Essential UX Terms You Should Know Before Your Interview
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Chapter 1: Introduction to UX Terminology
Hello everyone! Today, I'm excited to present a comprehensive list of essential UX and tech terms that every aspiring designer should familiarize themselves with. I've aimed to keep each explanation concise—just three lines—to make them easily digestible. Additionally, I’ll provide a resource at the end for those who wish to delve deeper into each term.
These terms will serve you well in various conversations, whether you're talking to a client, participating in an interview, or collaborating with colleagues. I felt compelled to compile this list because I remember feeling quite lost during my initial interviews, especially when I encountered terms like "squads." During one interview, the interviewer asked if I was comfortable working in multiple squads at once, and I was completely baffled by the term.
In order to help you avoid similar confusion, I've created this invaluable "Golden List" of the most important terms to know before stepping into a client meeting or UX interview. These 32 UX terms can elevate your "tech speaking" skills, enabling you to communicate more effectively. Let’s jump right in!
1 — Squads
Squads are small, cross-functional teams that collaborate to reach a shared objective. Typically made up of around eight members with diverse skill sets, they play a vital role in Agile project management.
2 — Agile
Agile is a software development methodology that prioritizes adaptability and flexibility. It enables organizations to create the right products through small, cross-functional teams and an emphasis on continuous improvement.
3 — Waterfall Model
The waterfall model is a conventional approach to software development that follows a linear, step-by-step process. However, due to its rigidity, it is seldom utilized in UX design.
4 — Lean Design
Lean design is a user-centered methodology focused on generating efficient, simple designs through rapid prototyping and experimentation.
5 — Design Thinking
Design thinking is a user-centric approach to innovation and problem-solving that involves comprehending user needs, generating ideas, prototyping, testing solutions, and refining them based on feedback.
6 — Product Owner (P.O.)
A product owner is a key member of an Agile development team, tasked with representing stakeholder interests and defining product features and priorities.
7 — Product Designer (P.D.)
A product designer oversees the entire design process, from research to implementation, collaborating with various teams to create user-friendly and visually compelling products.
8 — Product Manager (P.M.)
A product manager is responsible for shaping and driving the product strategy, working closely with the development team and stakeholders to ensure timely and budget-compliant delivery.
9 — UX Designer Junior
A junior UX designer assists senior designers with user research, wireframing, and prototyping, and may also engage in low-fidelity designs and user testing.
10 — UX Designer Pleno
A mid-level UX designer with 1-3 years of experience, taking lead on smaller projects or components of larger projects and mentoring junior designers.
11 — UX Designer Senior
A senior UX designer has extensive experience leading design efforts and teams, conducting user research, creating prototypes, and collaborating closely with development teams.
12 — A/B Testing
A/B testing is a method of comparing two product versions to determine which one performs better, allowing UX designers to make informed, data-driven decisions.
13 — Accessibility
In UX design, accessibility refers to creating products and services that can be independently used by individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities.
14 — Card Sorting
Card sorting is a user research technique where users organize cards—each labeled with a word or phrase related to the product—into groups that make sense to them.
15 — End-User
End-users are at the heart of the UX design process, as the user experience is tailored to meet their needs and preferences. Understanding their goals and behaviors is crucial for effective design.
16 — Human-Computer Interaction
This field studies how humans engage with computer technology, focusing on designing intuitive, easy-to-use, and enjoyable interfaces and systems.
17 — Information Architecture
Information architecture involves structuring information to enhance its usability and comprehension, organizing and labeling content logically.
18 — Mockup
A mockup is a visual representation that illustrates how the final product will appear.
19 — Persona
A persona is a fictional character that embodies an ideal customer or user, helping your team understand user needs, goals, and behaviors.
20 — Prototype
A prototype is a preliminary model used to test and refine designs and gather user or stakeholder feedback, demonstrating functionality and usability.
21 — User Flow
User flow maps the path a user takes while interacting with a product, providing insights into the steps necessary to complete tasks or achieve goals.
22 — Wireframe
A wireframe is a visual outline of a webpage or app, showcasing the layout and structure of the user interface, including the arrangement of elements like text and buttons.
23 — HTML
HTML, or Hypertext Markup Language, is the standard markup language used for creating web pages.
24 — CSS
CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is a styling language that governs the appearance and formatting of documents written in HTML.
25 — Pixel Perfect
The term "pixel perfect" describes the pursuit of high precision and accuracy in website or application design, resulting in a final product that meets the original vision.
26 — Grids
Grids are typically used to divide a page into columns and rows for aligning elements, ensuring a consistent and cohesive layout, and aiding in responsive design.
27 — KPIs
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are metrics that gauge the success of a product or service, evaluating its effectiveness and usability from the user's perspective.
28 — Heuristics
Heuristics are guidelines for problem-solving or decision-making. In UX, they help designers assess and enhance product usability.
29 — Laws of UX
The laws of UX describe principles that explain how users perceive and interact with products, grounded in research from psychology and cognitive science.
30 — OKRs
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) is a framework for defining and tracking measurable goals, aiding organizations in maintaining focus and progressing toward priorities.
31 — UX Writing
UX writing focuses on creating user-centered content across digital products to ensure a cohesive and consistent user experience.
32 — UX Research
UX research involves collecting and analyzing data regarding user behavior and preferences to inform digital product design aimed at enhancing the user experience.
33 — Interactive Design
In UX design, it's crucial to consider how users will interact with products, designing interfaces and functionalities that are intuitive and user-friendly.
34 — False Consensus Effect
The false consensus effect is a cognitive bias where individuals overestimate the extent to which their beliefs and behaviors are shared by others, leading to potential misunderstandings.
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That's a lot of terminology to digest! It may seem daunting, but I encourage you to check out Uxcel, a platform designed to enhance your design skills through interactive courses. It's akin to Duolingo but tailored for UX! By joining through this link, you'll receive a 25% discount on the Pro Uxcel Yearly subscription. You can even try it for free—no credit card required. Subscribing via my link supports my work, too!
Thank you for reading! I hope you found this information valuable, and I look forward to seeing you in the next article.
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Explore specific phrases and topics to discuss during your UX design interviews in this helpful video!
Learn about essential UX design terms that every designer should know in this informative video.