JOB ROLE ENGLISH

English for UX Designers

Master English vocabulary for UX Designers. Learn how to articulate design choices, conduct user interviews, and collaborate with engineers in English.

Practice Roleplays

A Day in the Life

A UX Designer focuses on creating seamless and intuitive user experiences. Your day involves conducting user research, creating wireframes and prototypes, and presenting your designs to stakeholders. You must effectively explain the rationale behind your design choices, using terms like 'affordance', 'heuristic', and 'accessibility', to persuade stakeholders and guide development teams.

Key Communication Scenarios

Presenting Design Concepts

Explaining the reasoning behind layout, typography, and color choices to stakeholders.

Conducting Usability Testing

Guiding users through testing sessions and asking non-leading questions to gather feedback.

Design Handoff

Providing clear specifications and assets to frontend developers to ensure accurate implementation.

Critique Sessions

Giving and receiving constructive feedback on design work with other designers.

Advocating for the User

Explaining why a particular feature is necessary for user satisfaction, even if it adds development time.

Interviewing for this role?

Make sure your English is ready for the technical and behavioral questions.

Interview Prep

Essential Vocabulary

Usability

The degree to which a software can be used by specified consumers to achieve quantified objectives.

/yoo-zuh-BIL-ih-tee/

formal

Wireframe

A visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website.

/WY-er-fraym/

neutral

Prototype

A preliminary model of something.

/PROH-tuh-typ/

neutral

Affordance

A property or feature of an object which presents a prompt on what can be done with this object.

/uh-FOR-duns/

formal

Heuristic

A rule of thumb or guideline used in design.

/hyoo-RIS-tik/

formal

Accessibility

The design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities.

/ak-ses-uh-BIL-ih-tee/

formal

User persona

A fictional character created to represent a user type.

/YOO-zer per-SOH-nuh/

formal

Journey map

A visual representation of the process that a person goes through to accomplish a goal.

/JER-nee map/

formal

Iterate

To perform or utter repeatedly.

/IT-uh-rayt/

neutral

Friction

Anything that prevents users from accomplishing their goals.

/FRIK-shun/

neutral

Typography

The style and appearance of printed matter.

/ty-PAH-gruh-fee/

neutral

Whitespace

The unmarked space between different elements in a design.

/WYT-spays/

neutral

Call to action

A prompt on a website that tells the user to take some specified action.

/KAWL too AK-shun/

formal

Information architecture

The structural design of shared information environments.

/in-fer-MAY-shun AR-kih-tek-cher/

formal

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

/EM-puh-thee/

neutral

Real-World Roleplays

Explaining a design decision during a review.

ST
StakeholderWhy is the checkout button gray instead of red? Red stands out more.
UX
UX DesignerWe tested red, but users associated it with a warning or error, which caused friction. The gray button follows our primary brand color and tested much better for conversions.
ST
StakeholderThat makes sense. Can we make it slightly larger then?
UX
UX DesignerYes, increasing the size will improve the affordance without changing the meaning.

Conducting a usability test.

UX
UX DesignerCould you show me how you would go about updating your profile picture?
US
UserI'm looking for a settings menu... I don't see one on the dashboard.
UX
UX DesignerWhat were you expecting to see?
US
UserUsually, there's a gear icon in the top right corner.

Common Questions

How do I justify my designs using English terminology?
Use concepts like 'cognitive load', 'hierarchy', and 'affordance' to explain that your choices are based on psychology, not just aesthetics.
What phrases should I use during user interviews?
Use open-ended prompts like 'Tell me more about...', 'What are your thoughts on...', and 'How would you expect this to work?'.
How can I politely push back on bad design ideas?
Say, 'That's an interesting approach. However, our user research indicates that...'

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