Mockup of a laptop screen displaying a 2024 report titled 'Bridging the gap between research and design' by Clearleft. The report explores how research insights often get lost before design decisions are made and aims to find ways to close this gap. The screen has a dark background with white text and the Clearleft logo at the top left.

We talked to over 155 UXers, 58 researchers, 42 designers, and 41 researcher-designers from 23 countries to answer one crucial question: Is there a gap between UX research and design?

Research teams spend most of their time getting insight into the needs and actions of their users. However, these insights do not always inform design decisions, with useful findings getting lost in the ‘gap’ between the research taking place and the final design 
being released.

As the UK’s leading design transformation agency, Clearleft undertook research into whether there’s a gap between research and design and, if so, what can be done to help bridge that gap.

The gap between research results and the ultimate design solution is the result of a process that doesn’t connect the dots from user to final product.

Alan Cooper About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design

Why Download This Report?

  • Exclusive Insights: Gain access to survey results and interviews with UX researchers and designers from across the globe.
  • Actionable Takeaways: Learn strategies for improving collaboration in your own team—based on real-world examples and expert recommendations.
  • Global Perspective: Understand how professionals in different industries and regions approach UX research and design integration.

Download the full report to discover what our research revealed about the relationship between UX research and design—and how your team can benefit from these findings.

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