In today’s technology-saturated world, it’s easy to get caught up in the digital when considering user experience. We obsess over pixels, optimize for clicks, and A/B test every button color. But what if I told you the secret to truly innovative UX lies beyond the screen, in the analog world around us?
We often think of UX inspiration as limited to the digital world — websites, apps, and the latest UI trends. But as UX designers, our goal is to create seamless and enjoyable experiences, and inspiration for that can come from anywhere. Stepping outside the digital realm and exploring diverse mediums like architecture and physical product design can unlock fresh perspectives and elevate your UX game.
A well-designed chair is more than just visually appealing; it’s comfortable, functional, and considers the user’s needs. Product designers prioritize ergonomics, materiality, and user interaction — all crucial aspects of UX design. The truth is that the best UX designers don’t just design for digital interactions; they draw inspiration from the entire human experience. They observe how people interact with their environment, how they navigate physical spaces, and how they solve problems in everyday life.
Consider the intuitive design of a door handle, the satisfying click of a well-made pen, or the wayfinding cues in a bustling airport. These everyday objects and spaces are brimming with lessons in user-centered design.
The importance of inspiration
Inspiration acts as the lifeblood of innovation and creativity. It’s the spark that ignites new ideas, pushes boundaries, and helps designers craft truly exceptional user experiences. Without inspiration, design becomes stagnant and predictable and ultimately fails to connect with users on a deeper level. By actively seeking inspiration from diverse sources, designers can break free from conventional thinking, challenge existing paradigms, and discover novel solutions to design problems.
Drawing inspiration from the design of physical products can greatly enhance the user experience of digital interfaces. For example, by studying the ergonomics of a comfortable chair, UX designers can learn how to create digital interfaces that minimize strain and fatigue. Similarly, observing how the design of a button or lever clearly communicates its function can inspire the creation of intuitive digital interfaces that require minimal explanation for the users.
Using other disciplines as a source of inspiration
UX designers often find themselves confined to the digital world for inspiration, but a wealth of knowledge lies in the physical world waiting to be tapped. By exploring other fields and mediums, designers can gain valuable insights to enhance their digital creations. Let’s delve into how these seemingly disparate areas can inform and elevate UX design.
Architecture: designing for flow and functionality
Just as architects meticulously plan spaces for human movement and interaction, UX designers can learn from the principles of spatial design. Consider how a museum guides visitors through exhibits, using visual cues and spatial arrangements to create a narrative flow. Similarly, a well-designed app should intuitively guide users through its features, ensuring a smooth and engaging journey.
- Information Architecture: Learn how museums categorize and display artifacts. Apply these principles to organize information within an app, ensuring clear hierarchies and intuitive navigation.
- Wayfinding: Observe how airports use signage and spatial cues to direct travelers. Translate these techniques to design clear user flows within a digital product, minimizing cognitive load and frustration.
- Accessibility: Study how architects design inclusive spaces that cater to diverse needs. Apply these principles to ensure digital products are accessible to all users, regardless of ability.
Physical product design: tangible inspiration for digital interactions
The design of physical products, from a coffee maker to a car dashboard, offers valuable lessons in user-centered design. By analyzing how people interact with these objects, UX designers can gain insights into ergonomics, affordances, and intuitive controls.
- Ergonomics: Study the design of a comfortable chair or a well-balanced tool. Apply these principles to design digital interfaces that are comfortable to use and minimize strain.
- Affordances: Observe how the design of a button or a lever communicates its function. Translate these principles to create intuitive digital interfaces that require minimal explanation.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Analyze how physical products provide feedback, like the click of a button or the whirring of a machine. Apply these principles to provide users with clear feedback on their actions within a digital product.
Nature: organic forms and seamless functionality
Nature, with its billions of years of evolutionary design, offers a treasure trove of inspiration for UX designers. Observe the organic forms of leaves, the efficient structures of honeycombs, or the intricate patterns of spiderwebs. These natural designs often embody principles of efficiency, resilience, and elegance that can be translated into the digital world.
- Organic Shapes: Incorporate natural curves and flowing lines into interface elements to create a more visually appealing and approachable experience.
- Biomimicry: Study how natural systems solve problems, like how trees distribute water efficiently. Apply these principles to optimize complex processes within a digital product.
- Visual Hierarchy: Observe how nature uses contrast and scale to draw attention. Apply these principles to guide users’ focus on key elements within an interface.
Going beyond the screens
By looking beyond the digital, we can uncover universal principles of human behavior and interaction that transcend any specific technology. These principles can then be applied to create digital experiences that feel truly natural, intuitive, and even delightful. By venturing beyond the digital world and embracing inspiration from architecture, nature, and physical product design, UX designers can unlock new levels of creativity and innovation. This cross-disciplinary approach can lead to digital experiences that are not only functional and efficient but also aesthetically pleasing, emotionally resonant, and truly human-centered.
Stepping away from the screen also sparks creativity and prevents burnout. Engaging with different environments and interacting with the world in diverse ways enhances your empathy and understanding of human needs. Ultimately, by drawing inspiration from the world around you, you cultivate a richer understanding of human experience, which is the foundation of exceptional UX design. This broader view allows you to uncover universal design principles that transcend any specific medium, leading to more human-centered and effective solutions while designing for the digital.
If you seek inspiration from these diverse mediums, you can broaden your design perspective, unlock new levels of creativity, and ultimately create digital experiences that are truly innovative and user-centered.
Featured image courtesy: Matt Howard.
