If you’ve started researching UI and UX design, you’ve likely seen terms like design thinking, user-centered design, and double diamond floating around. But what do these terms actually mean? In this lesson, we will discuss various design methodologies and show how they are used in practice.

Design methodologies may seem convoluted and complicated at first. Not to worry—the purpose of these methodologies is to document learnings from years of research and work by others to make your job easier. Today’s designers can choose between a wide variety of methods for any given project. Getting to know some of the key methodologies will help us understand how designers approach problems and tackle solutions.

UI and UX methodologies offer structure and consistency to focus on problems and drive success within a design process. Methodologies help get people on the same page, whether it’s within a project, an organization, or an industry.

Over the years, organizations like Ideo, Google, and the Nielsen Norman Group, as well as people like Peter Morville, have defined some of the most popular methodologies for executing and assessing UI and UX design, which we’ll cover in this lesson.

Design theory and practice are constantly evolving. New methodologies and principles are defined constantly within design—for example, design justice and Microsoft’s inclusive design emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion.

There is no “right” methodology for any given scenario, and some situations may pull from multiple methods. Maybe one day, you’ll even document and share your own methodology to change the way designers work!