UX glossary

Agile:
A methodology that coordinates product development through short iterations.

Customer Journey Map:
A diagram that maps a physical experience flow based on a person's mental model. It's called a User Journey Map when the experience is digital rather than physical.

Data-driven:
A strategy that bases its decisions on observing data.

Design Studio:
A creative session for generating solutions.

Design Thinking:
A methodology that puts the user at the center.

Empathy Map:
A more in-depth version of the Mental Model that defines the following aspects of a persona: What do they think and feel? What do they see? What do they hear? What do they say and do?

Kick-Off Workshop:
A session to study the foundations of our work (problems, goals, risks, strengths, vision, proto-persona, etc.), used to start any project.

KPI (Key Performance Indicator):
A metric that shows whether or not we're achieving a given performance (e.g. “at least 8 out of 10 users left their email”, “40% of respondents answered yes”, etc.).

Lean Startup:
A methodology that helps startups develop an idea, with a focus on hitting the market as soon as possible.

Lean UX:
A methodology that combines Agile + Lean Startup + Design Thinking to design products or experiences that are User-Centered and Data-driven.

Mental Model:
A list of the needs, problems, desires, anxieties, fears, etc. a person has in a given scenario.

MVP (Minimum Viable Product):
The most stripped-down version of the product, designed to go live as soon as possible.

Persona:
A profile describing the demographic factors that influence the behavior and mental model of a certain type of user. Without the prefix “proto-”, it means the data about the user has been validated through dedicated interviews.

Proto-Persona:
A profile describing the demographic factors that influence the behavior and mental model of a certain type of user. The prefix “proto-” means the data about the user has not yet been validated through dedicated interviews.

Quantitative:
Refers to User Research studies on demographic factors (age, income bracket, job, family, etc.). Usually conducted on very large user samples.

Qualitative:
Refers to User Research studies on the mental model or empathy map. Usually conducted on smaller user samples than quantitative research.

Sense and respond:
An approach that lets you put a product on the market and get feedback quickly.

Sprint plan:
A session to look back on the work done and plan the next work to do.

Stakeholder:
The client, or a person appointed by the client, who is the point of reference for project progress and takes part in all creative sessions and sprint plans.

Stand up:
A daily (or at least frequent) meeting where each team member takes a couple of minutes to share what they did the day before, what they'll work on today and any blockers.

Hypothesis table:
A grid where we cross goals and personas to find possible solutions. We attach one or more KPIs to each hypothesis. The table is used to organize and track work over time.

Time & Material:
A billing model that charges for the hours actually worked.

Two-way conversation:
An approach that enables an ongoing, effective conversation with your audience about its needs and problems.

User-Centered:
A type of method grounded in the psychology of the end user.

User Journey Map:
A diagram that maps a digital experience flow based on a person's mental model. It's called a Customer Journey Map when the experience is physical rather than digital.

User Research:
The set of exercises used to conduct qualitative or quantitative research on a sample of users.

Waterfall:
A methodology (considered counterproductive) that organizes work as a waterfall: idea, planning, design, development, launch. It's the opposite of iterative methodologies, which break down the waterfall in favor of small weekly releases.