01Real user data behind every design decision, before it's made
Interviews · 3 users
A design decisionmade on a hunchmade on user data
UX research services:
see what users do, not what they say
Opinions are cheap. User behavior isn't. Our UX research services cover interviews, usability tests and journey mapping, so product decisions rest on evidence, not on the loudest voice in the room.
UX research is the foundation
of every good design decision
02Problems found in research cost a fraction of post-launch fixes
Cost of a fix
A problemfixed after launchfixed in research
03Validated insights that align design, product and business teams
Readout · 3 teams
The insightargued in meetingsagreed by all three
04Research outputs you can reuse across the product lifecycle
Research library
The researchlost in a slide deckreused in every release
What designing without
research actually costs you
You build what nobody uses.
Teams build features users don’t want and polish flows where nobody struggles. Research shows what to build, and what to skip.
Fixes after launch cost sprints.
A change at the wireframe stage takes hours. After launch it takes sprints, plus the users you lost in between.
Churn you can’t explain.
If users leave and you don’t know why, you can’t fix it. Interviews and session analysis surface the real reasons, not the assumed ones.
Real-world UX research,real business impact
Findings that changed what teams built, and how well it performed.
SaaS / Feature priority70%struggled with navigationResearch showed only 12% of users wanted the planned feature, while 70% struggled with navigation. The team fixed navigation first.
E-commerce / Checkout+26%checkout completionExit interviews revealed a trust gap. Security badges and review snippets closed it.
Fintech / Onboarding−40%onboarding support ticketsSix of eight test users got stuck at step three. A copy change fixed it.
Our UX research
services and methods
We pick and combine methods based on your product stage, your questions and what the data needs to answer.
User & Stakeholder Interviews
One-on-one sessions with users and stakeholders that surface goals, mental models and pain points no survey can capture.
Behavioral Analytics & Heatmaps
Analysis of your existing GA4, Hotjar, Mixpanel or FullStory data to map usage, find drop-offs and spot hidden friction.
Competitor & Market Analysis
A benchmark against competitors: the UX patterns users already know, the gaps you can use and the expectations you need to meet.
User Surveys & Screened Feedback
Structured surveys with screened participants from your real user base, not generic panels, to validate what the interviews suggest.
Usability Testing
Moderated sessions where real users perform real tasks, recorded, analyzed and turned into a prioritized list of improvements.
Research Report & UX Strategy
Every engagement ends with a structured report: findings, patterns, severity ratings and clear next steps, plus personas and journey maps when the scope calls for them.
INTERVIEW 5 · FINANCE LEAD · 32:10
FFinance leadRECORDING · 32:10So we send them out on the first…“Then I spend two days chasing the ones who haven’t paid.”Mark pain point
PAIN POINTSMonth-end takes 10 daysNumbers live in ExcelChasing late payers by hand
PAIN POINTS6
An interviewa nice chatpain points, word for word
MIXPANEL · FEATURE USAGE · 90 DAYS
Invoices41%Payments22%Clients14%Reports9%Forecasts3%Settings7%API4%
Map usageFORECASTS · BUILT FOR 6 MONTHS0%of sessions
Usagewhat the roadmap assumedwhat people actually use
BENCHMARK · SIGN-UP · 4 COMPETITORS
COMPETITOR AGContinue with Google
COMPETITOR BGContinue with Google
COMPETITOR CGContinue with Google
COMPETITOR DGContinue with Google
Google sign-in on the first screen0of 4 have it
The patternsreinvented from scratchthe ones users already know
SCREENER · YOUR USER BASE
ScreenerApply screenerFinance roleInvoices weekly20–200 people
RESPONDENTS1,200real users who fit, not a paid panel
Who answersanyone who gets paid topeople who use the product
FINDINGS · IMPACT × EFFORT · 6 SESSIONS
QUICK WINSIMPACT ↑EFFORT →12345678
FIX FIRST1Billing email hidden in Profile2No “paid” filter on invoices3Tax ID asked twice
QUICK WINS0
The findingsa long list of problemswhat to fix first
RESEARCH REPORT · NORTHWIND
UX RESEARCH · OCTOBERWhy finance teams stall at month-end
04 · NEXT STEPS1Add bulk payment remindersDESIGN · 2 WEEKS2Move billing email to SettingsENG · 2 DAYS3Cut sign-up to 4 fieldsDESIGN · 1 WEEK
NEXT STEPS0
The reporta deck that ends in “it depends”a page of next steps
How a UX research
project runs
You get findings when you need them, not after the sprint has started.
1
Research Scoping
We define what you need to know, why it matters and which methods answer it fastest. A clear plan keeps the findings focused.
ResearchParticipant Recruitment
We recruit from your actual user base and screen against your criteria. Outreach, scheduling, incentives and consent are on us.
Target AudienceData Collection
Interviews, usability sessions, surveys and behavioral analysis run in parallel where possible. Every session is recorded and transcribed.
Usability SessionsReport & Recommendations
A findings report with personas, journey maps, prioritized insights and a roadmap of recommended changes, walked through on a call with your team.
ReportA focused usability study takes 2 to 3 weeks. A full discovery research engagement usually runs 4 to 6 weeks.
Why product teams choose
Glow as their UX research company
Evidence, not interpretations.
Every finding is backed by a recording, a transcript quote or behavioral data. You can see exactly what users said and did.
What users say, and what they do.
Interviews and surveys next to analytics and recordings. The two rarely match, and the gap is where the real insight sits.
Research that leads to decisions.
Findings are organized around your next decisions and feed straight into our UX design process.
Inclusive by default.
We recruit across ability, age and device type as standard. Inclusive samples catch problems that uniform panels miss.
Founders and product leads
on working with Glow
“About a week ago, we went a bit viral with 10k users in 2 days and we received a lot of positive feedback about the design - so thank you Glow for that!”
Israel Benarousse·CEO, Dropcall
View story
“Glow Design Agency delivered high-quality UX/UI designs that enabled the client to close more deals. Their animated video and design gained the client almost 500+ new LinkedIn followers. The team executed work on time and within budget.
Doug Marinaro·CEO, Riptide
"The design work provided by Glow Design Agency completely exceeded project stakeholder expectations in terms of both quality and delivery. Their team was organized and communicative throughout the process, breaking down complex industry concepts and translating them into a sleek and useable UI."
Jon Fry·CEO & Founder at Lendflow (YC W21)
View story
"Glow Design provided UI/UX design for a office space provider and has since expanded their role to include design updates for the site's front- and backend as well as social media visuals and animations."
Eric Zellhart·VP Product at LiquidSpace
View story
"Glow Design Agency provided UI and UX design services for e-cars charging market company. They were tasked with designing the UX and UI of the app's prototype."
Max Grollmann·Managing Director
View story
"Glow was hired by an e-commerce platform for their UI/UX design services. They redesigned website and provided support. After the new website was launched, the client saw a significant increase in conversions."
Vinicius Rodrigues·CTO at E-Commerce Platform
UX research for every
stage of your product
The right research at the right stage prevents the wrong decision at the worst time.
Discovery Research
The starting point of UX research for startups: who your users are, what they need and what stops them, answered before the first design decision.
Concept Validation
Ideas, wireframes or prototypes tested with real users before development, so you invest in what works.
Usability Testing
Usability testing services for live products and prototypes: real users, real tasks and the friction analytics alone will never show.
Post-Launch Analysis
Behavioral data, session recordings and interviews combined to show how people actually use your live product.
Ongoing Research Retainer
Outsourced UX research on a quarterly rhythm that tracks how user needs change as the product grows, so design decisions stay current.
Frequently
asked questions
How is UX research different from a UX audit?
A UX audit is an expert evaluation of an existing product. UX research looks at why users behave the way they do and what they need that the product doesn't give them yet. The two work well together: audits often lead to research, and research makes audits sharper.
A UX audit is an expert evaluation of an existing product. UX research looks at why users behave the way they do and what they need that the product doesn't give them yet. The two work well together: audits often lead to research, and research makes audits sharper.
How long does a UX research engagement take?
A focused usability study takes 2 to 3 weeks. A full discovery engagement with interviews, behavioral analysis, competitive benchmarking and recommendations usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
A focused usability study takes 2 to 3 weeks. A full discovery engagement with interviews, behavioral analysis, competitive benchmarking and recommendations usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.
How much do UX research services cost?
It depends on the methods, the number of user segments and how hard your participants are to recruit. A single usability study costs far less than a multi-method discovery project. We scope the research on a short call and quote a fixed price before work starts.
It depends on the methods, the number of user segments and how hard your participants are to recruit. A single usability study costs far less than a multi-method discovery project. We scope the research on a short call and quote a fixed price before work starts.
How many participants do you recruit?
For qualitative methods, 5 to 8 participants per user segment usually surface the most important patterns. For surveys, we recommend 50+ responses. B2B products with niche roles often need fewer people, screened more carefully.
For qualitative methods, 5 to 8 participants per user segment usually surface the most important patterns. For surveys, we recommend 50+ responses. B2B products with niche roles often need fewer people, screened more carefully.
Can you run research on a product that isn't live yet?
Yes. Concept validation, prototype testing and jobs-to-be-done interviews all work before launch, and that's where research pays off most.
Yes. Concept validation, prototype testing and jobs-to-be-done interviews all work before launch, and that's where research pays off most.
Can AI replace user research?
Not the part that matters. AI is good at transcribing, tagging and clustering hours of sessions, and we use it for exactly that. It can't watch a real person hesitate on a pricing page or explain why they did. AI-generated "synthetic users" predict average behavior, and products usually fail on the specifics.
Not the part that matters. AI is good at transcribing, tagging and clustering hours of sessions, and we use it for exactly that. It can't watch a real person hesitate on a pricing page or explain why they did. AI-generated "synthetic users" predict average behavior, and products usually fail on the specifics.
