User Experience professionals go by many titles—and none very transparent. In a nutshell, we optimize the experience of using interactive technology to serve the needs of both the user and the organization. We design blueprints to make technology easy, compelling—and to make sure the computer actually gets out of the way of what both the user and organization really want to do.

I've been taught early on to take a strategic and holistic approach in terms analyzing user needs, organizational goals, and hopefully integrating closely with the disciplines of the entire team throughout the project. Usability is often a primary focus—but only one point on the human factors triad of useful—usable—desirable. Users won't have a chance to experience ease of use if the interactive product isn't useful or desirable in the first place.

I'm probably best described by my deliverables, which include: user needs analysis ~ personas ~ use case scenarios ~ heuristic and competitive audits ~ strategic features planning and analysis ~ requirements documenting ~ conceptual design ~ flows ~ site maps ~ wireframes/ prototypes ~ specifications ~ research planning, moderating, and analysis. (Note: no visual design or code. However, I often provide nomenclature/ navitorial text and instructional copy.)

Some of my various titles:

User Experience (UX/ UE) Designer
A favorite in the field because it seems to capture the breadth of the role and its overall impact.

User Interface (UI) Designer
A traditional term for application or complex interactive experience work, and probably the oldest industry term.

Information Architect
Typically associated with Web work only, and is losing popularity as a title.

Interaction Designer
Not to be confused with "InteractIVE Designer"—who tends to do Flash/ animation and high-end visual interactive work. Interaction Designers design interactions, navigation and behaviors (and not icons and visuals).

Information Designer
Started out in the UK as a term for folks who specialize in informational graphics, such as maps, signage and Tufte-like data-rich visuals. It's used sparingly in the US in a similar way, or for content strategy—the strategic organization and development of content (writing/ editing).

Instructional Designer
Typically this term is used for professionals who design curricula materials for training purposes. At Apple, I was given this title instead of the traditional "tech writer" because writing for end users should not be technical; it should instruct. Also, my job involved project planning and sometimes UI design.