Bridging the Past to Present: The Etymology of “Experience” in UX Design

A meta-geeky word dive into a term we use every day.

“Experience” is our mantra — our shared language, our unified purpose. It’s the bedrock of our work, the soul of our discipline. We advocate for good experiences. We warn our colleagues against bad ones. And yet, rarely do we take the time to pause and consider the origins and deep historical roots of what an “experience” actually means.

Why is it that we use the word “experience” in UX?

By default, this craft is inherently tied to the human experience. We endeavor to understand experiences, improve them, and shape & mold experiences through our designs. But why do we care so much?

To truly grasp the scope of our craft, we have to look beyond our screens and explore the linguistics, historical usage, and evolution of the word “experience” — Only then can we appreciate its well-earned placement as the cornerstone of our industry.

This word has traveled through time, changing yet staying the same, subtly shaping our approach in the UX field, and demonstrating the importance of deliberate language in understanding our profession. By exploring the word, we can develop a greater appreciation for the role it plays in UX Design. To master the art of “user experience”, we must first understand what “experience” truly means.

A meta breakdown of the word “experience”

Let’s geek out for a minute. The word “experience” continues to resonate in every interaction, every interface, and every customer journey we design today. But why? Why not just substitute it for another word? I would argue there isn’t another suitable word as fitting as “experience”.

Here’s why.

Origins of the word date back to the 13th century — you know, only a few years ago! 😂 It was used in the context of gaining knowledge through direct observation or participation — not unlike what we do as UX designers when we engage in user testing, prototype, validation, and field studies.

“Experience”, albeit a ubiquitous term in our UX vocabulary, didn’t begin in the digital world or even the world of design at all. It has a much older origin, one steeped in the philosophical and existential questions of what it means to be human.

The English word “experience” traces its roots back to the Latin “experientia”, stemming from ‘experiri’, which translates to ‘to try’, ‘to test’. Hmm, sound familiar?
Experience stems from the Old French esperience “experiment, proof, experience — yet another signal to our practice.
Interestingly, “experience” is also intimately tied to the Greek word ‘empeiria’, the basis for ‘empirical’. In science, ‘empirical’ refers to knowledge derived from observation and experiment — a parallel that is not lost on the modern UX designer. Pretty cool!

Another fascinating link is the Sanskrit word “prayan,” which translates to “go forth, advance,” and is closely associated with the act of journeys and experiences. This implies that, etymologically, experiencing is not a passive reception of stimuli but an active journey — an advancement. This a beautiful image for us UX designers who constantly strive to move people forward in their digital journeys.

At its core, “experience” is about making sense of the world through interaction, exploration, and perception.

Experience is about navigating the unknown, facing trial and error, and learning through doing.

This primal, almost instinctual approach to learning is what UX design encapsulates. We hypothesize, test, learn, and iterate — a repetitive process as ancient as human curiosity itself.

Going deeper, look to philosophical giants like John Locke who said, “All ideas come from experience. Experience is of two kinds, sensation and reflection.” Or David Hume, who extensively deliberated on the concept of “experience” and taught, “Everything we believe is ultimately traceable to experience”. Their thoughts, timeless and profound, can serve as a philosophical backdrop, linking our contemporary design challenges to grand, timeless inquiries about human experience and learning.

As we trace the etymology of the word “experience”, we begin to understand why it feels so right in our UX language. It’s not just about a user interacting with an interface. It’s about the human journey, the pursuit of understanding, and the continual cycle of learning through interaction. We don’t just design experiences; we create the opportunity for users to test, learn, and grow.

How understanding the etymology of “experience” can impact your work as a UX designer

I hope you can begin to see your work in a new light. UX goes beyond arranging pixels or sketching wireframes. You are, in essence, creating spaces for users to “try”, “test”, and ultimately, to learn. Reflect upon the design decisions you’re about to make —

Is your design facilitating an opportunity for users to “try” and “test”?
Is it honoring the essence of “experience” by encouraging a sense of journey, exploration, and understanding?

Remembering the origins of “experience” can imbue your work with deeper meaning and purpose. It reminds us that at the core of every design decision is a person, a user, a human being. And that human isn’t just clicking buttons or swiping screens, they are engaging in an experience of ongoing testing, trying, and learning.

As practitioners, we have the unique privilege of shaping these experiences. With every design decision, we have the power to spark curiosity, open doors of understanding, and facilitate learning. In this way, our role transcends the confines of digital interfaces. We become architects of experience, echoing an ancient, humanistic process of empirical learning.

It’s all too easy to forget the essence of our work and simply push pixels all day, get lost in the latest tech trends, and move yet another ticket forward on the Jira board. But by grounding ourselves in the etymology of “experience”, we can anchor our designs in the fundamental human journey of exploration and understanding.

Experience is a testament to our innate human curiosity. It’s a reflection of our continual yearning for understanding and an integral part of our role as UX designers. By learning its origins and meaning, we can enrich our work, designing experiences that are not only functional and aesthetic but also deeply human. That’s work I’m proud to be a part of.

The next time you design an “experience”, pause for a moment. Slow down. Reflect on the humanistic roots of the word. Let it be a reminder of the impact you can have as a UX designer and the privilege you wield in your hands as a creator of human experiences.

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