A creative thinking technique where the typical process is reversed to generate new ideas by considering the opposite of conventional assumptions. Useful for fostering innovation and challenging existing assumptions in problem-solving.
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is a concept in educational psychology that describes the difference between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance and support. Crucial for designing effective educational experiences and scaffolding that promote optimal learning and skill development.
A holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way that a system's constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems. Essential for solving complex problems and designing systems that account for interdependencies and dynamics.
A theoretical approach that focuses on observable behaviors and dismisses internal processes, emphasizing the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior. Foundational for understanding how external factors influence user behavior and for designing behavior-based interventions.
The mathematical study of waiting lines or queues. Useful for optimizing user flow and reducing wait times in user interfaces.
A cognitive bias where people tend to believe that others are more affected by media messages and persuasive communications than they are themselves. Important for understanding media influence and designing communications that account for this bias in user perception.
The theory that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, often used to understand and influence behavior change. Important for designing interventions that promote positive behavior change.
The study of complex systems and how interactions within these systems give rise to collective behaviors. Useful for understanding and managing the complexity in design processes and systems.
Content or functionality that is built into a platform or device rather than being provided by an external application. Important for ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance.
The Principle of Front Doors is an information architecture guideline that acknowledges multiple entry points into a website or system. Crucial for ensuring that all entry points provide a coherent and navigable experience.
A method for organizing information based on five categories: category, time, location, alphabet, and continuum. Useful for creating clear and effective information architectures.
In-product assistance provided within the context of a specific task or screen, tailored to the user's current needs. Important for enhancing user experience by providing timely and relevant assistance.
A strategic management template for developing new business models or documenting existing ones, detailing elements like value proposition, infrastructure, and customers. Important for understanding and designing business strategies that align with product and user experience goals.
A technique or tool used to lock oneself into following through on a commitment, often by adding a cost to failing to do so. Useful for designing interventions that help users stick to their goals and commitments.
The degree to which a product satisfies strong market demand, often considered a key indicator of a product's potential for success. Essential for validating the viability of a product in the market and guiding strategic decisions.
A specific organization of colors, which helps in the representation of color in both physical and digital forms. Crucial for accurate color representation and consistency across different mediums.
User interfaces that change in response to user behavior or preferences to improve usability and efficiency. Crucial for creating personalized and efficient user experiences.
A phenomenon where new information interferes with the ability to recall previously learned information, affecting memory retention. Crucial for understanding memory dynamics and designing educational or training programs.
A brainstorming technique where participants draw their ideas instead of writing them down. Important for stimulating creative thinking and visual problem-solving.
Small rewards or incentives given to users to encourage specific behaviors or actions. Important for motivating user engagement and fostering desired behaviors.
A cognitive bias where individuals with low ability at a task overestimate their ability, while experts underestimate their competence. Crucial for designers to create educational content and user interfaces that accommodate varying levels of user expertise.
A simplified, informal language used to describe the logic and steps of an algorithm or program, without syntax of actual programming languages. Useful for planning and communicating algorithms and program structures before implementation in digital product development.
The percentage of visitors to a website who navigate away from the site after viewing only one page. Important for understanding user engagement and the effectiveness of a website's content and design.
The integration and application of knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines to enhance understanding and innovation. Crucial for fostering a holistic approach to problem-solving and design.
A symbol, logo, or trademark used to identify a brand. Essential for establishing brand identity and ensuring recognition.
The study and application of ethical considerations in the development, implementation, and use of technology. Crucial for ensuring that technological advancements align with ethical standards and societal values.
The process of self-examination and adaptation in AI systems, where models evaluate and improve their own outputs or behaviors based on feedback. Crucial for enhancing the performance and reliability of AI-driven design solutions by fostering continuous learning and improvement.
The initial interaction a customer has with a brand. Important for understanding the beginning of the customer journey.
A practice by Google where the mobile version of a website becomes the starting point for what Google includes in its index and the baseline for determining rankings. Crucial for ensuring websites are optimized for mobile users and perform well in search rankings.
A problem-solving approach that involves breaking down complex problems into their most basic, foundational elements. Crucial for developing innovative solutions by understanding and addressing core issues.
The study of how information is transmitted and received, including the processes and methods that facilitate communication. Important for designing effective communication strategies and user interfaces.
The practice of preserving a user's data and settings between sessions in an application. Crucial for enhancing user experience by providing continuity and personalization.
The series of stages a product goes through from initial concept to market release, including planning, design, development, testing, and launch. Essential for understanding the full lifecycle of product creation and bringing products to market efficiently.
Digital Asset Management (DAM) is a system that stores, organizes, and manages digital assets, such as images, videos, and documents. Essential for maintaining and leveraging digital content efficiently in product design and marketing.
A social norm of responding to a positive action with another positive action, fostering mutual benefit and cooperation. Important for designing user experiences and systems that encourage positive reciprocal interactions.
Voice User Interface (VUI) is a system that allows users to interact with a device or software using voice commands. Essential for creating hands-free, intuitive user experiences.
A strategy used to determine the proportion of various SMEs needed to support a pipeline of work. Important for optimizing resource allocation, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring teams have the appropriate support based on design demand and complexity.
The process of performing a series of seemingly unrelated and often tedious tasks that are necessary to solve a larger problem. Important for recognizing and managing the indirect tasks that contribute to achieving the main objectives in digital product design.
The study of the nature, structure, and variation of language, including phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Essential for understanding how language influences communication and user interactions in digital products.
A product development approach where teams start with the desired customer experience and work backwards to determine what needs to be built to achieve that outcome. Essential for ensuring that product development is aligned with customer needs and expectations.
Content designed to attract clicks by using sensational or misleading headlines. Important for recognizing and avoiding practices that can harm user trust and content quality.
The reduction of restraint in behavior, often due to the absence of social cues, which can lead to impulsive actions and emotional outbursts. Important for understanding user behavior in online and anonymous contexts.
A semi-fictional representation of an ideal customer based on market research and real data about existing customers. Essential for targeting design and marketing efforts to meet the needs and preferences of specific user groups.
Rich Internet Application (RIA) is a web application that offers interactive and engaging user experiences similar to desktop applications. Essential for providing enhanced functionality and better user interfaces on the web.
The ability of an organization to adapt quickly to market changes and external forces while maintaining a focus on delivering value. Essential for fostering an adaptable and resilient design and development process.
A planning method that starts with defining a desirable future and then works backwards to identify steps to achieve that future. Important for strategic planning and setting long-term goals in design and development.
Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) is a language for specifying business process behaviors based on web services. Important for defining and automating complex business processes in digital product workflows.
The process of anticipating, detecting, and resolving errors in software or systems to ensure smooth operation. Important for creating reliable and user-friendly software applications.
In AI and machine learning, a prompt that specifies what should be avoided or excluded in the generated output, guiding the system to produce more accurate and relevant results. Crucial for refining AI-generated content by providing clear instructions on undesired elements, improving output quality and relevance.
A model of organizational change management that involves preparing for change (unfreeze), implementing change (change), and solidifying the new state (refreeze). Important for successfully implementing and sustaining changes in product design processes and organizational practices.
Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) is an agile project delivery framework focused on delivering business value early and continuously. Essential for ensuring that projects align with business goals and user needs through iterative processes.
Operations and processes that occur on the user's computer rather than on a server. Crucial for creating responsive and interactive web experiences that leverage the user's device.
ARIA attributes that describe the current state of an element, such as whether it is selected or expanded. Crucial for providing context and improving navigation for users with disabilities.
A method in natural language processing where multiple prompts are linked to generate more complex and contextually accurate responses. Essential for enhancing the capability and accuracy of AI models in digital products that rely on natural language understanding.
A methodology for building software-as-a-service apps that emphasizes best practices for development, deployment, and scalability. Important for creating scalable, maintainable, and efficient digital products.
A technique used to prime an audience before delivering a persuasive message. Essential for enhancing the effectiveness of persuasive communication by shaping audience receptivity.
Managing product development with a focus on understanding and influencing user behavior through behavioral science principles. Essential for product managers to create user-centric products that drive desired behaviors.
A market in which vendors offer goods and services specific to an industry, trade, profession, or other group of customers with specialized needs. Important for developing targeted digital products that cater to the unique requirements of specific industries or sectors.
A team structure within an organization focused on managing and integrating complex subsystems. Important for ensuring seamless integration and functionality of complex projects.
A team that supports other teams by providing specialized expertise and tools to improve their performance. Crucial for enhancing overall team effectiveness and efficiency.