The design of everyday things — UX IRL
An allusion to the iconic UX book, The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman. Thoughts from a designer.
“Mhm.. bad UX.”
Since the beginning of my UX journey, I’ve noticed the way that UX can be applied to every aspect of our off-screen lives. From every industry to every physical item you may own, design is incorporated everywhere (even if it isn’t great). Having the UX mindset makes you think about every single item, place, experience that has given you a headache. Squeezing into an airport bathroom stall with all your carryon luggage while desperately trying to avoid touching the toilet: bad UX. Trying to walk around the suburban sprawl of the U.S…bad UX! Bad UX is everywhere, but at the same time, we are surrounded by good UX that helps us function in our day-to-day lives.
Living and breathing UX
You’ve heard many designers say this, but what does it really mean? To me, that means having the design mindset even after clocking out of your work day. To live UX, you solve your real-life problems with your design thinking skills. That can begin in your very own home.
One of the key elements to being a good designer is knowing what to do with space. From starting a design on blank frame on Figma to designing the interior of your new apartment, having a good user experience means utilizing your space efficiently and with intention.
Many UX designers join design teams at companies that already have a working product and functioning design. Think of it as if you were moving into a furnished apartment. The staple furniture is included with the lease, it’s not necessarily what you’d choose, but you’ll most likely bring in your own pieces of furniture to make the space functional for your lifestyle. This was a challenge I took on head-first as the designer between myself and my partner. We were working with an open-concept space for our living and dining areas, and although it felt spacious it felt awkward. We tried different furniture layouts for a few days and changed it around if it didn’t feel right (user testing 🤭). As we gradually brought in more of our own furniture, the space was able to come together quite nicely. Even though we used up a significant amount of space by bringing in more furniture, the space felt like it made more sense. By making use of our space with the purpose of functionality, we created a comfortable and cozy living space that we love spending time in. Great UX, I might say.
The UX of Household Products
If there is one category of products that should have good UX, it would definitely be household products. It’s essential to have a comfortable and clean living space and we rely on so many household products to achieve that.
Dyson must have some sort of UX designer for their products, because wow, I never thought I’d be vacuuming for fun. Before my partner and I made the investment for the Dyson cordless vacuum, vacuuming was always dreadful because of how inconvenient it was. Dyson addressed every user pain-point with traditional vacuums and executed this product flawlessly. Vacuums have always been heavy, hard to maneuver, and time consuming. There was always some sort of technique to moving furniture around, handling and adjusting the length of the cord, and figuring out which electrical outlet to use as you moved around your living space. The whole process was a pain-point. With the cordless and lightweight vacuum, the chore is now mindless. Minimizing cognitive load for users is what Dyson did, which makes for good UX in their product.
UX in Society
“UX in Japan” is a photo series from one of my favorite UX Instagram accounts @iconicdiary. This series of posts showcase different ways that the Japanese incorporate UX design into everyday items, the public sector, and to the cultural lifestyle. I personally love this series as a designer because I’ve visited Japan a number of times since I was young, and seeing what’s familiar to me from a UX perspective is so incredibly intriguing because of how well things are designed for the human experience.
Looking at how UX design is utilized in other countries and their ways of living can be a means of inspiration for designers. Not only can you expand your perspective using design thinking, it’s also a great way to see how different designs work or how they can be improved to create a better user experience. Looking at design outside of the digital world can enhance the way you solve problems as a UX designer, but also when you navigate the world outside of work. Try it out, it’s truly transformative.
