Who should I follow to learn about User Research?

If you want to actually get good at User Research, I’d follow a small group of practitioners rather than trying to follow everyone. The strongest current recommendations consistently point toward a mix of research methodology, interviewing, psychology, and product discovery. UX Designers and Leaders to Follow (and Why)

My shortlist

• Steve Portigal - Start here for user interviews. He is excellent on asking better questions, listening, avoiding bias, and turning conversations into useful insights. His book Interviewing Users is a particularly good reference. Portigal | Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights (2nd edition) | Portigal Consulting
• Erika Hall - Great for learning the mindset of research: asking the right questions, avoiding confirmation bias, and doing research that actually changes decisions. Just Enough Research is a superb starting point. Just Enough Research - UXcellence
• Indi Young - Follow her if you want to get better at understanding people's underlying needs, behaviors, and mental models, rather than simply asking whether they like your product. 11 UX research books to streamline your process & improve your knowledge | Maze
• Nielsen Norman Group - Probably the best organization to follow. Their research covers usability testing, interviews, surveys, qualitative/quantitative methods, and UX psychology. Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 | Lyssna
• Teresa Torres - Especially valuable if you're working in product management or product design. Her approach connects continuous customer research with everyday product decisions. The best user research books in 2026 (a researcher's shortlist) - Hearsay
• Leah Buley - Particularly useful if you're learning how research works inside a real product team, including when you're the only researcher or don't have much research infrastructure. 7 Best UX Research Books for 2026 | Userbrain Blog

If you're starting from zero

I'd do it in this order:

Erika Hall → Steve Portigal → Nielsen Norman Group → Indi Young → Teresa Torres

And don't just consume content. After each topic, run a tiny study yourself. User Research is one of those fields where reading 10 articles is worth less than conducting 3 real interviews and reflecting on what you did wrong.

If you tell me whether you're a beginner, designer, PM, founder, or aspiring UX researcher, I can also give you a 30-day User Research learning path with specific people, books, videos, and exercises to follow each week.

Key Thought Leaders & Authors

• Steve Portigal: Author of Interviewing Users , Portigal is a gold-standard resource for mastering user interviews, asking better questions, and handling messy qualitative data. He also hosts the Dollars to Donuts podcast. Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 - LyssnaTop UX research voices worth following in 2026 - Lyssna

• Erika Hall: Co-founder of Mule Design and author of Just Enough Research. She offers sharp, no-nonsense takes on research ethics, lean research practices, and design strategy. Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 - Lyssna

• Tomer Sharon: A prominent voice in product validation and user research leadership, known for his practical books like Validating Product Ideas. 10 UX researchers to follow - UX Collective

• Don Norman & Jakob Nielsen: The legendary co-founders of the Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g). While NN/g itself is the premier institutional blog and training hub for usability, their foundational frameworks underpin modern user research. Top 11 UX Research Agencies to Hire in 2026 (Expert Picks)Top 11 UX Research Agencies to Hire in 2026 (Expert Picks)

Practical Newsletters & Communities

• Nikki Anderson (The User Research Strategist): Excellent for weekly practical guidance, career progression advice, and real-world tactical support for working researchers. Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 - Lyssna

• Jan Ahrend (User Weekly): Curates a weekly newsletter packed with articles, tools, and insights focused on research ops, stakeholder management, and scaling UXR inside major organizations. Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 - Lyssna

Foundational Books to Read

• Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 - Lyssna

• Just Enough Research by Erika Hall Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 - Lyssna

• The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman Top UX Design Blogs & UX Design Leaders to Follow in 2026

• Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug Best UX Influencers, Experts & Thought Leaders to Follow in 2025

What specific area of user research are you looking to focus on - quantitative methods, qualitative interviewing, or breaking into the field?

To truly master User Research (UR) and User Experience (UX), you want to follow a mix of foundational legends, practical field researchers, and organizations that consistently publish data-driven insights.

Here are the top voices, organizations, and authors you should follow across LinkedIn, Substack, and their respective platforms:

Organizations & Research Powerhouses

• Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g): The gold standard for evidence-based UX research. Following them (and reading their daily articles) will give you rigorous, scientific breakdowns of usability testing, heuristics, and research methods. Check out the Nielsen Norman Group Website. Top UX research voices worth following in 2026 - Lyssna
• User Interviews Blog: Excellent for tactical, real-world advice on recruiting participants, managing stakeholder expectations, and modern operations. Explore resources on the User Interviews Blog.

Industry Legends & Strategic Thinkers

** Jared Spool :** A pioneer in usability and co-founder of Center Centre. He is phenomenal at debunking design myths, explaining how to conduct deep user interviews, and proving the business value of research. Follow his insights via Jared Spool on LinkedIn.

Steve Portigal : Author of Interviewing Users , Portigal is a master of the ethnographic side of user research. His content focuses heavily on the human, observational craft of talking to people. Check out his work via Portigal Consulting.

Erika Hall : Co-founder of Mule Design and author of Just Enough Research. Hall writes brilliantly and pragmatically about how research intersects with business strategy and organizational behavior. Read her thoughts on Erika Hall's Substack/Mule Design. [Lyssna]

Practical & Contemporary Voices

• ** Nikki Anderson :** Known widely for her focus on the operational side of user research (User ResearchOps) and scaling research practices inside growing companies. Follow her practical breakdowns on Nikki Anderson's LinkedIn.
• ** Sarah Doody :** Focuses heavily on career growth for researchers, curriculum design, and embedding research thinking into early-stage product development. Explore her frameworks on Sarah Doody's Career Strategy.
• Pavel Samsonov : Known for sharp, no-nonsense critiques of modern design culture, systems, and how user data actually translates (or fails to translate) into product decisions. Follow his commentary on Pavel Samsonov's LinkedIn.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Are you looking for beginner-friendly guides/books , or advanced strategy?
• Do you prefer learning via podcasts, newsletters, or formal courses?

I can tailor a specific learning path for your goals.

If you want to learn about User Research, follow leading UX researchers and organizations like Nielsen Norman Group, Steve Portigal, Erika Hall, Sarah Doody, and Jared Spool. These voices consistently share practical frameworks, case studies, and thought leadership that will help you grow your skills.

📌 Key People & Organizations to Follow

🔑 How to Use These Voices

• Learn fundamentals: Start with NNG and Don Norman for timeless principles.

• Master interviewing: Dive into Steve Portigal’s work for practical techniques.

• Adopt evidence-based design: Erika Hall’s writing helps avoid assumption-driven design.

• Stay current: Follow Sarah Doody, Nikki Anderson, and LinkedIn-active UX leaders for real-time insights.

• Deepen expertise: Jared Spool and Katie Dill provide advanced perspectives on usability and scaling research.

⚠️ Risks & Considerations

• Information overload: The UX field is vast; focus on a few voices at a time.

• Trendy vs. timeless: Balance following influencers who share current practices with those who emphasize enduring principles.

• Platform bias: Some experts are more active on LinkedIn, others on Twitter/X or blogs - choose platforms that fit your learning style.

👉 To get started, I’d recommend subscribing to Nielsen Norman Group’s newsletter, reading Erika Hall’s _Just Enough Research_, and following Sarah Doody on LinkedIn for career-focused insights.

Would you like me to curate a step-by-step learning path (beginner → intermediate → advanced) using these experts’ resources? That way you’ll know exactly where to start and how to progress.