In today’s digital-first world, we expect our interactions with technology to feel smooth, intuitive, and even enjoyable. But have you ever stopped to think about when this expectation began? User experience design—known today as UX—didn’t appear out of nowhere. It evolved slowly, through centuries of design thinking, trial and error, and, eventually, digital innovation.
UX design is not just about creating beautiful interfaces. It’s about building trust, anticipating needs, and removing friction between the user and the goal. But when did people first start caring about how something felt to use, not just whether it worked? Let’s trace the fascinating roots of UX design and discover how it became the strategic discipline it is today.
UX Design Before It Had a Name
Long before the term “UX” was coined, the essence of user experience was already in motion. You could argue it began the moment humans started crafting tools. Think about a blacksmith shaping a sword to fit comfortably in the hand, or architects designing buildings with natural light and airflow. These weren’t just technical choices—they were about how people interacted with the final product.
In ancient China, the concept of “Feng Shui” emphasized harmony between people and their environment. That’s user-centered design in a cultural form. And during the Renaissance, artists and inventors like Leonardo da Vinci didn’t just think about how machines worked—they thought about how people would use them.
The Industrial Influence
Jumping ahead to the Industrial Revolution, efficiency became the driving force in design. Factories needed systems that were not only productive but also manageable for workers. Enter ergonomics and human factors engineering. These early efforts to optimize for human comfort and effectiveness laid the groundwork for UX.
One pivotal figure here is Henry Dreyfuss, an American industrial designer. His work in the 1930s–50s showed that design could be both beautiful and useful. His telephone models and thermostats were shaped by real-world feedback and usability—a major step toward formalizing user-centered design principles.
The Digital Era and Human-Computer Interaction
When computers arrived on the scene in the mid-20th century, the relationship between humans and machines got a lot more complicated. Early computers were difficult to use unless you were trained in programming. That made them inaccessible to most people. But researchers began to ask: how can we make this technology more usable?
The field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) was born. It explored how people interact with computers, and how to design systems that support those interactions. In the 1980s and 90s, this work expanded to software design, operating systems, and eventually the web. UX wasn’t a buzzword yet, but its building blocks were being laid.
Don Norman and the UX Breakthrough
The person who truly gave UX its modern identity was Don Norman. While working at Apple in the 1990s, he coined the term “user experience.” He believed that design should encompass every touchpoint a user has with a product—not just the interface, but also how it works, how it’s marketed, and even how it’s supported.
This holistic approach set a new standard. Suddenly, UX design was more than just good practice—it became a critical part of business success. A well-designed experience could drive customer satisfaction, loyalty, and even profitability.
UX Design in the Age of Apps and Devices
The rise of smartphones and mobile apps accelerated the importance of UX. People began interacting with technology constantly—and they wanted those interactions to be fast, intuitive, and rewarding. Companies that invested in UX flourished. Those that didn’t fell behind.
Designers had to think about multiple devices, screen sizes, and accessibility. New tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD gave teams the power to prototype, test, and iterate faster than ever before. The industry grew rapidly, with specialized roles emerging for researchers, interaction designers, and UX strategists.
Today, UX design is a global discipline. Whether you’re hiring a UX design consultant in London or building an in-house team, the focus is the same: create experiences that make people feel understood, empowered, and in control.
So, When Did UX Design Really Start?
It depends on how you define it. If we’re talking about the formal discipline of UX design—with tools, frameworks, and dedicated roles—that started to take shape in the 1990s. But if we’re talking about the fundamental idea of designing for the user, then UX has been with us for centuries.
What makes UX design different today is the intentionality. We now recognize that every interaction shapes perception, and we design with empathy to support that journey. The roots may be old, but the practice has never been more modern—or more essential.
UX design didn’t just start one day. It evolved. And it’s still evolving—shaped by technology, human behavior, and our never-ending quest to make the complex feel simple.
