How can you effectively communicate User Experience design concepts and ideas to non-designers?

1 Use simple language

Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that may confuse or alienate your non-designer audience. Instead, use simple, clear, and concise language that explains the purpose, benefits, and rationale of your UX design concepts and ideas. For example, instead of saying "We used a card sorting technique to create an intuitive information architecture based on user mental models", you could say "We asked users to group the content of the website into categories that make sense to them, so we could design a website structure that is easy to navigate and find what they need".

3 Tell a story

Stories are engaging, memorable, and persuasive ways to communicate UX design concepts and ideas. Instead of presenting your UX design as a static or isolated product, tell a story that shows how your UX design fits into the context, goals, and needs of the users and the business. Use personas, scenarios, and user stories to create a narrative that showcases the problem, the solution, and the impact of your UX design. For example, instead of saying "We designed a mobile app that helps users find and book local services", you could tell a story about how a busy mom uses the app to find a reliable babysitter for her kids in a few minutes, while saving time and money.

4 Provide evidence

Evidence is essential to back up your UX design concepts and ideas and to convince your non-designer audience that they are valid, feasible, and desirable. Instead of making assumptions or opinions, use data, research, testing, or feedback to support your UX design decisions and outcomes. For example, instead of saying "We think that users will like this feature because it is cool and innovative", you could say "We tested this feature with 20 users and they rated it highly on satisfaction, ease of use, and usefulness".

5 Invite feedback

Feedback is a valuable way to communicate UX design concepts and ideas and to improve them based on the input and perspective of your non-designer audience. Instead of presenting your UX design as a final or fixed product, invite feedback from your non-designer audience and encourage them to ask questions, share their thoughts, and suggest improvements. For example, instead of saying "This is our UX design and we are done with it", you could say "This is our UX design and we would love to hear your feedback. What do you like, what do you dislike, and what do you think we could do better?"

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?