UX research isn’t always a test or a slide deck. Sometimes, it’s infrastructure.
There’s this idea that research only counts when you’re interviewing users or publishing a big report.
But most of the research I do right now? It doesn’t look like that.
Here’s what it does look like:
1. Research Looks Like Infrastructure
Lately, I’ve been building out behavior analytics dashboards (in FullStory) to track how users actually behave—across personas, product detail pages, and new implementations.
These aren’t just analytics. They’re research assets.
They help us track friction, observe how people navigate the site, and surface patterns that lead to better decisions.
Strategically designing dashboards to tackle specific questions can make them just as informative as interviews.
2. Research Looks Like Alignment
A lot of research happens before the first participant ever shows up.
Intake forms. Goal mapping. Conversations that turn vague requests into clear priorities. That’s research, too.
When you’re the only researcher, how you frame the work is just as important as the work itself.
3. Research Looks Like Storytelling
Organizing data is only part of the job. The real value shows up when an insight actually changes something.
Sometimes, that’s a visual in a dashboard.
Sometimes, it’s a short report.
Sometimes, it’s a single quote in a newsletter that gets forwarded to leadership.
Sometimes, it’s changing the roadmap because we caught a signal early.
That’s the work. And it matters—even if it never makes it into a deck.
UX research isn’t invisible. It’s just happening in places you might not expect.
What does it look like in your world right now?