What is UX Mapping
User Experience mapping, also known as UX mapping, is the process of creating step-by-step visual flows of experiences users have with your product while trying to achieve a certain objective. For most products, there isn't a singular pathway to achieve a goal. Think of it as if you're a restaurant owner: all customers coming into your restaurant are hungry and want food. Some want pasta, others want a sandwich, or some might just want a drink. Though their end goal may be similar or the same, the flow and path they take to achieve their goal can be radically different. A UX map is a depiction of the user interacting and engaging with your product until they achieve this goal.
Why is UX Mapping Important?
UX mapping allows developers and product designers to streamline the efficiency of their user flows, thus optimizing for conversions. If your UX is easy and clear, fewer users will "fall off" and abandon the product as they experience a particular flow. The act of creating the UX map forces us to walk through the flow step by step, and will clearly point out any missing or superfluous user-required actions. Adding visuals to your UX map will let you and your team view the experience flow from a bird's eye view, so you can decide if this is the best way for the user to achieve this particular action.
User Experience Maps vs. Customer Journey Maps
UX Map
User experience maps are specific to an individual user flow. One product will generally have multiple user flows, such as how to sign up for a trial, how to purchase an account, and how to save and share work. In this example, each of these individual user flows would have their own UX map.
Customer Journey Map
Customer journey mapping is the act of creating a general story of how a potential user or persona will have a need for your product, come across the product, engage with it, and then purchase. They are much more general maps and are more useful for strategic marketing rather than process or conversion rate improvements.
How to Create a UX Map
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Choose a User Flow
First you need to choose one of your product's user flows. Decide which specific user action you want to focus on and improve. A good way to decide on a flow is to analyze your data and try to pinpoint where your users are falling off. Are they landing on your page but not moving any further? Are they starting free trials but not converting into paying customers? Isolating where you're losing users will allow you to identify which flows need to be improved.
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Define the Stages Within the Flow
After you choose a specific user experience flow to map out, you need to break the flow down into individual stages. Start with how a user would end up in this flow, the actions they need to accomplish to progress through the flow, and where they may land after the flow is completed.
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Note All Required Customer Interactions
After you've broken the flow down into individual stages, it's essential to note which stages require user interaction. For example, if one of the stages in your user flow requires the user to choose from three choices, note this as a required user action. After you finish creating your UX map, you can total up the number of required user actions and decide if this is too many and if any of them are superfluous.
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Note and Address All User Friction Points
Last, but certainly not least, make sure to address all user friction points. Which specific points or stages have even a slight chance that the user may be confused? As developers or product designers, we are almost always too close to the product to have a clear understanding of where users may be confused. Creating the UX map breaks the flows down into more digestible user actions, and each situation with even a small chance of user confusion should be noted and analyzed for possible improvement.
Now that you have the knowledge and tools necessary to create a User Experience Map, use one of the templates below to start creating your own today!
How Tos about User Experience Mapping
How can teachers use UX mapping to design smoother classroom activities?
Apply UX mapping to your lesson planning by visually outlining each step students will take to complete an activity. This helps ensure directions are clear, reduces confusion, and creates a more engaging learning experience.
Identify the learning objective for your activity.
Pinpoint what you want students to achieve and write it at the top of your UX map. This keeps your lesson focused and helps you design steps that support your goal.
Break the activity into clear, sequential student actions.
List each step students must take, from start to finish. Simple, ordered actions make your lesson easier to follow and highlight where instructions may need clarification.
Highlight points where students will interact or make choices.
Mark any moments students must decide, ask questions, or collaborate. Noting these interaction points helps you prepare prompts and supports for deeper engagement.
Review your map for possible confusion or bottlenecks.
Look for steps that might be unclear, take extra time, or where students may get stuck. Address these with clear instructions or visual aids to smooth out the learning process.
Frequently Asked Questions about User Experience Mapping
What is UX mapping and why is it important?
UX mapping is the process of visually outlining the step-by-step experiences users have with your product to achieve a specific goal. It's important because it helps developers and designers streamline user flows, identify friction points, and optimize for higher conversions by reducing user drop-off.
How do you create a UX map for a digital product?
To create a UX map, start by choosing a user flow to focus on. Break the flow into individual stages, note all required user interactions, and identify points of user friction. Use visuals to make the process clearer and easier to analyze for improvements.
What’s the difference between a UX map and a customer journey map?
A UX map focuses on specific user flows within a product, detailing each step a user takes to complete an action. A customer journey map is broader, outlining the general story of how a user discovers, engages with, and purchases a product, making it more useful for strategic marketing.
What are common user friction points in UX mapping?
Common user friction points include unclear instructions, too many required actions, confusing navigation, or stages where users may get lost or frustrated. Identifying and minimizing these points improves the overall user experience and conversion rates.
Why should educators use UX mapping when designing classroom tools?
Educators can use UX mapping to ensure digital classroom tools are intuitive and engaging for students. By mapping user flows, teachers can spot confusing steps and optimize resources for smoother learning experiences.
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