Term · Web & development
UX design (user experience design)
UX design — user experience design — is the work of making a product easy and effective to use. It focuses on what users need to do, the steps they take, the information they need at each step and the obstacles in their way.
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Explained
What UX work includes
- Research: understanding users' goals, context and problems — through interviews, analytics, support logs and observation.
- Information architecture: organising content and features so people can find them.
- User flows: the steps for key tasks, such as booking, ordering or applying.
- Wireframes and prototypes: testing structure before visual design. See wireframe and prototype.
- Content design: labels, instructions, error messages and microcopy.
- Usability testing: watching real people use the product and fixing what confuses them.
Business impact
- More visitors complete enquiries and purchases.
- Fewer support calls and errors.
- Staff work faster in internal tools.
- Lower cost of changes, because problems are found early.
UX and UI
UI design is the visual and interactive layer; UX is the structure and flow beneath it. Both are needed, but structure comes first.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do small projects need UX design?
Yes, in proportion: even a short conversation with the people who talk to customers, and a clear page structure, improves results.
How is UX measured?
Task completion rates, conversion rates, time on task, errors, support requests and user satisfaction.