Progressive Reduction is the idea that interfaces should be adapted over time as users become more acquainted with applications. This is how to apply it. — I’m a big fan of minimalist design, so whenever I have the opportunity to reduce the information presented on a screen to just the bare essentials, I’m happy. With that in mind, I realize that certain patterns that we (designers) want users to execute require learned behaviors. For this, we…

Using the Zeigarnik Effect to keep users coming back for more — Understanding what drives users to be deeply engaged in one app over another can feel like you’re trying to read tea leaves. To solve this problem, you need to understand how users think. Fortunately, someone has already done much of the groundwork for us. That person is Bluma Wulfovna Zeigarnik…

An examination of the process of intentionally revealing functionality to a user. — Image credit: Max Rudberg While some people argue that a user should be able to figure out how an app works just by looking at it, walkthroughs are becoming an increasingly popular user experience strategy as apps become more complex. Today’s users and their usage patterns are so varied that…

British Cycling’s system of marginal gains and how you can use it to improve as a designer. — Photo by Casey Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com As a UX designer, I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to improve my design chops in order to reach my full potential. Similarly, during my years as a bike racer, I was constantly looking for ways to gain an edge on the competition…