A/B Testing
A method used to compare two versions of a webpage, app, or other design elements to determine which one performs better. Users are split into two groups, each experiencing a different version, and metrics like conversion rates or user engagement are analyzed to decide the superior option.
Affinity Diagram
A brainstorming tool used to organize ideas, insights, and data into related groups or categories. Participants write ideas on sticky notes, then cluster them into themes. This method helps teams identify patterns, relationships, and common themes, especially during the early stages of a design project.
Card Sorting
A user research technique in which participants organize content or information into categories that make sense to them. This helps designers understand how users perceive the structure and organization of information, guiding the development of intuitive navigation and information architecture in websites or applications.
CX (Customer Experience)
The sum of all interactions a customer has with a company across various touchpoints, from marketing and sales to product usage and customer support. It encompasses the emotional, cognitive, and sensory responses that result from these interactions, ultimately influencing customer satisfaction, loyalty, and brand perception.
Design
The process of creating solutions to problems by planning and crafting the form, function, and aesthetics of objects, systems, or experiences. It involves research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration, aiming to balance user needs, technical feasibility, and business goals to create effective, aesthetically pleasing, and functional outcomes. Not to be misunderstood as “art” or “making things look pretty.”
DesignOps (Design Operations)
The orchestration and optimization of people, processes, and craft in order to amplify design’s value and impact at scale — while engaging and empowering designers. DesignOps is a collective term for addressing challenges such as: growing & evolving design teams; finding, hiring, growing & engaging designers with the right skills; creating efficient workflows in the design team and with stakeholders; improving the quality & impact of design outputs.
Design System
A comprehensive collection of reusable components, guidelines, and standards that ensure consistency and coherence across a product or brand’s design. It includes visual styles, UI components, typography, and interaction patterns, enabling design and development teams to create and maintain cohesive user experiences efficiently and at scale.
Empathy Map
A visualization tool used to gain a deeper understanding of users by exploring what they say, think, feel, and do in a particular context. This tool helps teams empathize with users, uncovering insights into their motivations, needs, and pain points, which inform the design process.
Figma
A popular cloud-based design tool used for creating, prototyping, and collaborating on user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) designs. Figma allows multiple team members to work on a design simultaneously, offering real-time collaboration features that streamline the design workflow and improve communication among designers and stakeholders.
Heatmap
A visual representation of user interactions on a webpage or app, typically using color gradients to indicate areas of high and low activity. Heatmaps help designers and analysts understand which parts of a page attract the most attention, guiding decisions on layout, content placement, and user experience improvements.
IA (Information Architecture)
The practice of organizing, structuring, and labeling content in a way that makes it easy for users to find and navigate. Information architecture involves creating sitemaps, navigation systems, and hierarchies that reflect users' mental models, ensuring that information is accessible and intuitively arranged.
Industrial Design
The process of designing and developing mass-produced products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. It focuses on the usability, ergonomics, and overall user experience of physical objects, such as consumer electronics, furniture, and appliances, balancing form and function while considering manufacturing processes and materials.
Journey Map
A visual representation of the user’s experience with a product, service, or brand over time, typically highlighting key touchpoints, emotions, and pain points. Journey maps help teams understand the user’s perspective and identify opportunities to improve the overall experience by addressing gaps or pain points.
MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
The simplest version of a product that can be released to market with just enough features to satisfy early adopters and gather feedback. The goal of an MVP is to validate product concepts, test assumptions, and iterate based on user feedback without investing in a fully developed product.
NPS (Net Promoter Score)
A metric used to measure customer loyalty and satisfaction by asking customers how likely they are to recommend a product or service to others on a scale of 0 to 10. NPS categorizes respondents into promoters, passives, and detractors, providing insight into overall customer sentiment and loyalty.
Persona
A fictional character that represents a specific user type or audience segment, based on research and data. Personas include details such as demographics, behaviors, goals, and pain points, helping design teams to empathize with users and make decisions that address the needs and expectations of target audiences.
Prototype
An early model of a product or feature used to test and validate concepts before full-scale development. Prototypes range from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity interactive models, allowing designers and stakeholders to explore ideas, gather user feedback, and make iterative improvements, reducing the risk of costly design errors.
Responsive Design
A design approach that ensures a website or application adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices, from desktop computers to smartphones and tablets. Responsive design involves using flexible layouts, grids, and media queries to provide an optimal viewing experience, improving usability and accessibility across all platforms.
Service Design
The practice of planning and organizing people, infrastructure, communication, and materials to improve the quality and interaction of a service. It focuses on creating seamless, efficient, and user-centered experiences by mapping out the entire service journey, identifying touchpoints, and optimizing processes to meet user needs and business goals.
UI (User Interface)
The space where interactions between humans and machines occur, encompassing everything from buttons and menus to icons and layouts. UI design focuses on creating visually appealing and intuitive interfaces that facilitate user interaction, ensuring that users can easily navigate and control a digital product.
Usability
The ease with which users can interact with a product, system, or service to achieve their goals effectively and efficiently. It encompasses aspects like simplicity, intuitiveness, and learnability, ensuring that users can navigate and complete tasks with minimal effort, reducing errors and enhancing overall satisfaction.
Usability Testing
A method of evaluating a product or service by testing it with real users to identify any usability issues or areas for improvement. During usability testing, participants complete tasks while observers watch and take notes, providing valuable insights into how users interact with the product and where they encounter difficulties.
User Journey
A visual representation of the path a user takes to complete a specific task or achieve a goal within a product. User flows map out each step, screen, or interaction involved in the process, helping designers identify potential obstacles, optimize navigation, and ensure a smooth and logical user journey.
UX (User Experience)
The overall experience a user has when interacting with a product, service, or system, encompassing factors like ease of use, efficiency, accessibility, and satisfaction. UX design aims to create products that meet users’ needs and expectations, ensuring a positive, seamless, and meaningful interaction throughout the user journey.
Wireframe
A basic, low-fidelity visual guide representing the skeletal structure of a webpage or app. Wireframes outline the placement of elements like navigation, content, and interactive components, helping designers plan the layout and functionality before adding detailed design elements or moving into high-fidelity prototypes.
