Understanding users is the first step of user experience design. To truly empathize, designers must see through the user's eyes and walk in their shoes, feeling their difficulties firsthand.

To understand our users, we can use quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative methods provide numerical data, such as product analytics, surveys, A/B tests, and quantitative usability tests. This data can reveal metrics like time spent, error rates, success rates, conversion rates, drop-off points, and satisfaction levels. Qualitative methods, on the other hand, provide a deeper understanding of the user's story and context. This includes user interviews, qualitative usability tests, and heuristic analysis. Together, quantitative and qualitative methods combine to provide a complete view of the user's world. The numbers show where issues exist; the stories explain why.

One of the most underated ways to understand the user is to become the user. Successful products, such as Airbnb, Spotify, Notion, and Sweetgreen, were created by founders trying to solve their own problems. By experiencing the same pain points as our users, we can develop a deep empathy and motivation to find real solutions. Evaluating competitor products and introspectively questioning their effectiveness can sharpen our self-awareness. What's better than a secondary resource? A primary resource. What's better than a primary resource? A first-hand account, experienced with your own two eyes.