One of the best ways to go back to scrappy user testing in the AI era.
“User testing generates reports, not solutions.” Somewhere along the way, that statement became the way many businesses perceive UX research.
UX researchers have been among the victims of the AI-integrated future. From AI-based synthetic research offering “competition” (that’s flawed) to widespread budget cuts, many UX researchers face challenges with justifying their value.
But the core issue runs deeper than external threats. It stems from how user research itself has evolved.
User research has become too formalized.
The problem with Formalized UX Research
UX research has, in many organizations, transformed into a siloed, overly formal process.
Whether it’s a siloed department that keeps insights to itself or third-party solutions like UserTesting.com readily available, the perception of UX research has shifted dramatically.
We’ve gone from UX research being “scrappy interviews with real users” to “formal, expensive studies required for legitimacy.” This formalization creates a cascade of problems.