it comes to user requirements. User feedback and their thoughts have always had an important place in UX design, and that means as professionals, we need to learn to come prepared, ask the right questions, and perfect how we revise and refine. Learning to put user research before designing can be challenging, but worth it in the end when you see how testing has shaped your product. Especially when the results are useful and you know how to go forth and improve your product. I encourage all professional creatives to find joy in doing user research. It has been proven to make our designs stronger and more meaningful, and hey it just might be the thing you need to get that project off the ground.