Design Glossary
A
AgileĀ
Agile is an iterative approach to project management that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement, enabling teams to adapt to changing requirements and deliver value incrementally.
B
Backlog grooming
Backlog grooming involves reviewing, prioritizing, and refining items in a product backlog to ensure they are well-defined, actionable, and ready for implementation in upcoming sprints.
C
Concept validation testing
Concept validation testing involves gathering feedback from users to assess the viability and desirability of a new product or concept, helping to determine its potential for success in the market before further development.
D
Design phase
Design is the phase of the design process where concepts and ideas are translated into tangible solutions through prototyping, iteration, and refinement, with a focus on creating compelling user experiences.
Delivery phase
Delivery is the final phase of the design process where the developed solution is implemented, launched, and delivered to users, with ongoing monitoring and iteration based on user feedback.
Discovery phase
Discovery is the initial phase of the design process focused on understanding user needs, business goals, and constraints, laying the foundation for subsequent design activities.
Double Diamond
The Double Diamond is a design framework that emphasizes divergent and convergent thinking in the design process, involving phases of discovery, definition, ideation, and design.
E
Engineer
An engineer is a professional who designs, builds, and maintains technical solutions or systems, including software, hardware, and infrastructure components.
Engineering manager
An engineering manager oversees a team of engineers, providing leadership, guidance, and support to ensure the successful delivery of projects and initiatives.
Estimate
An estimate is a prediction or approximation of the time, effort, or resources required to complete a task, feature, or project, helping teams plan and allocate resources effectively.
Ethnographic research
Ethnographic research involves immersing oneself in the user's environment and culture to gain a deep understanding of their behaviors, needs, and motivations.
Evaluative research
Evaluative research entails assessing the usability, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of existing designs or prototypes through methods such as user testing and feedback analysis
F
Figma
Figma is a cloud-based design tool used for collaborative interface design, prototyping, and design system creation, allowing teams to work together in real-time.
G
Generative research
Generative research involves exploring and understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations to inform the creation of innovative design solutions.
H
Heuristic evaluations
Expert reviews of user interfaces to identify usability issues based on established principles or heuristics, providing insights into areas for improvement in the design.
High-fidelity designs
High-fidelity designs are detailed and polished representations of a product's user interface, typically including accurate colors, typography, and visual elements to closely resemble the final product.
I
Ideation phase
Ideation is the phase of the design process where creative ideas and concepts are generated and explored to address the defined design goals and challenges.
Interaction design
Interaction design focuses on designing the interactive elements and behaviors within a digital product or system, such as buttons, menus, gestures, and animations, to facilitate intuitive and efficient user interactions, enhance usability, and create engaging user experiences.
Interview script
An interview script is a structured outline or guide used during user interviews to ensure consistency in questioning and to elicit relevant information from participants.
Iterations
Iterations refer to the cycles of design, development, and testing that occur throughout the product lifecycle, enabling continuous improvement and refinement based on user feedback and evolving requirements.
J
Journey map
A journey map visually illustrates the end-to-end experience of a user interacting with a product or service, highlighting key touch points, emotions, and pain points throughout their journey to better understand and improve the overall user experience.
K
Kanban
Kanban is a visual framework for managing work, involving the use of boards and cards to visualize tasks, limit work in progress, and optimize workflow efficiency.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
KPIs are measurable metrics used to evaluate the success of a product or project, providing insights into performance, user engagement, and business goals.
M
MVP
MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product, which is the simplest version of a product that includes only core features and functionality, allowing teams to validate assumptions and gather feedback from users.
O
Observational research
Observational research involves directly observing users in their natural environment to gather insights into their behaviors, preferences, and interactions with products or services.
P
Product design
Product design involves conceptualizing, creating, and iterating on digital or physical products to address user needs, solve problems, and deliver value, incorporating elements of user experience design, interaction design, and visual design to create intuitive and engaging user interfaces and experiences.
Product manager
A product manager is responsible for guiding the development and strategy of a product throughout its lifecycle, including defining requirements, prioritizing features, and ensuring alignment with business goals.
Product owner
A product owner is responsible for representing the interests of stakeholders and defining the vision, priorities, and requirements for a product, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.
Project manager
A project manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing the execution of a project, including managing resources, timelines, and deliverables to ensure successful completion.
R
Research facilitator
A research facilitator is responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting user research activities, ensuring smooth execution and effective data collection.
Research participants
Research participants are individuals who voluntarily take part in user research studies or tests, providing valuable feedback and insights to inform the design process.
Retro
A retrospective, or retro, is a meeting held at the end of a sprint in Agile development to reflect on what went well, what could be improved, and how to adapt processes for future sprints.
Roadmap
A roadmap is a strategic plan that outlines the vision, goals, and milestones for a product or project over a specific period, providing a high-level overview of the planned initiatives and timeline.
Roadmap planning
Roadmap planning involves developing and refining the strategic plan for a product or project, considering factors such as user needs, business objectives, and resource constraints.
S
Scrum
Scrum is a framework for implementing Agile principles, involving iterative development cycles known as sprints, with defined roles, ceremonies, and artifacts to facilitate collaboration and transparency.
Scrum master
A Scrum master is a facilitator and servant-leader responsible for guiding the Scrum team in adhering to Agile principles and practices, removing impediments, and fostering collaboration.
Service design
Service design is a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on creating and improving the delivery of services, encompassing the design of processes, systems, environments, and interactions to meet the needs of users and stakeholders, enhance user experiences, and drive business outcomes.
Service map
A service map provides a holistic view of the interconnected touch points, channels, and interactions that comprise a service ecosystem, illustrating the end-to-end journey of users or stakeholders across various touch points and highlighting opportunities for improvement and integration.
Sketch
Sketch is a vector-based design tool primarily used for interface design and prototyping, offering features for creating high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes.
Site map
A site map is visual representation of the hierarchical structure and organization of a website, outlining the relationships between different pages, sections, and content elements to aid in navigation and understanding of the site's layout.
Sprint planning
Sprint planning is a ceremony in Agile development where the team determines which backlog items to work on during the upcoming sprint and defines the tasks required to complete them.
T
Task flow
A task flow is a visual representation of the sequence of steps and interactions users take to complete a specific task within a digital product or system.
U
UI design
UI design involves creating visually appealing and functional interfaces that facilitate user interactions with digital products or systems, encompassing the design of layouts, elements, and visual styles to ensure clarity, consistency, and usability across different devices and platforms.
User flow
A user flow maps out the overall pathways users navigate through the product, encompassing multiple tasks, interactions, and decision points across various scenarios and user journeys.
User goal
A user goal is an objective or intention that a user aims to fulfill by using a product or service, driving their behavior and interactions with the product.
User problem
A user problem is a challenge, frustration, or need that a user encounters and seeks to address through the use of a product or service, driving the demand for solutions.
UX design
UX design focuses on understanding users' needs, preferences, and behaviors to create intuitive, effective, and enjoyable interactions between users and products or services, encompassing research, design, prototyping, and testing to optimize the overall user experience and achieve business objectives.
UX engineering
UX engineering involves implementing user experience designs into functional digital products or systems, ensuring usability, accessibility, and adherence to design specifications.
Usability testing
Usability testing involves observing users interacting with a product or prototype to evaluate its ease of use, effectiveness, and overall user experience, uncovering actionable insights to enhance design.
