UX Design Basics: What is User Experience Design?

These days, UX design is almost as popular a term as Artificial Intelligence. It appears in professional articles, LinkedIn profiles, and numerous agency websites. But what exactly is user experience design? What is the difference between UX and UI design? How is it applied in product development? In this post, we address the most common questions on the topic!

What is UX Design?

UX design, derived from the English term **User Experience Design**, refers to the process of designing user experiences. Broadly, user experience can encompass a variety of processes, from buying an airline ticket, ordering food over the phone, to filling out a tax return. More narrowly, UX design focuses on the user experience for digital services and products. The term gained popularity through Donald Norman, a design researcher and professor, who coined it in the context of IT tools. Norman described UX design as follows:

“I wanted to cover all aspects of a person’s experience with a system, including industrial design, graphics, the user interface, the physical interaction, and the keyboard. Since then, the term has become so widespread that it is starting to lose its meaning.”

User-centered, versatile design work includes:

• Creating wireframes for digital products
• Designing user journeys
• Adopting a holistic and anthropocentric design approach
• Interaction design
• Consistent testing and optimization
• Applying quantitative and qualitative research methods to optimize user experience
• Creating mockups for testing
• Developing prototypes for product development
• Creating responsive designs
• Web ergonomics

Is it Worth Focusing on User Experience Design?

To answer this question, consider the example of Apple’s first computer mouse. This groundbreaking device was an input peripheral for the $10,000 Apple Lisa computer. The design task was given to what is now known as Ideo. Their challenge was to design a mass-produced, intuitively usable mouse that cost no more than $35, compared to a $400 prototype. To tackle this seemingly impossible task, they used the following approach:

1. Observation: They first assessed how users interacted with the computer interface and what the device’s purpose was.
2. Idea Generation: They then developed several potential solutions to address the identified issues (e.g., cumbersome scrolling, ambiguous use).
3. Prototype Creation: They created prototypes, one of which was a mockup made from a deodorant ball and a plastic box to simulate mouse movements.
4. Testing: They tested the design with real users, iterating through the steps until they achieved the revolutionary mouse design.

This example illustrates how user-centered design can become a catalyst for innovation. This is why successful digital product companies almost universally employ UX design experts.

UX/UI Design: What’s the Difference?

Another frequently mentioned term is UI design, short for **User Interface Design**. Although related, it is not the same as user experience design. Here’s the main difference:

• UI Designer: A UI designer focuses on creating the visual appearance of digital products in line with user expectations and organizational goals. This role involves more than just graphic design.
• UX Designer: In contrast, a UX designer focuses on the overall user experience during the product’s use.

A UX/UI designer is skilled in both areas, enabling them to apply related but distinct skills in a coordinated and integrated manner.

Frequently Asked Questions About User Experience DesignWhat Does a UX Designer Do?

A UX designer specializes in designing user experiences. They work on digital products such as websites, desktop, and mobile applications to ensure that these products operate intuitively according to user expectations and needs.

What Does a UX Designer Do?

A UX designer’s role is multifaceted and may include:

• A/B testing for product optimization
• Identifying target audiences
• Analyzing and segmenting target audiences
• Creating wireframes
• Designing user journeys
• Using heatmaps and other analytical tools
• Conducting research
• Collaborating with other teams (e.g., developers)
• Creating navigation maps

Where Can You Learn UX Design?

There are many UX design courses available on digital education platforms, as well as university programs offering user experience design. In addition to formal education and paid courses, free resources are also available to help you learn the basics.

What Does a UX/UI Designer Do?

A UX/UI designer is skilled in both user interface and experience design, allowing them to handle design projects in an integrated way.

UX Designer Salary: How Much Does a User Experience Designer Earn?

Many wonder how much a UX designer earns. According to a Hungarian portal summarizing UX designer salaries, as of the publication of this article, the average gross salary for User Experience professionals in Hungary is around 700,000 HUF. According to the site, 10% earn less than 436,000 HUF, while 10% earn more than 949,000 HUF.

What Are UXD, UED, or XD?

UXD, UED, and XD are common abbreviations that all refer to User Experience Design.