Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Become a member

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› The Comic Guide to the Simplicity Cycle

The Comic Guide to the Simplicity Cycle

by Dan Ward
1 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

Author and UX consultant Dan Ward shares an illustrated interpretation of his book, “The Simplicity Cycle.”

Author and UX consultant Dan Ward shares an illustrated interpretation of his book, “The Simplicity Cycle.”

Janet’s story illustrates some common design patterns and pitfalls. To learn more about other design patterns and principles, as well as some tools and techniques you can use on your projects, check out The Simplicity Cycle, available wherever books are sold.

post authorDan Ward

Dan Ward
Dan Ward is the author of F.I.R.E.: How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation (HarperBusiness, 2014) and The Simplicity Cycle: A Field Guide To Making Things Better Without Making Them Worse (HarperBusiness, 2015). Prior to launching Dan Ward Consulting, he served for more than 20 years as an acquisition officer in the US Air Force, where he specialized in leading high-speed, low-cost technology development programs and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. For more information please visit thedanward.com and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Related Articles

The Power of Designing for Pushback

  • Artificial Intelligence, Critical Thinking, Generative AI, LLM, UX Design

What if your AI didn’t just agree, but made you think harder? This piece explores why designing for pushback might be the key to smarter, more meaningful AI interactions.

Article by Charlie Gedeon
IDEAS IN BRIEF
The Power of Designing for Pushback
  • The article argues that AI systems like ChatGPT are often too agreeable, missing opportunities to encourage deeper thinking.
  • It introduces the idea of “productive resistance,” where AI gently challenges users to reflect, especially in educational and high-stakes contexts.
  • The article urges designers to build AI that balances trust and pushback, helping users think critically rather than just feel validated.
Read Article →
Share
Share:The Power of Designing for Pushback
6 min read

Hopeful Futures for UX Research

  • AI in UX, Career Development, Research Democratization, UX Research, UX Strategy

As UX research shifts and reshapes, how can researchers stay ahead? This article explores the changing landscape and how to thrive in it.

Article by James Lang
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Hopeful Futures for UX Research
  • The article explores how UX research is evolving, with roles shifting and adjacent skills like creativity and knowledge management becoming more important.
  • It looks at how non-researchers are doing more research work, and how this trend challenges traditional UX research careers.
  • The piece argues that researchers can stay relevant by adapting, staying curious, and finding new ways to share their value.
Read Article →
Share
Share:Hopeful Futures for UX Research
16 min read

Have SpudGun, Will Travel: How AI’s Agreeableness Risks Undermining UX Thinking

  • AI Ethics, AI in UX, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Design Thinking, Design Tools and Software, Human-Centered Design, LLM, Research Methods and Techniques, UX Research

Mashed potatoes as a lifestyle brand? When AI starts generating user personas for absurd products — and we start taking them seriously — it’s time to ask if we’ve all lost the plot. This sharp, irreverent critique exposes the real risks of using LLMs as synthetic users in UX research.

Article by Saul Wyner
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Have SpudGun, Will Travel: How AI’s Agreeableness Risks Undermining UX Thinking
  • The article explores the growing use of AI-generated personas in UX research and why it’s often a shortcut with serious flaws.
  • It introduces critiques that LLMs are trained to mimic structure, not judgment. When researchers use AI as a stand-in for real users, they risk mistaking coherence for credibility and fantasy for data.
  • The piece argues that AI tools in UX should be assistants, not oracles. Trusting “synthetic users” or AI-conjured feedback risks replacing real insights with confident nonsense.
Read Article →
Share
Share:Have SpudGun, Will Travel: How AI’s Agreeableness Risks Undermining UX Thinking
22 min read
✕

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    ✕

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and

    Accept policy