There are several terms, tools and models or methodologies used in the discipline of UX design by UX designers like you. This glossary lists the most common ones along with their definitions.
Terms
Accessibility: Designing products and websites so everyone can use them, including people with disabilities. Think of it like ramps next to stairs, offering different ways to achieve the same goal.
Alignment: How elements (like text or images) line up with each other on the page. Good alignment makes everything look organized and professional.
Balance: Distributing design elements evenly (or sometimes unevenly!) to create visual harmony. Think of a seesaw – you want equal weight on both sides for balance.
Color Theory: The science behind how we perceive color and how to use it effectively in design. It covers color wheels, warm/cool colors, and how to create pleasing combinations.
Contrast: Using difference to make elements stand out. You can have high contrast (black text on white background) or low contrast (two similar shades).
Hierarchy: Arranging elements by importance to guide the viewer’s eye through your design. Think of a newspaper headline being the most prominent element.
Human-Centered Design (HCD): A principle that prioritizes people in the design process, considering the impact of a design on all humans involved, not just the immediate users.
Information Architecture (IA): Organizing the content of a website or app in a way that’s easy to find and understand. Think about it like how a library is organized into sections.
Interaction Design: Designing how users interact with a product, like what happens when they click buttons or swipe on their phone.
Journey Map: A visual diagram showing the steps a user goes through when interacting with a product or service, including their emotions and pain points.
Negative Space (or Whitespace): The empty areas around design elements. Good use of negative space gives your design room to breathe and adds elegance.
Proportion: The relationship between the sizes of different elements in a design. Think about the difference between a large image and a smaller caption below it.
Prototype: A basic model of your design idea. It can be a simple drawing or a clickable model made with software. Prototypes let you test your ideas cheaply.
Repetition: Using the same pattern or element multiple times to create consistency and a sense of unity.
Typography: The art of choosing and arranging fonts for both style and readability.
User Experience (UX): How a person feels when they use a product, website, or app. It includes:
- Emotions: Does it make them feel happy, frustrated, or confused?
- Ease of Use: Is it simple to figure out how to do what they need, or do they get lost?
- Efficiency: Can they complete tasks quickly, or does it take too many steps?
- Overall Impression: Would they recommend it to a friend, or did they have a bad experience?
User Flow: The path a user takes through a website or app to complete a task. Think about it like the steps you take to buy something online.
User Persona: A fictional character that represents a typical user of your product. Personas help you design with your users in mind.
User Research: Learning about the people who will use your product – their needs, behaviors, and challenges.
Usability Testing: Watching real users try your design to find problems and see if it’s easy to use.
Wireframe: A simple outline of a website or app, showing the basic layout and where content will go. Think of it like the sketch of a house before it’s built.
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign): Industry-standard tools for image editing, vector graphics, and layout design.
Canva: User-friendly online design tool with templates and resources for non-designers.
Color Wheel: A visual tool to help you understand color relationships and choose harmonious combinations. Many online versions exist!
Figma: Popular software for creating designs, prototypes, and collaborating with your team.
Font Libraries (e.g., Google Fonts): Places to find a huge variety of fonts for your projects.
Fluent 2: Microsoft’s updated design system that serves as a blueprint for how digital products should look and feel, offering rules and reusable components.
Optimal Workshop: A suite of tools specifically focused on user research (card sorting, tree testing, surveys, etc.).
Miro: A virtual whiteboard for brainstorming, planning projects, and working together remotely.
PowerPoint: A program within the Microsoft Office suite that lets you create slides for presentations. You can include text, images, videos, charts, animations, and transitions within your slides.
Pen and Paper: Don’t underestimate the power of sketching! Start with simple tools to quickly get your ideas down.
Sketch: Another design software similar to Figma.
Whimsical: Tool for creating wireframes, flowcharts, and other diagrams.