Thryve
Role
UX Designer
UI Designer
UX Researcher
Team
1 UX Designer
2 UX Researchers
Tools
Axure
Sketch
Figma
Duration
4 months
THE PROBLEM & WHY IT MATTERS
In the world of UX, words are more than just definitions—they shape research, inform design decisions, and align teams toward a shared vision. But what happens when those words mean different things to different people?
Despite the rapid evolution of the UX industry, there’s no single, universally accepted glossary for UX research terminology. Professionals, researchers, and aspiring designers often find themselves lost in a sea of inconsistent definitions, fragmented resources, and conflicting interpretations. The lack of a shared language leads to miscommunication, inefficiency, and frustration across teams and industries.
Through extensive research, we identified key challenges:
No Single Source of Truth
UX professionals rely on scattered, inconsistent resources to define core concepts
A Rapidly Evolving Field
As UX matures, terminology shifts, making it difficult to establish a standardized reference
Cross-Disciplinary Influence
UX borrows terms from psychology, human-computer interaction, and business, adding layers of complexity
Lack of Standardization
Companies, teams, and even educational programs define UX terms differently, creating misalignment
Diverse User Needs
Beginners need clarity and simplicity, while experienced professionals seek depth and research-backed credibility
CREATING A SHARED LANGUAGE
Without a centralized, interactive, and research-driven glossary, UX professionals struggle to communicate effectively, leading to misalignment, inefficiency, and slower innovation. UX Lexicon was created to bridge this gap—offering a standardized, engaging, and community-driven platform that makes learning UX terminology seamless and accessible for designers at all levels.
To solve the problem of fragmented UX terminology, we set out to build more than just a glossary—we aimed to create an interactive, credible, and engaging learning tool that adapts to the needs of both beginners and seasoned professionals.
Over four months, we collaborated with 80+ UX professionals and researchers worldwide to develop a beta version of UX Lexicon, ensuring the platform was both academically rigorous and user-friendly. Through a combination of generative and evaluative research, we identified key features that would make learning UX terminology seamless and engaging:
Powerful Search Functionality
Quickly find and understand UX terms with clear, standardized definitions
Gamified Learning
Unlock achievements and progress through interactive challenges designed to reinforce understanding
Interactive Flashcards
Test knowledge retention through self-paced, bite-sized learning
Pronunciation Guides
Hear how industry professionals articulate key UX terms for better communication and confidence
By blending academic depth with interactive engagement, UX Lexicon is more than just a reference tool—it’s a dynamic learning experience designed to unify the language of UX and empower designers at every stage of their journey.
A RESEARCH-DRIVEN APPROACH
Creating a standardized UX glossary required more than just compiling definitions—it demanded a deep understanding of how UX professionals think, learn, and categorize information. To build a platform that truly serves the community, we leveraged a research-first approach, incorporating nine UX methods to guide our design decisions.
Methods We Used:
Card Sorting
Organized terms into intuitive categories to reflect real-world mental models
1:1 Interviews
Conducted in-depth conversations with UX professionals to uncover knowledge gaps and learning preferences
Secondary Research
Analyzed existing glossaries and academic sources to ensure credibility
Competitive Analysis
Evaluated similar platforms to identify opportunities for differentiation
Participatory Design
Engaged users directly in shaping the platform’s structure and usability
Email Surveys
Collected broad feedback on terminology needs and comprehension
Concept Testing
Validated early designs to refine usability
Desirability Testing
Measured user reactions to visual elements and branding
Storytelling
Ensured that the experience was engaging, memorable, and easy to navigate
For the sake of this case study, I will be focusing on Card Sorting and 1:1 Interviews, as these two methods were instrumental in shaping the information architecture and user experience of UX Lexicon.
How might we design a friendly, interactive prototype that appeals to novice UXers while maintaining a professional and credible feel for seasoned professionals?
Card Sorting
To determine how users naturally categorize UX terms, our team sorted 100+ terms into intuitive groups, refining navigation structures based on common themes.
1:1 Interviews
We conducted 15+ interviews across four continents (US, China, UK, South Africa), uncovering key qualities users look for in a UX glossary:
Credibility – Users wanted authoritative sources
Simplicity – Definitions needed to be clear and concise
Interactivity – Gamification and engagement were highly desired
Visuals – Users preferred a clean, modern UI
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Iteration #1: Exploring Initial Concepts
Our iterative design process was guided by user feedback and research insights, leading to multiple Minimum Viable Product (MVP) iterations. Each concept tested different approaches to learning, engagement, and accessibility, shaping the final direction of UX Lexicon.
Gamified Mobile App
Quizzes to reinforce learning through interactive challenges
Basic Website Glossary
A searchable database with category filtering for quick access
iPad Interactive Model
Featured "Word of the Day" and flashcards to enhance engagement
Key Learnings
User feedback played a crucial role in refining UX Lexicon. Through testing and iteration, we uncovered key insights:
Interactive elements and visual enhancements were a hit – Users found them engaging and effective for learning
The pronunciation feature was highly valued – It helped professionals communicate UX terms with confidence
Flashcards vs. Quizzes sparked debate – Some users preferred structured quizzes, while others favored the flexibility of flashcards
These insights guided our final design decisions, ensuring UX Lexicon catered to diverse learning preferences.
Iteration #2: Enhanced Features
Based on user feedback, we refined UX Lexicon by enhancing features that balanced engagement, usability, and accessibility.
These enhancements ensured the platform was both functional and engaging, catering to different user preferences.
Hybrid Model
Combined the best elements from earlier iterations for a seamless experience
Playful UX Terminology
Introduced “Word Lookup” and “Test Yourself” to make learning more interactive
Dark Mode A/B Testing
Revealed mixed reactions; some users loved it, while others found it uninviting
Key Learnings
User testing revealed critical areas for improvement in UX Lexicon’s functionality and usability:
Filters were challenging to design effectively – Users struggled to refine search results intuitively
"Last updated" timestamps were requested – Users wanted transparency on term accuracy and relevance
The search bar needed greater visibility – Many overlooked it, impacting discoverability
Expertise levels were difficult to self-label – Users found it hard to categorize themselves as Beginner or Expert
These insights shaped further refinements, ensuring a more intuitive, transparent, and user-friendly experience.
Designing an Intuitive and Engaging Platform for UX Professionals
To create a resource that is both educational and interactive, I established the following guiding design principles:
Clarity & Accessibility
Prioritize simplicity and usability, ensuring an intuitive experience that meets accessibility standards. Clear typography, high-contrast colors, and universal iconography make the platform inclusive for all users
Interactive Learning
Integrate engaging tools like flashcards, expandable definitions, and interactive navigation to enhance comprehension and retention
Consistency in Branding
Maintain a cohesive design system with consistent typography, color palette, and iconography to reinforce trust and recognition
Scalability
Design a modular system that accommodates future features and an expanding glossary while ensuring performance and usability remain intact
Community-Centered Approach
Foster collaboration by enabling user contributions, such as term suggestions, image submissions, and feedback loops, creating a shared and evolving knowledge base
By adhering to these principles, UX Lexicon delivers an experience that is intuitive, engaging, and adaptable, ensuring long-term value for UX professionals at all levels
A MODERN IDENTITY FOR UX PROFESSIONALS
The UX Lexicon logo embodies knowledge, accessibility, and innovation, creating a bold yet approachable brand identity.
Core Color: Vibrant Purple – Represents creativity, professionalism, and trust, reinforcing the platform’s credibility
Open-Book Icon – Symbolizes the glossary’s purpose as a knowledge hub
Minimalist & Scalable – Designed for adaptability across digital and print applications
Clean, Geometric Shapes – Paired with complementary typography for a modern and reassuring user experience
By blending clarity with creativity, the logo reflects UX Lexicon’s mission to be the go-to resource for UX professionals at every level.
A Cohesive and Interactive Framework for UX Professionals
To ensure consistency, scalability, and a seamless user experience, I developed a comprehensive design system in Figma, reflecting UX Lexicon’s core values of clarity, accessibility, and innovation. This system lays the groundwork for future enhancements and evolving user needs.
Typography
A balanced pairing of modern sans-serif fonts for readability and hierarchy:
- Unbounded – Used for headings and titles, creating a bold yet approachable visual structure
- Overpass – Used for body text and labels, ensuring accessibility across all devices
Component Library
A modular set of UI elements designed for scalability and consistency:
- Buttons – Interactive states (default, hover, active) for smooth user engagement
- Search Bars & Filters – Optimized for intuitive exploration
- Cards – Organized displays for definitions, flashcards, and daily word features
Icons
A minimalist, intuitive set for seamless navigation and clear communication:
- Custom Icons – Designed for key pages (Home, Glossary, Flashcards, Daily Word, About) with clear active and hover states
- Social Media Icons – Simple, outlined, and styled in UX Lexicon’s vibrant purple to maintain brand cohesion
Color Palette:
Vibrant and Accessible Colors for an Engaging Learning Experience
The UX Lexicon color palette is designed to be visually engaging, accessible, and intuitive, ensuring a seamless learning experience for all users.
Purple
The primary brand color, representing creativity, innovation, and trust
Lavender
A softer secondary shade, adding balance and subtle contrast to backgrounds and accents
Light Gray
Neutral and understated, used for dividers, borders, and inactive states to maintain clarity
White
The dominant background color, promoting openness, readability, and accessibility
Black
Applied to text and key visual elements, ensuring high contrast and legibility across the interface
High-Fidelity Prototypes for an Optimized User Experience
The final iteration focused on refining UX Lexicon’s usability, accessibility, and engagement through polished, high-fidelity prototypes.
Home Page
A minimalist, hybrid design to attract all expertise levels
"Word of the Day" & Flashcards were minimized by default
The search bar became the central focus
Glossary Page
Live search with auto-filtering
A "definition preview" for quick scanning
Alphabet tabs for easy navigation
Flashcards & Quizzes
Category filtering for custom learning paths
Interactive flipping feature to enhance retention
Progress indicators to show learning milestones
About Page
A backstory section explaining UX Lexicon's mission
Contributor profiles showcasing UX professionals
A feedback form for user suggestions
Desktop Wireframes
Simulating an Interactive Learning Experience for UX Professionals
Building on high-fidelity wireframes, I developed an interactive prototype in Figma to simulate UX Lexicon’s core user flows and validate its usability. The prototype ensures seamless navigation, intuitive interactions, and engaging learning experiences.
Navigation to Core Features
The prototype simulates intuitive navigation through the platform's primary pages—Home, Glossary, Word of the Day, Flashcards, and About
Glossary Exploration Flow
Provides an organized and engaging experience, allowing users to search for UX terms or browse alphabetically. Filters help narrow down results by categories, ensuring users can find relevant content efficiently
Flashcard Interaction Flow
Offers a dynamic learning experience, allowing users to click on a card to flip it and reveal its definition. Navigation arrows enable smooth movement between cards, while a progress tracker shows users how many terms they’ve reviewed
Word of the Day Exploration Flow
Engages users with a highlighted term that includes detailed explanations and context. Expandable sections provide additional information. This feature fosters daily engagement and reinforces continuous learning.
Contribution Call-to-Action
The prototype encourages community participation by making it easy for users to contribute to the glossary. Users can suggest new terms or submit royalty-free images through simple forms, reinforcing a sense of collaboration and shared purpose. These contributions help shape the platform’s evolving knowledge base
Mobile Wireframes
Key Takeaways & Future Improvements
User testing provided valuable insights into how UX professionals interact with the platform, highlighting areas for refinement and further iteration.
Experts vs. Beginners – Experts preferred a minimal, structured glossary, while beginners wanted a more engaging, gamified experience
Dark Mode Reactions – User feedback was mixed, indicating the need for further A/B testing to refine its implementation
Filtering Challenges – UX term filtering remained a pain point, requiring additional iteration and usability testing for improvement
Moving forward, these insights will shape future refinements, ensuring UX Lexicon continues to provide an accessible, engaging, and adaptable learning experience.
Lessons from the UX Lexicon Journey
This project was a transformational learning experience, demonstrating the impact of collaborative UX research and design. It reinforced key principles that are essential in building effective, user-centered products:
Iterative Testing & User Feedback
Continuous refinement is crucial for shaping a product that truly meets user needs
Balancing Engagement & Professionalism
UX education should be both engaging and credible, ensuring accessibility for all skill levels
Crowdsourcing UX Knowledge
Leveraging community contributions helps establish a more standardized, industry-wide resource
What I Would Do Differently
Given more time, I would focus on refining and enhancing the user experience by:
Developing
a fully interactive prototype to simulate real-world interactions and validate usability at a deeper level
Exploring
micro-interactions and animations to improve usability, engagement, and overall user delight
Conducting
long-term usability testing to gather insights on retention, engagement, and real-world application of UX Lexicon’s learning tools
Where is UX Lexicon Now?
The UX Lexicon journey has just begun, and I’m excited to see how it continues to shape the future of UX education. So far, it has been:
Presented at Quirks London Conference (2020)
Officially launched at QRCA Virtual Conference (2021)
Continues evolving through ongoing UX community contributions
Other Projects
Exploring Ideas & Possibilities—Let’s Connect!
I’m always excited to chat about UX Engineering, 3D Design, and all things XR. Whether you're a recruiter, collaborator, or just curious about my work, let’s connect! I’m also passionate about mentorship—so if you’re looking for guidance or want to talk shop, I’d love to chat!
