When designing a new product or feature, the excitement of innovation can tempt us to jump straight to the “big idea.” But if we skip the crucial step of understanding where users currently are, our leap forward may leave them confused, resistant, or disengaged. This is especially true when you’re taking a product from 0 … continue reading
When making custom interfaces I’ve seen it over an over again where the interface becomes a linear “story”. You might have seen it yourself – ever had software that has a lot of next/previous/back buttons? When speaking to users about their workflow routine, it’s common to hear them describe a process from start to finish, … continue reading
Users are busy. They’re juggling notifications, errands, meetings, and a hundred other priorities. In this chaotic environment, the last thing they want is to encounter a giant, time-consuming task when using your app or website. Instead, they want small, manageable tasks they can complete quickly and easily. The Psychology of Small Tasks Humans naturally gravitate … continue reading
I’m going to start with a Steve Jobs clip. In it, he says “you’ve got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology. You can’t start with the technology and figure out how you’re going to sell it.” You can’t make people want something. It’s easy to get excited about AI. … continue reading
Good typography is a cornerstone of excellent visual design. Its influence extends far beyond aesthetics. The principles that guide effective typography – such as hierarchy, structure, and clarity – are also essential to building great products. By understanding typography, product designers can learn to organize information better, provide clearer direction, and ultimately create more user-friendly … continue reading
Design is at its most powerful when it’s personal. Product people talk endlessly about understanding the user – but how often do we truly become them? Walking in their shoes isn’t just an exercise in empathy; it’s a strategy for uncovering insights that no focus group can deliver. When you BE the user, you design … continue reading
Dynamic Interaction or dynamic interactivity in terms of user interface design refers to the real-time, responsive relationship between a user and a system where the interface reacts or evolves based on user input or changing data. It’s about creating an experience where users can directly manipulate elements, see immediate effects, and engage with data in … continue reading
Why are LLM chat interfaces being used to display search results? With the rise of AI-powered tools, many apps are now using large language models (LLMs) in chat interfaces for search. But I question if this is what users truly want. Search, as we know it today, is efficient and familiar. The search bar model—starting … continue reading
Imagine you’re playing darts, but instead of aiming at a pre-drawn target, you throw darts randomly at a blank wall. After throwing, you draw the bullseye around the cluster of darts that hit the wall. This scenario might seem absurd, yet it illustrates the Texas Sharpshooter fallacy. It probably comes from a Texan who randomly … continue reading