From Blueprints to Buttons: What UX can steal from Architecture's Flow

Ever stepped into a space and just known where to go? Maybe it's a buzzing airport, an art museum, or even your favourite cozy café. There's something magical about how well-designed spaces can guide you naturally. That same magic is what makes great UX design. This week we're borrowing a few tricks from architecture to make your digital products flow as effortlessly as a well-designed room. Ready to design with flow? Let's jump in!

1. Wayfinding: The art of not getting lost ??♂????

In Architecture, wayfinding is about designing a space so users instinctively know where to go from point A to point B. The same applies to digital experiences. Think of it like placing signs in your product—whether it’s buttons, breadcrumbs, or navigation bars, make sure users can navigate without second guessing where to click next. Borrow from architectural principles used to design spaces like airports, where even the most frazzled traveler can follow clear signage and spatial cues to make his journey smoother.

Takeaway

Design for clarity. Just as physical spaces use signage, your digital product should provide clear cues for navigation to guide users effortlessly.

2. Room Layouts and Content Structure: Organising information like an architect, not like a junk drawer ????????

In architecture, every room is structured to serve a specific purpose—kitchens for cooking, living rooms for relaxing and closets for, well, hiding clutter. The best digital products take a very similar approach when it comes to organising content. Think of it as each section in your app or website is a different "room" with a clear function. When everything has a logical place, users don't waste any time hunting for information. Avoid hiding key features where users least expect them- no one wants to find a bathroom in the middle of the kitchen, right?

Takeaway

Design with purpose. Just like room layouts serve needs, ensure each section of your digital product has a clear purposeful function thats easy to find.

3. Open Spaces: Give users (and their brains) some breathing room ????

Ever walked into a clutter-free and felt instantly calm? That’s because open areas allow for breathing room, preventing sensory overload. Your UX should do the same! Allowing for whitespace, it gives users mental breathing room and reduces cognitive load, making the experience feel effortless. It’s like creating a Zen garden in your design.?Overloading users with information like buttons, menus or pop-ups all at once can make the experience feel cramped—just like a cluttered room does.

Takeaway

Less is more! Just like an open layout makes a room feel airy, whitespace in UX lets users focus on what matters without feeling overwhelmed.

Closing Thoughts

Where have you seen great flow—either in a physical space or digital experience? Share your thoughts in the comments and let’s chat about how architecture can inspire better user journeys!

Until next week, keep designing those dreamy spaces—both online and off! ????

Bonus Resource

Want to dive deeper ? Check out this post to know how Kevin Lynch shapes my design even today !