TOOLS & IDEAS

Menu

TOOLS & IDEAS

Learn about who we work with…

UX GLOSSARY

This UX Glossary, created by Akendi, is a valuable resource designed to demystify the terminology, methodologies, and principles commonly used in the UX industry.

Back to top
A

A/B Testing

Data-driven method to optimize web design, content, and marketing by comparing two or more variants to improve user experience, conversions, and engagement.

Accessibility

Designing websites or products that are inclusive and usable by all, including people with disabilities, through features such as proper color contrast, keyboard accessibility, and alternative text for images.

Adaptive Design

A UX approach that creates tailored versions of a digital product for specific devices or screen sizes, optimizing layout, content, and functionality.

Aesthetics

The visual appeal and emotional response elicited by the design of a product or service.

Affordance

Refers to the inherent qualities or properties of an object or environment that suggest or enable its use or interaction by users, based on its design or functionality.

Agile UX

An iterative and collaborative approach to user experience design that integrates UX principles and practices into Agile development methodologies for efficient and user-centric product development.

Analytics

The collection and analysis of data to gain insights, inform decisions, and optimize user experience and business outcomes.

Anchoring

A cognitive bias where people rely heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions, even if it's unrelated or arbitrary.

Attitudinal Research

Measures and analyzes people's opinions, beliefs, and emotions. It informs decision-making and strategy development.

B

Baileys Human Performance Model (HPM)

A systematic approach to understanding and improving human performance in complex tasks through analysis, training, and feedback

Banner Blindness

Users ignore or overlook banner ads due to habituation or perceived lack of relevance. Can impact digital advertising effectiveness.

Behavioural Economics

Study of how psychology and economics intersect to understand how human behavior affects economic decisions, exploring cognitive, emotional, and social factors and biases in decision-making.

Behavioural Research

Study of human behavior, actions, and decision-making. Provides insights into user behavior, preferences, and interactions.

Benchmarking

Comparing and evaluating a product or service design against established standards or competitors

Berry Picking

Refers to a user's iterative and non-linear process of navigating through information or interfaces to find desired information.

Brand Guideline

Brand guidelines provide instructions on logo usage, color palette, typography, imagery, tone of voice, and messaging to maintain brand consistency.

C

Card Sorting

A UX research method where participants organize content or concepts into categories, providing insights into how users perceive and organize information for improved design decisions.

Chunking

The process of grouping pieces of information into more manageable and meaningful units or "chunks"

Clickability

Clickability refers to the characteristics of an element, such as a button or link, that indicates it can be interacted with or clicked/tapped to perform an action.

Cognitive Biases

Mental shortcuts or tendencies that influence decision-making and perception, often leading to subjective judgments and irrational behavior.

Cognitive Load

The mental effort required for users to understand and use a product or service.

Color Theory

Color theory explores the interaction, perception, and emotional impact of colors, guiding their selection and use in design, art, and psychology.

Confirmatory Research

A type of research methodology that seeks to test specific hypotheses or predetermined research questions using structured data collection and statistical analysis for validation or rejection.

Consistency

The uniformity and coherence of design elements and interactions within a product or service.

Content Audit

A systematic review of all digital content to evaluate performance, quality, and relevance, and make data-driven decisions for content optimization and improvement.

Content Inventory

Comprehensive list of all digital content assets, such as articles, images, videos, and media, for evaluation, optimization, and management purposes.

Content Strategy

The planning, creation, and management of content within a product or service.

Context of Use

The physical, social, and environmental factors that influence how users interact with a product or service.

Context Patterns

A design approach that considers the surrounding circumstances and user environment to create relevant and tailored user experiences.

Contextual Design

Designing products or services that are tailored to the specific context of use and meet users' needs in that context.

Contextual Help

Providing relevant assistance or guidance based on users' context and needs.

Contextual Inquiry

Conducting research by observing users in their natural environment to understand their needs and behaviors.

Continuation

Creating flow through elements to guide the viewer's eye smoothly. Enhances visual harmony and coherence.

Controlled Vocabulary

A structured and organized list of predefined terms used to categorize, tag, or classify content, improving consistency and accuracy in information retrieval and user experience.

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)

Optimizing the design and content of a product or service to increase the percentage of users who complete a desired action or goal.

Customer Experience (CX)

Encompasses all interactions and perceptions a customer has with a brand, product, or service, impacting satisfaction, loyalty, and overall business success.

Creeping Featurism

The gradual accumulation of excessive and often unnecessary features in a product, leading to complexity, decreased usability, and potential user dissatisfaction.

Customer Personas

Representations of target customers that help in understanding their characteristics, needs, and behaviors.

D

Dark Patterns

Design features that manipulate users into specific actions, often prioritizing the company/business needs over the user's

Defaults

Predetermined settings or options that are automatically applied to a user interface, providing a baseline experience until users make specific choices or modifications according to their preferences.

Design Patterns

Reusable solutions to common design problems, providing established ways for consistent, efficient, and user-friendly designs.

Design Principles

Design principles are fundamental guidelines that inform decision-making in design, providing a framework for creating effective and user-centered solutions while achieving specific design goals.

Design Psychology

Applies psychological principles to create user-centered designs that optimize engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes.

Design System

A design system is a comprehensive set of guidelines, components, patterns, and standards that define the visual and functional elements of a product or brand. It provides a centralized resource for designers, developers, and stakeholders, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and scalability in design and development efforts.

Design Thinking

A human-centered approach to problem solving and innovation that emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and iterative design to create meaningful and effective solutions.

Diary Study

A research method where participants record experiences in a personal diary. Provides qualitative data for UX research, capturing real-world behaviors and insights in users' own words.

E

Emotional Design

The intentional design of emotional experiences for users through the use of visuals, interactions, and content.

Empathy

Understanding and considering the needs, emotions, and perspectives of users.

Empathy Map

Visual tool for capturing user thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and needs. Aids in building empathy and informing user-centered design.

Error Prevention and Recovery

Designing systems and interfaces to minimize errors and provide ways to recover from them.

Ethnographic Study

Observational research in natural settings to understand culture, behavior, and experiences. Immersive study of human behavior in real-world contexts.

Experience Ecosystem

The interconnected system of user experiences across touchpoints, channels, and interactions, aiming to create a cohesive and meaningful journey for users.

Experience Map

Visualizes user touchpoints, emotions, and interactions to understand the holistic user journey, identify pain points, and improve the overall user experience

Exploratory Research

An open-ended and flexible approach to gain insights, generate ideas, and form initial hypotheses about a topic.

Eye-tracking

Use of specialized equipment to measure and analyze users' eye movements and gaze patterns for understanding visual perception and interaction with designs

F

Feedback

Providing users with informative and timely feedback on their actions and the state of the system.

Fitts Law

Larger targets closer to starting point are faster to select. Used in interface design to optimize pointing performance for usability and efficiency.

Flat Design

A minimalist style characterized by simplicity, two-dimensional elements, bold colors, and a focus on functionality and usability

Flowchart

Visualize user flows, decision points, and scenarios, aiding in analyzing and improving the user experience of digital products.

Focus Groups

Qualitative research methods using small groups and a skilled moderator to gather insights and opinions on a topic of interest, providing valuable feedback for decision-making and product improvement.

Form Design

Involves creating user-friendly, visually clear, and efficient forms for capturing information, considering usability, visual hierarchy, and data collection.

H

Haptic Feedback

Providing users with tactile feedback through physical sensations or vibrations in response to their interactions with a product or service.

Heat Map

Visually represent user interactions and attention on a design, providing insights into user behavior and areas of interest.

Heuristics

Guidelines used to evaluate and improve usability. They offer quick and cost-effective insights into design issues, guiding decision-making and enhancing the user experience.

Heuristic Evaluation

A method where experts assess usability using established guidelines, identifying potential issues to improve the user experience.

Hicks Law

States that decision-making time increases logarithmically with the number of choices, emphasizing the need for simplified options.

Hierarchy

Organizing content or functionality in a visually prioritized manner to guide users' attention.

High Fidelity Prototyping

Detailed and realistic prototypes that resemble the final product, used for advanced testing and validation in later design stages. Realistic and refined, useful for gathering feedback.

I

Iceberg Syndrome

What users see and interact with in a digital product is just a small portion, while the majority of the design and functionality lies beneath the surface, hidden from view

Ideation

The process of generating diverse and innovative ideas through creative thinking and collaborative exploration to solve problems or address challenges.

Inclusivity

Designing products or services that are accessible and usable by a wide range of users, including those with disabilities.

Information Architecture (IA)

The organization and structure of information within a product or service.

Information Processing

The information processing model explains how humans perceive, process, store, and retrieve information in a sequential and systematic manner.

Interaction Design (IxD)

The design of how users interact with a product or service.

Interviews

Interviews are qualitative research conversations with users to gather insights, understand their needs, and inform user-centered design.

Iterative Design

An approach that involves repeating cycles of design, testing, and refinement to continuously improve a product or system.

L

Labelling

Assigning clear and meaningful names to website or product elements, enhancing navigation, user understanding, and accessibility.

Landing Page

A dedicated web page designed to convert visitors into leads or customers by focusing on a specific action or goal.

Lean UX

An iterative and collaborative approach that focuses on delivering value to users through rapid experimentation and continuous learning.

Liquid Design

Creates adaptable interfaces that seamlessly adjust to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring optimal user experience and readability.

Loss Aversion

The tendency to fear and avoid losses more strongly than pursuing equivalent gains, influencing decision-making and user behavior.

Low Fidelity Prototyping

Involves creating simplified, basic representations of a design to quickly test concepts and gather feedback.

M

Market Research

Involves gathering and analyzing data to gain insights about target markets, customers, and competitors, guiding business decision-making

Mental Models

Cognitive frameworks individuals use to interpret information, make predictions, and navigate the world around them.

Microcopy

Concise, context-specific text used in user interfaces to guide, inform, and provide feedback to users.

Microinteractions

Small, subtle, and delightful interactions that provide feedback and enhance the user experience.

Miller’s Law

States that the average human working memory can hold around 7 (plus or minus 2) chunks of information, influencing information processing and UX design.

Mind Map

A visual diagram that organizes ideas and information around a central topic, showing relationships and connections.

Mobile Design

Creating user interfaces and experiences specifically for smartphones and tablets, considering small screens, touch interactions, and mobile-specific considerations.

Mock-up

A static visual representation of a digital product, showcasing its design and layout before development.

Moodboard

A visual collage that captures the desired mood, style, and aesthetic of a design project, providing inspiration and visual guidance for the design process.

Multichannel UX

Ensures a consistent and seamless user experience across various channels, enhancing user engagement and maintaining brand cohesion.

Multimodal Interaction

Involves using multiple input and output modalities, enhancing user experiences by allowing flexible and natural interactions with digital systems.

P

Page Type

Refer to specific categories of pages within a digital product, each serving a distinct purpose and containing unique content or functionality to meet user needs.

Pain Points

Represent user frustrations and challenges encountered while using a product. Addressing them leads to improved user experience and satisfaction.

Pareto Principle

Suggests that a smaller subset of factors or efforts often has a significant impact on the overall user experience, guiding prioritization and improvements.

Persuasive Design

Use of psychological tactics and engaging experiences to influence user behavior and attitudes, aiming to drive desired actions or beliefs.

Progressive Disclosure

Gradually reveals information or functionality, simplifying complex systems and guiding users through tasks, reducing cognitive overload.

Protocol

A predefined plan that outlines the procedures and guidelines for conducting research studies in a systematic and consistent manner.

Prototyping

Creating interactive representations of a product or service to test and validate design concepts.

Proximity

Elements near each other are perceived as related, allowing designers to visually group and organize information effectively.

S

Scannability

The ability for users to quickly and easily scan and comprehend content, enabling efficient information retrieval and navigation.

Scenario Map

Visually represents the user's journey, capturing their actions, emotions, and touchpoints to identify insights and improve the user experience.

Scent of Information

Visual and textual cues that guide users towards relevant content, enhancing their navigation experience.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

the process of improving a website's visibility in search results to increase organic traffic and online presence.

Semantic Map

a visual representation of the relationships between concepts, organizing information to aid comprehension, learning, and idea generation.

Service Design

Designing the entire end-to-end experience of a service, considering all touchpoints and interactions.

Signifiers

Visual or auditory cues that guide users by indicating actions or functionality, enhancing usability and intuitiveness of interfaces and products.

Similarity

Visual or conceptual resemblance between elements, aiding organization, pattern recognition, and intuitive user experiences through consistent visual attributes.

Site Map

A visual or textual representation of a website's content structure and organization, showing the hierarchy of main categories, sub-categories, and their relationships.

Skeuomorphism

Designing user interfaces that mimic real-world objects or materials.

Static Design

refers to designs for a single screen size or device type, reducing the complexity of implementation.

Storyboard

Visual narratives that outline key scenes and actions, aiding in planning and communicating the flow and user experience of a project.

Storytelling

Using narrative elements and techniques to engage users and communicate information in a compelling way.

Surveys

A research method that collects data from a sample of individuals using a set of structured questions to gather information on a specific topic or issue.

U

User Personas

Representations of target users that help in understanding their characteristics, needs, and behaviors.

UI Design

Involves creating visually appealing and functional interfaces for digital products through research, wireframing, visual design, interaction design, prototyping, testing, and collaboration with developers.

UI Elements

Enable user interaction, enhance usability, guide visual hierarchy, provide feedback, and contribute to a consistent and intuitive user experience.

Usability

the measure of how easily and effectively users can interact with a product or system to achieve their goals.

Usability Test

Evaluating the usability of a product or service through testing with real users.

Usage Scenario

A narrative description of how users interact with a system to accomplish specific tasks or goals.

Use Case

A description of interactions between users and a system to achieve specific goals, helping to capture requirements and guide software development.

User Experience

The overall experience a user has when interacting with a product or service.

User Experience (UX) Design

Creates digital products or services with a user-centered approach to deliver positive experiences, improve satisfaction, and drive business success through research, design, testing, and iteration.

User Flow

The sequence of steps or interactions that a user goes through while interacting with a product or service.

User Interface (UI)

The visual and interactive elements of a system that users interact with to perform tasks and access information.

User Patterns

Recurring behaviors observed in user interactions that help inform design decisions, optimize user experience, and enable personalization.

User Research

The process of understanding users' needs, behaviors, and preferences.

User Stories

Concise descriptions of user needs, written from the user's perspective, to guide development efforts and prioritize features.

User-Centered Design

Designing products or services based on the needs, goals, and preferences of users.

Don’t see a term you are looking for?

Let us know

About Akendi

Akendi is a human experience design firm, leveraging equal parts experience research and creative design excellence. We provide strategic insights and analysis about customer and user behaviour and combine this knowledge with inspired design. The results enable organizations to improve effectiveness, engage users and provide remarkable customer experiences to their audiences.

Akendi
Contact Us
Privacy Policy Corporate Overview Site Map

Akendi delivers Experience Thinking innovation consulting in digital user experiences. We are the ux company, service design agency in the USA, UK and Canada.