The Elements of User Experience

In his 2002 book, The Elements of User Experience, Jesse James Garrett presents a five-layer model for designing user experiences: Strategy, Scope, Structure, Skeleton, and Surface. Each layer builds on the one below. Strategy defines the product’s purpose, user needs, business goals, and feasibility. Scope outlines functional and content requirements to avoid project pitfalls. Structure maps the user journey and information architecture. Skeleton focuses on layout, navigation, and information presentation for efficiency. Surface addresses sensory design, like visuals and text readability. Designers must work across layers, prioritizing user experience through tough conversations, testing assumptions, and aligning with business needs, rather than focusing solely on aesthetics.
Source: Mitchell Eva UX