What is the primary purpose of user research in UX design?

User research plays a crucial role in UX design by focusing on understanding users' needs, behaviors, goals, and motivations. This foundational insight is essential for creating effective and user-centered designs. By gathering qualitative and quantitative data about users, designers can identify pain points and preferences, which directly inform design decisions.

The emphasis is on empathy—ensuring that the final product aligns with what users truly require and expect. This research can be conducted through various methods such as interviews, surveys, usability tests, and observational studies, all aimed at enriching the design process with real user data. This leads to more intuitive interfaces and positive user experiences, ultimately resulting in higher user satisfaction and engagement.

In contrast, testing technology or summarizing design trends, while potentially informative, do not directly address the users' perspectives nor enhance user-centered design. Similarly, understanding marketing strategies focuses more on promoting a product rather than improving its usability and overall user experience.