UX is a relatively new field and there are endless debates on the meaning of words and phrases, not just for UX but for the entire product and service development ecosystem. The more I speak with people or read online, I see that it really comes down to people’s experience in terms of years, the type of work they had experience with, and the type of teams they were part of. All these impact their understanding of the environment in which they are working.
The following list is my take of some of the more confusing concepts that I regularly see being debated online.
UX/UI
This has to be THE most debated and misunderstood concept in the designer’s vocabulary. UX is the process that designers follow to get an understanding of the experience that their users have and solve their problems as a design solution. UX is more and more linked to digital experiences. UI is the layer that represents those experiences in a visual way. There are many roles that fall under the umbrella of UX, and UI Designer is one of them.
Service Design
Service comes from the word to serve. That is to support the needs of the user in achieving their goal. This can be done through digital, physical or a combination of channels. Users don’t care about your company structure and internal processes. They just want to go through the process as smoothly and quickly as possible and come out smiling on the other side. Anything else is a place for improvements.
User stories in Jira
Many people debate whether User stories should be done by UX designers. The way I look at it is that I put it in there so all my work is visible to others in my team, and it allows me to think clearly about each and everything that I do in a way that is clear for me to explain to others.
Accessibility
Good accessibility is good for everyone. When it is (as it often is) an afterthought, that’s when it gets complicated. Designing and developing for accessibility requires clear planning and goal setting from the outset. We cannot accommodate for everyone, but we can for most.
