User experience (UX) design is the process designers use to create products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. When applied to applications and websites, this involves not only how the design will look like, but also its usability and function.

Participatory design is an approach that brings customers into the heart of the design process. Also known as cooperative design, it uses design thinking techniques useful to the initial and subsequent ideation and testing phases of a project, where the users of a product, service, or experience take an active role in co-designing solutions for themselves.