One of the simplest tasks I perform every morning is turning on the lights. I flip the switch, the lights go on. In reality, turning on the lights is actually a complicated process, probably involving solar panels, power grids, neighborhood transformers, circuit breakers, and more. But all I know is that every time I flip a light switch, the lights go on.
I loved the angle on how a feeling of "control" can also lead to "ownership" or the feeling of "making it my own". This succinct piece helped me see "control" in the UX layer as a lever for retention as well as eventual advocacy for our products. Thanks for the insight A Vora!
I personally « feed on » the empowerment that simple things provide when they enable fantastic wonders of engineering. Just take a second to list in your head all the things that happen when you turn the key in the car and the engine starts, or when your computer boots at the press of a button. Decades of knowledge condensed in a flick of a switch.
That’s why I believe there is an important distinction to make: when a product « misbehaves » - that is when it does not meet your expectations - you feel the uneasiness you mention.
However, when a product exceeds your expectations or just wows you, the feeling of uncovering something new is inebriating. That’s one of the reasons I always try new tools in my daily work.
Just my two cents on where I tend to draw the line between perplexed frowning and pure awe 🙂
It's like your articles. If I read, I know I will learn something good new things. It's predicable. Thank you for sharing this. Looking forward for more.
Beautifully written! How did you ensure consistent UX is being built even when the org scales to 1000s? I have seem companies slamming platforms and guardrails to ensure consistency remains a first class citizen however, empirically proving it's worth remains challenging.
I loved the angle on how a feeling of "control" can also lead to "ownership" or the feeling of "making it my own". This succinct piece helped me see "control" in the UX layer as a lever for retention as well as eventual advocacy for our products. Thanks for the insight A Vora!
I personally « feed on » the empowerment that simple things provide when they enable fantastic wonders of engineering. Just take a second to list in your head all the things that happen when you turn the key in the car and the engine starts, or when your computer boots at the press of a button. Decades of knowledge condensed in a flick of a switch.
That’s why I believe there is an important distinction to make: when a product « misbehaves » - that is when it does not meet your expectations - you feel the uneasiness you mention.
However, when a product exceeds your expectations or just wows you, the feeling of uncovering something new is inebriating. That’s one of the reasons I always try new tools in my daily work.
Just my two cents on where I tend to draw the line between perplexed frowning and pure awe 🙂
Your insight on "predictability as a substitute for control" directly helps me with an issue I'm facing at work.
Thank you for sharing this!
Looking forward to more insightful articles!
I really enjoyed your piece A Vora! You have an easy and simple way of explaining how to make products easy and enjoyable for users to use.
It's like your articles. If I read, I know I will learn something good new things. It's predicable. Thank you for sharing this. Looking forward for more.
Very informative and true... Predictability in a product reduces the learning cost for users. We must always build with user in mind
Thank you for these short & sweet insights - looking forward to more!
Beautifully written! How did you ensure consistent UX is being built even when the org scales to 1000s? I have seem companies slamming platforms and guardrails to ensure consistency remains a first class citizen however, empirically proving it's worth remains challenging.
The unaccounted battery damage of rapid iteration