As UX designers, they’re often the bridge between business goals and user needs. They strive to make every interaction feel seamless. But before sketching a wireframe or open Figma, there’s one critical step that must come first: user research.
UX research is the foundation when adding a new feature or product. More and more I hear that companies expect UX/product to start designing without much of an idea about what the user actually wants. Here are some key points why UX research should be prioritised.
1. Designing Without Assumptions
We all have ideas about what users want. But intuition alone can be misleading, especially when it’s based on personal preference or internal bias.
Everyone thinks they know what users want but in reality, intuition and assumption can often be misleading. Especially when assumptions are based on past experience and personal bias.
User research grounds design decisions in reality. Whether it’s usability testing, user interviews, or contextual inquiries, research helps us see the product from the user’s perspective and not just the stakeholder’s.
2. Efficiency, Not Extra Work
User research can often speed the timeline of a project up, at first glance this seems false but it can save lots of time further down the line as you remove the risk of redesigns.
User research helps you:
- Prioritise features based on real user needs.
- Uncover edge cases before they become UX issues.
- Avoid “designing pretty things no one needs.”
In short, it makes our work more focused, more effective, and more defensible.
3. It Makes You a Better Storyteller
UX is as much about storytelling as it is about layout. Through user research, we gather the stories that give our design work depth and purpose.
The pain point a user shared in an interview? That’s the story you tell when advocating for a redesign. That “aha” moment during usability testing? That’s the narrative you use to champion a better user flow.
When talking to numerous candidates, they emphasise the importance of qualitative data. Talking to the actual users lead to great ideas!
4. From Usability to Clarity
Sure, research helps fix what’s broken but it also helps us discover what could be better. Sometimes users won’t say “I want this feature,” but they’ll show you the gap through their behavior and give you some fresh design ideas.
By observing users and understanding their context, you uncover opportunities for efficiency and accessibility that would’ve gone unnoticed.
5. Empathy is the Endgame
At its core, UX is about empathy. And nothing builds empathy like hearing users describe their struggles in their own words.
When you share research insights with your team, you’re not just delivering data—you’re advocating for the user. You’re bringing their voice into design critiques, roadmap meetings, and strategy sessions.
This shared understanding leads to better collaboration, better products, and a stronger user-centered culture for products that optimise.
Design Backed by Insight
User research isn’t optional, it’s your edge if you adopt this into part of your company/organisation. It sharpens your design instincts, strengthens your voice in cross-functional teams, and ensures you’re not just designing something that looks good but something that in the users favour. Making them want to go back to your product time and time again.
When joining a new role, have a great understanding of what the normal research procedure is and the importance placed on this. Great designs come from great research.
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Jake Jones is a specialist UX recruitment consultant at Forward Role, if you're looking for your next role - check out our latest jobs
