During this week, I learned that UX design – short for user experience—is all about how users interact with a product or service and, most importantly, how they feel during that interaction. A good UX designer considers the user’s needs from beginning to end. There are five core elements in the UX design process that guide this work:
- This stage involves understanding the user’s goals, motivations, and pain points. It’s about empathy and building from a place of user-centered thinking.
- Scope/Functionality – Here, a foundation is layed out what the features of the product are. This step ensures I, as the designer am not just building what looks good to myself, but also, I’m keeping in mind what actually serves the user’s needs.
- Structure – Here, the focus shifts to how users will navigate the product. A clear, intuitive structure makes users feel confident—not confused—while engaging with the product.
- Skeleton/Prototypes – Wireframes and prototypes allow us to visualize the layout, interaction, and flow before anything is coded. This is a crucial planning step that prevents pricey revisions later.
- Surface (UI) – This final layer includes the visual elements like colors, typography, icons, and layout. A well-designed UI ensures the product is not only functional but also visually appealing and accessible.
While UX focuses on the overall experience, UI (User Interface) refers specifically to the look and interactive components—like CTA (Call-to-Action) buttons, menus, and forms. These details can make or break a user’s interaction.
When the UX process is followed carefully, the final design is more likely to meet user expectations, reduce confusion, and build trust. It also saves time in the long run as problems are caught early through research and prototyping.
Reflecting on the work I’ve done for my client’s blog, I now see how applying the full UX process really enhanced it. For example, starting with clear user research helped define content priorities better. Wireframing helped to map out layout options and refine them before building.
Lastly, understanding the full lifecycle of a website, and the roles involved has shown me that design is a team effort. The project manager oversees timelines, the UX designer focuses on usability, the content manager ensures the writing is clear and useful, the graphic designer enhances visual cohesion, and developers bring the vision to life. QA, digital marketing, and security all ensure the final product is effective, safe, and discoverable.
Overall, the week helped me understand how all these elements come together to make a user-centered digital experience that actually works.