Blog

Notes from the refinery.

Guides, ideas, and the occasional strong opinion on UX research, market research, and the craft of understanding people. Plain language, whatever the topic.

UX research11 Oct 2026

How much does UX research cost in South Africa?

The question every buyer asks first, answered straight. Cost drivers, study shapes, and how to get the strongest work your budget allows.

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UX research18 Oct 2023

Why you should choose a dedicated UX research agency

When the same team researches, designs, and builds, bias creeps in. A dedicated research agency has no design to defend, so the findings stay honest.

3 min readRead article

Market research08 Aug 2023

Market research vs UX research: understanding the synergy

One shows you the landscape, the other shows you the person standing in it. Together they turn a vague opportunity into a product people can actually use.

2 min readRead article

UX research22 Jul 2023

Investing in UX research: 10 compelling benefits

Research is not a cost centre. It is the cheapest way to avoid expensive mistakes. Ten benefits, each with a plain explanation of how the money comes back.

2 min readRead article

UX research18 Jun 2023

User testing tools: insights for website optimisation

No single tool tells the whole story. Here is the stack we reach for, what each layer adds, and where the real answers hide.

3 min readRead article

UX research05 Jun 2023

UX research companies in South Africa: why the maths works

Same rigour, saner invoices. What you actually get when you run research from South Africa, beyond the exchange rate.

3 min readRead article

Career31 May 2023

UX researcher career guide: how to break in

No, you don't need a psychology PhD. What the job really takes, how to break in without experience, and when to just hire someone like us.

2 min readRead article

UX research28 May 2023

UX research: a quick guide by UX Refinery

The five-minute version of our entire craft. What research is, why it beats guessing, which methods to reach for, and where the findings go.

2 min readRead article

UX design25 May 2023

How user research improves the UX design process

Opinion versus evidence: that's the whole story. How research sharpens each stage of designing, and why the loop never really closes.

2 min readRead article

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