“when you go about finding the best UX of a product/service which methodology is best?”

One question that I keep getting from hiring managers is “when you go about finding the best UX of a product/service which methodology is best?”

There is no official one-go-to for all projects, there are many of them out there, there’s no single official count of UX methodologies, but there are dozens commonly used across the design and research process. These methods fall into different stages of UX work; discovery, definition, ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation.

Here’s a breakdown of my favorite go to UX methodologies by phase:

🔍 Discovery / Research

• User Interviews: One-on-one conversations to explore user needs, behaviors, and motivations.

• Surveys & Questionnaires: Quantitative tools for collecting broad user insights.

• Contextual Inquiry: Observing users in their natural environment to see how they interact with products.

• Ethnographic Research: Deep, in-field research to understand user culture and behavior.

• Diary Studies: Users self-report their experiences over time.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Discussions with business stakeholders to gather goals and constraints.

• Heuristic Evaluation: Experts review the interface against usability principles.

• Competitive Analysis: Evaluating competing products for strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.

• Field Studies: Observing and interviewing users in the context where they use the product.

  
  

🧭 Definition / Analysis

• Personas: Fictional characters representing key user types.

• Empathy Maps: Visualizations of what users think, feel, say, and do.

• Customer Journey Mapping: A timeline of user interactions, emotions, and pain points.

• User Stories: Short narratives from the user’s perspective (“As a user, I want...”).

• Storyboarding: Sequential illustrations showing user interactions.

• Affinity Mapping: Clustering related ideas from research to find patterns.

• Task Analysis: Breaking down user goals into specific actions.

• Jobs to be Done (JTBD): Understanding what job the user hires your product to do.

  
  

💡 Ideation

• Design Workshops: Group sessions to brainstorm and align ideas.

• Crazy 8s: Fast sketching of 8 design ideas in 8 minutes.

• Mind Mapping: Diagramming related concepts for problem-solving.

• Brainstorming: Free-form idea generation.

• Card Sorting: Users organize content into groups that make sense to them.

• SCAMPER: Prompt-based creative technique to improve products (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, etc.).

  
  

🧪 Prototyping & Testing

• Wireframing: Low-fidelity layout for structure and flow.

• Click-through Prototypes: Interactive mockups that simulate product behavior.

• Usability Testing: Observing users as they complete tasks to identify friction.

• A/B Testing: Comparing two versions to see which performs better.

• Tree Testing: Evaluating how users navigate a content structure.

• First Click Testing: Checking where users click first to complete a task.

• Heatmaps: Visual reports showing where users click or scroll most.

• Think-Aloud Protocol: Users verbalize their thoughts while using the product.

  
  

⚙️ Implementation / Evaluation

• Design Systems: Reusable design components and guidelines for consistency.

• Accessibility Audits: Ensuring the product is usable by people with disabilities.

• UI QA Testing: Checking the final product for visual and functional fidelity.

• UX Metrics & KPIs: Measuring usability and experience (e.g., task success rate, error rate).

• SUS / NPS Surveys: System Usability Scale or Net Promoter Score for feedback.

• Post-launch Analytics: Using data (e.g., GA, Mixpanel) to assess product performance.

• Feedback Loops: Continuously gathering user feedback for iteration.

🧠 So, Here is the Real Talk: Applying UX Methodologies in the Real World

In theory, UX methodologies are a researcher's dream (mine in a perfect reality), each one offering insight into user needs, product fit, and usability. But in practice? Budget and timeline usually dictate what actually gets done.

Throughout the projects I've led or contributed to, I’ve applied a variety of UX methodologies. However, I’ve learned that flexibility is key. There is no single "best" UX methodology, the best method is the one that fits the context of the project. Every product or service has its own unique constraints: time, budget, audience, and maturity stage.

That said, I typically follow a tiered approach based on what's available:

1.     If I have access to users→ I start with user interviews and contextual inquiry to uncover real behaviors, needs, and pain points. This is ideal because it provides first-hand insights.

2.     If I don’t have user access but I do have stakeholders→ I’ll conduct stakeholder interviews to understand business goals, known challenges, and assumptions. I’ll also audit any existing analytics or customer support data.

3.     If both are limited→ I lean on heuristic evaluation, best practices, and accessibility standards (like 508 Compliance) to guide decisions. I’ll also look at competitive analysis to understand how others in the space are solving similar problems.

4.     Regardless of access level→ I always map out the user journey and build low- to high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, validating with feedback loops where possible.

Ultimately, the “best” methodology is the one that gets us closer to the user’s reality, even if we have to take a few creative paths to get there. Good UX isn’t just about methods, it’s about smart prioritization, creative thinking, and adaptability.

That’s why a strong foundation in UX fundamentals, like button behavior, navigation patterns, dropdown logic, and accordions, is also essential. When timelines are tight, your knowledge of the “do’s and don’ts” becomes your toolkit.

Certifications like 508 Compliance are incredibly valuable too. Not only do they teach accessibility standards, they also expand your understanding of color theory, contrast ratios, and the tools needed to create inclusive experiences for people with disabilities.

For hiring managers and recruiters: when you ask about UX methodologies, remember that not all UX designers are researchers. Some are generalists; some specialize in strategy, interaction design, or accessibility. The real value is in understanding how a designer thinks through UX prioritization within real-world constraints.

AI can’t (yet) replicate that strategic thinking. It might surface keywords, but it won’t understand how to choose the right method for the right context. Its coming, but its not here on LinkedIn atm.

So, the next time you're hiring, don’t just ask which UX tools someone uses. Ask them how they decide which to use, when, and why. That’s where the real UX magic happens. Share with me some of your go-to UX methodologies! Connect with me on LinkedIn or email me at andreagcassar@gmail.com.