How do you explain your role as an experience designer?

Throughout the years, I've navigated through various stages of explanation. In the beginning, when asked about my work, I simplified my response with a straightforward, "I work with design." While not entirely false, it also didn't fully capture the complexity of my role. Back then, design was often associated with ads and graphics. However, this simplified term didn't do justice to the hours of study, the intricate problem-solving, and the countless post-its adorning my walls.

In truth, the concept of design as a solution to user needs and a catalyst for opportunities has gained prominence more recently with the surge of the internet, the rise of startups, the advancement of the tech market, and the agile manifesto. While you might be well-versed in how Don Norman coined the term "User Experience," especially if you're in the industry, it's unlikely that your family members—especially that distant uncle—fully grasp its meaning.

Perhaps the first step is to clarify that labels like "user experience designer" don't merely encompass the aesthetics of a product or service. It's about addressing user pains and difficulties, often culminating in a visually appealing result.

UX is the intangible design of a strategy that brings us to a solution. — Erik Flowers

Throughout the years, I've navigated through various stages of explanation. In the beginning, when asked about my work, I simplified my response with a straightforward, "I work with design." While not entirely false, it also didn't fully capture the complexity of my role. Back then, design was often associated with ads and graphics. However, this simplified term didn't do justice to the hours of study, the intricate problem-solving, and the countless post-its adorning my walls.

In truth, the concept of design as a solution to user needs and a catalyst for opportunities has gained prominence more recently with the surge of the internet, the rise of startups, the advancement of the tech market, and the agile manifesto. While you might be well-versed in how Don Norman coined the term "User Experience," especially if you're in the industry, it's unlikely that your family members—especially that distant uncle—fully grasp its meaning.

Perhaps the first step is to clarify that labels like "user experience designer" don't merely encompass the aesthetics of a product or service. It's about addressing user pains and difficulties, often culminating in a visually appealing result. UX is the intangible design of a strategy leading to a solution, as put by Erik Flowers.

However, this strategic quest is far from simple. Results often differ from expectations, demanding us to refine our perspectives, reconsider our outcomes, and continually formulate new hypotheses. Consider the story of Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance polymath. Among his many roles, he was also an experience designer.

Once, invited to orchestrate an elaborate dinner for the Duke of Milan, Leonardo seized the chance to showcase his inventive prowess. He proposed remarkable ideas—food conveyors, high-temperature ovens, fire protection systems—transforming the event into an artistic spectacle. Unfortunately, these innovations led to what we now term the "Kitchen Nightmare." The conveyors were inefficient, the oven burned the food, and a fire broke out, leaving the guests hungry and disgruntled.

This incident holds valuable lessons: understanding your users is paramount, ideas require continuous testing, early hypotheses aren't always right, and product value doesn't solely stem from features but from addressing real needs.

Our daily pursuit of improved, meaningful experiences defines our practice of design. After all, aren't we all in search of our own masterpiece, just like Leonardo's Mona Lisa?