Jargon

People who plan and design experiences know the jargon. People who don’t, don’t.

And they have no interest in learning.

Why should they? Do you recall the full pharmaceutical name of your prescription — or do you just want a painkiller when something hurts?

So if you are a planner or a designer, there are many words you might use regularly that other people on the bigger team don’t appreciate. But they aren’t saying so.

Here are a few examples of jargon you might want to avoid when speaking to a broader group, and what you might say instead:

Avoid “circulation”. (There’s blood?)
Instead, try “pathways”. (Always useful.)

Avoid “white space”. (Uh, whose space?)
Instead, try “breathing room”.


             (Aahhh.)


Avoid “contingency”. (Incontinency?)
Instead, try “a little extra”. (Seems prudent.)

Here’s the thing:
Design and planning jargon helps communication between experts and experts.

But it hinders communication between experts and others.

Warmly,
Jonathan