In an era where everyone does research, (opens in new tab)

In an era where AI moderators and non-researchers handle the bulk of data collection, the role of the UX researcher has shifted from a technical specialist to a strategic guide. The core value of the researcher now lies in "UX Leadership"—the ability to frame problems, align team perspectives, and define the fundamental identity of a product. By bridging the gap between business goals and user needs, researchers ensure that products solve real problems rather than just chasing metrics or technical feasibility.

Setting the Framework in the Idea Phase

When starting a new project, a researcher’s primary task is to establish the "boundaries of the puzzle" by shifting the team’s focus from business impact to user value.

• Case - AI Signal: For a service that interprets stock market events using AI, the team initially focused on business metrics like retention and news consumption.
• Avoiding "Metric Traps": A researcher intervenes to prevent fatigue-inducing UX (e.g., excessive notifications to boost CTR) by defining the "North Star" as the specific problem the user is trying to solve.
• The Checklist: Once the user problem and value are defined, they serve as a persistent checklist for every design iteration and action item.

Aligning Team Direction for Product Improvements

When a product already exists but needs improvement, different team members often have scattered, subjective opinions on what to fix. The researcher structures these thoughts into a cohesive direction.

• Case - Stock Market Calendar: While the team suggested UI changes like "it doesn't look like a calendar," the researcher refocused the effort on the user's ultimate goal: making better investment decisions.
• Defining Success Criteria: The team agreed on a "Good Usage" standard based on three stages: Awareness (recognizing issues) → Understanding (why it matters) → Preparation (adjusting investment plans).
• Identifying Obstacles: By identifying specific friction points—such as the lack of information hierarchy or the difficulty of interpreting complex indicators—the researcher moves the project from "simple UI cleanup" to "essential tool development."

Redefining Product Identity During Stagnation

When a product's growth stalls, the issue often isn't a specific UI bug but a fundamental mismatch between the product's identity and its environment.

• Case - Toss Securities PC: Despite being functional, the PC version struggled because it initially tried to copy the "mobile simplicity" of the app.
• Contextual Analysis: Research revealed that while mobile users value speed and portability, PC users require an environment for deep analysis, multi-window comparisons, and deliberate decision-making.
• Consensus through Synthesis: The researcher integrates data, user interviews, and market trends into workshops to help the team decide where the product should "live" in the market. This process creates team-wide alignment on a new strategic direction rather than just fixing features.

The modern UX researcher must move beyond "crafting the tool" (interviewing and data gathering) and toward "UX Leadership." True expertise involves maintaining a broad view of the industry and product ecosystem, structuring team discussions to reach a consensus, and ensuring that every product decision is rooted in a clear understanding of the user's context and goals.