Duolingo Removes UX Design

Duolingo has moved away from “User Experience (UX)” and is now emphasizing “Product Experience (PX).” Mig Reyes, VP of Product Experience at Duolingo, shared a LinkedIn post explaining the reasoning behind this shift.

According to Mig Reyes, the term “UX” felt like an outdated relic that no longer fit Duolingo’s identity. He emphasized that the product itself is more important than UI or UX and defined their role as product creators above all else.

Product Experience encompasses product design, product writing, and product research, forming a team of designers who understand the business context and can visualize it through the product.

The change from “user” to “product” has sparked mixed reactions. Some appreciate the shift, arguing that UX had become an overly broad term and that focusing on the actual “product experience” makes a real impact. Others worry that this change signals a greater focus on achieving KPIs at the expense of users, potentially encouraging dark patterns that manipulate engagement.

Jakob Nielsen, one of the pioneers of UX, commented that had this discussion taken place 30 years ago, he might have agreed with the new terminology. However, after spending decades establishing and popularizing the term “user experience,” he is not eager to see it replaced.

Read more & source:
LinkedIn Post