Users rarely give feedback on their own, so your team needs to reach out. You can gather feedback through online surveys, product analytics, or other methods that help capture user experience data.
In larger companies, dedicated data teams may handle this, while project teams often take on the task in smaller organizations. Data comes in different formats, but what matters most is knowing when and where it was collected so you can use it correctly in your analysis.
At Helio, we use audience insights as early indicators. The best results come from combining feedback with other methods, like qualitative research, to get a fuller picture. Try different approaches to see what works best for your team and project goals.
- Use tools to gather data on user interactions.
- Provide the foundation for evaluating performance.
- Ensure data reflects real user needs and behaviors.
- Focus efforts on relevant and actionable insights.
How Glare Organizes Data Collection
Glare breaks data collection into three practical layers to help teams move from guesswork to evidence-based design. Each one reflects a different mindset and method for gathering insights:
- Research Stacks give you proven research models mapped to UX metrics.
- Techniques help you measure what users do, how fast they do it, and how well they succeed.
- Tools power your research at scale, capturing the inputs you need from real users in real time.
This layered structure helps teams choose the right approach for the question they’re trying to answer—and ensures the data they collect is meaningful, measurable, and actionable.
What Kind of Feedback Are You Collecting?
Use this lens to guide which tools, techniques, or stacks to reach for—and to balance quantitative performance with human context.
| Insight Layer | What It Reveals | Example Tools/Techniques |
| → View user data | Raw metrics and behavior patterns | Web analytics, clickstream, heatmaps |
| → See what users do | Step-by-step flows and task outcomes | First click testing, task success, time on task |
| → Sense what users like | Visual attention and emotional responses | Eye tracking, preference tests |
| → Hear what users say | Opinions, expectations, and feedback | Surveys, questionnaires, in-product prompts |
Research Stacks
Recognized research approaches (like SUS, NPS, or NASA-TLX) with UX metric alignment.
If you’re already familiar with a method—or want a proven way to measure effort, satisfaction, or loyalty—these stacks show you how to apply them within UX workflows. They’re easy to plug into both product and marketing initiatives.
- Benchmarking experience
- Comparing versions
- Measuring impact of changes
Check out the Research Stacks
Techniques
Tactical methods for gathering direct input on user behavior, performance, and decision-making. These techniques are the building blocks of UX research—designed to answer specific questions about how users interact with your product.
They give you targeted, actionable insights by testing specific interactions, flows, or design changes. Whether you’re tracking the success rate on a key task or watching how users scan a page, techniques provide measurable signals to guide your next move.
- Testing flow and interaction clarity
- Validating design changes at the component level
- Collecting performance data to compare variants
- Spotting friction points or drop-offs in user journeys
Check out the Techniques
Tools
The platforms, software, or systems that help automate feedback collection—analytics, surveys, session recordings, etc.
Tools allow teams to scale measurement and collect data passively or in real time. They power the methods and techniques you put into motion.
- Ongoing tracking
- High-volume feedback
- Automating parts of the process
Check out the Tools
Why Collecting Data Matters
Collecting user data isn’t just a first step—it’s an essential discipline that powers every design stage. The most impactful teams use structured data to uncover friction, validate ideas, and measure outcomes against real user needs.
In Glare, collecting UX metrics isn’t just about gathering numbers. It’s about translating feedback into clarity, direction, and progress. Whether you’re launching something new or iterating on a core feature, strong data collection practices give your team the confidence to move fast, align stakeholders, and design with purpose.