The 5 Timeless Principles of Great UX Research
- Philip Burgess
- Aug 10
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 16
By Philip Burgess – UX Research Leader
Two decades in UX has taught me that while tools, technologies, and methodologies evolve, certain principles never go out of style. Here are the five I live by:
Be relentlessly curious. Don’t just ask “what” people do—dig into “why” they do it.
Stay unbiased. Your job is to uncover truth, not confirm what someone hopes to hear.
Make it actionable. Research without recommendations is just interesting reading.
Communicate clearly. Insights should be so clear they can be repeated (accurately) in an elevator pitch.
Empathize with everyone—not just the end user. Stakeholders are “users” of your research too.
Whether you’re running a quick usability test or a multi-month ethnographic study, these principles guide you toward impact that lasts.
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