Compassion in Design: Why UX is More Than Just User Experience
Have you ever struggled to use a door handle, a faucet, or a website? Do you blame yourself for being too clumsy or too old, or do you blame the design that fails to communicate its function clearly? If you haven't read "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman, I highly recommend it. This classic book, first published in 1988 and updated several times since then, explores the principles of good design and how they can enhance our everyday experiences.
One of the key insights that Norman shares is that good design is not just about aesthetics or efficiency, but about empathy. Designers need to understand the needs, goals, and limitations of their users, and anticipate their behaviours and errors, in order to create products and services that are easy, enjoyable, and effective to use. This requires a mindset of curiosity, humility, and care, as well as a toolkit of methods and feedback loops that enable continuous improvement.
In my opinion, UX design is not just a job or a skill, but an act of compassion. By designing for diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, UX designers can empower people with different backgrounds, abilities, and preferences to achieve their goals and express their identities. By testing and iterating their designs with real users, UX designers can learn from their mistakes and adapt to changing needs and contexts. By collaborating with other disciplines and stakeholders, UX designers can foster innovation, sustainability, and social impact.
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I believe that UX design will become more and more important in the future and that it will be taught to kids at school as a core competence, like reading, writing, and math. By introducing the principles and practices of UX design early on, we can cultivate a generation of critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and responsible citizens who can shape the world for the better. Whether they become designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, or activists, they will deeply understand how design affects human behaviour and how they can use design to make a positive difference.
What do you think? Have you read "The Design of Everyday Things"? Do you agree that UX design is an act of compassion and a core competence for the future? How can we integrate UX design into education and society? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Let's design a better future together!