UX debt
UX debt is accumulated product cost caused by decisions that make future user work or product change harder.
What UX debt means
UX debt is accumulated product cost caused by decisions that make future user work or product change harder.
A local usability defect without accumulated change cost is not automatically debt.
How UX debt accumulates
Teams may maintain duplicate approval states and export work to a spreadsheet. Each new change becomes slower until the underlying model is resolved.
UX debt may appear as inconsistent state, duplicated workflows, unclear permission, design-code divergence or a model that no longer fits.
When the metaphor is useful
The metaphor is useful only when the team records consequence, owner and a reason to repay or accept it.
Product modernisation is one possible intervention.
Distinguish UX debt from a contained defect
A UX and Product Audit or Product Modernisation Assessment can distinguish debt from a contained defect.