How to Empathize with Users: A Guide for UX Designers

One of the hardest truths in UX research is this: even the most careful researcher brings bias into the room. The way we phrase a question, the order we ask it in, even the emphasis in our tone—these subtle cues can shape the answers we receive. Suddenly, the interview stops being about the user’s truth and starts echoing our own assumptions back to us. I call this the “interview echo chamber.” As practitioners, our responsibility isn’t just to ask questions, but to constantly question ourselves. ❓ Am I steering this conversation without realizing it? ❓ Are my words shaping the insights I claim to uncover? ❓ What assumptions am I carrying in, unseen? Methods and tools will continue to evolve—but the discipline of self-awareness is timeless. Without it, our research risks becoming validation, not discovery. The more we recognize this, the better we become at designing for what users actually need—rather than what we subconsciously expect to hear. 👉 How do you keep yourself in check when running user interviews? #UXResearch #DesignLeadership #ObjectOrientedUX #DesignStrategy

Resistance Isn’t the Enemy – It’s a Signal During depth interviews or usability tests, new functionality can meet unexpected pushback. Participants cling to familiar workflows ("we’ve always done this in Excel – why switch?") or sidestep certain topics. The instinct is to persuade or “break the ice.” But resistance isn’t the enemy – it’s a resource. In psychotherapy, resistance often points to unspoken fears and needs. In UX research, negative reactions are equally valuable: they mark where experience tightens, where trust thins, and where risk is felt. Instead of pressing harder, shift the stance from convince to curious. Swap “Why are you refusing?” for “What worries you about this approach?” Pushback often reveals what matters: fear of losing control over data, low trust in automation after past failures, or constraints we didn’t see. Treat each objection as information, not interference. Like a map of tender spots, resistance guides design toward the real anxieties that must be addressed – so the product answers human concerns rather than ignoring them. Checklist – Spot & Use Resistance in UX Interviews: https://lnkd.in/d7GuuU93 #UXResearch #UserExperience #UserBehavior #PsychologyInDesign #HumanCenteredDesign

🧠 “So, tell me about a time you improved a user experience…” If you’re preparing for UI/UX interviews, you’ve probably heard questions like: • “What’s the difference between UI and UX?” • “How do you handle design criticism?” • “Describe your user research process.” • “What metrics do you track to measure UX success?” • “Which design tools do you use—and why?” The truth? 🎯 These interviews aren’t just about your portfolio—they’re about your thinking process. I recently reviewed a comprehensive collection of UI/UX interview questions (see PDF above ☝), and it reminded me of how crucial it is to go beyond visual design. ✅ Can you talk through your design decisions? ✅ Can you back your ideas with data or testing? ✅ Can you show that you’ve designed for real people—not just screens? ✨ Pro tip: Practice answering these questions out loud. Turn each answer into a mini story—problem, approach, solution, outcome. Design isn’t just about how it looks or works—it’s also about how you communicate it to a team, a stakeholder, or a hiring manager. 💬 What’s the trickiest UX interview question you’ve been asked? #UXDesign #UIDesign #DesignInterviews #InterviewQuestions #UXCareer #PortfolioTips #UXThinking #DesignStrategy #ProductDesign #CareerInUX #UXJobs

The analytics say users are engaging. The interviews say they’re confused. That tension isn’t a problem, it’s a signal. And where there’s none, there’s fire. That’s where great product design begins. My job as a designer isn’t to pick a side. It’s to see the full system and resolve it into something clear, intuitive, and trustworthy. I map: • Where users hesitate • Where friction lives • Where the design breaks trust Then I fix it, not with guesswork, but with purpose and keeping a clear understanding of user wants / business goals. Like Dieter Rams said, “Good design is as little design as possible.” But getting there takes a lot of thinking, understanding, and compassion. If you’re building tools where trust, speed, and clarity matter, we should talk (or we can discuss Italian Brainrot). #productdesign #uxstrategy #aiux #designsystems #dieter­rams #claritythroughdesign

While prepping for interviews, I subscribed to Stimuler. Everything was smooth… until the Speaking task. I had to listen → repeat → go back → replay → come back. That tiny loop = big frustration. 🔑 Real UX insights don’t come from theory, they come when you step into the user’s shoes and experience the flow yourself. The deeper you go, the clearer the design challenges (and solutions) become. 👉 What’s one small design friction you’ve noticed recently? #UXDesign #DesignThinking #UserExperience

🎯 User Research & Interviews – The Foundation of Great UX Before we design, we need to understand our users User research isn’t just about asking questions it’s about listening, observing, and finding patterns that guide better design decisions. In this short carousel, I’ve shared: ✅ Why user research matters ✅ Different research methods (surveys, interviews, observation, analytics, competitor analysis) ✅ Tips for conducting effective user interviews ✅ How to analyze findings and improve your design ✨ Remember: A product designed without research is just a guess. Good design starts with empathy and evidence. #uxresearch #research #userexperience #empathy #users #userinterviews #uxui #surveyes #productdesign #product

🚨 To every designer who’s mastered the tools but keeps failing UX interviews, this might be a boon for you. You’ve built pixel-perfect screens. You’ve recreated popular apps. You’ve showcased your finesse with design software. But here’s the hard truth: 📉 If your portfolio is filled with look-alike redesigns and imaginary flows, you're not showing what UX hiring managers actually care about. They are not looking for tool proficiency. They are looking for strategic thinking, user empathy, and measurable impact. 💡 UX is not about beautifying interfaces. It is about solving real problems for real people with clarity, logic, and outcomes. If you are stuck in the loop of rejection, it is not your talent which is lacking. It is your portfolio narrative. I have helped designers shift from "visual decorators" to "UX strategists" by guiding them through live, outcome-driven projects that reflect true UX maturity. 📩 Message me if you are ready to: ✅ Work on a real use-case with real constraints ✅ Build a portfolio that speaks business, not just aesthetics ✅ Finally crack the UX interview wall Let’s stop designing for applause. Let’s start designing for impact. 🔁 Share this with someone who’s ready to level up. #UXJobs #UXPortfolio #UXMentorship #LiveProjects #UXInterviews

🚀 Breaking into UX can feel overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to be. I recently came across a gem for anyone aspiring to step into the world of User Experience design: 📖 'Get Into UX' by Vy Alechnavicius This book is packed with practical advice — from building a strong portfolio and resume to preparing for interviews and understanding the UX job market. What I really liked is how approachable it feels, making the transition into UX less intimidating and more actionable. For students, career switchers, or even designers refining their path, this is a must-read! 👉 Here’s the link to the book https://lnkd.in/gkTjbgeh Let’s keep learning, sharing, and supporting each other in this growing field. 🌱 #UXDesign #UIDesign #CareerGrowth #UXCommunity #Learning

Top 5 Mock Interview Platforms for UX Designers 👾 Practicing alone felt easy—until I faced real interview pressure. Mock interviews gave me a safe space to practice, make mistakes, and get feedback. They helped me structure answers, explain my design process with confidence, and stay calm under tough questions. If you’re preparing for a UX role, don’t just read questions—practice them like it’s real. #ui #ux

Everyone in product gets told: "Talk to your users." But nobody teaches them how to ask. I've watched it play out across teams: Founders, PMs, UX researchers, designers. "Would you use this if we built it?" "Do you like the idea?" "How much would you pay?" All garbage questions. Polite lies wrapped in false confidence. The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick changed everything for me. The insight was simple: Stop asking for opinions. Start asking about behavior. So I built something small to make those lessons practical. A simple tool that generates sharper customer conversation questions on the spot. No theory. Just prompts you can actually use. Check it out: tools.corshift.com Question for you: What's the worst customer interview question you've heard (or asked)? #ClarityWithCorshift #ProductClarity