UX Gossip; personal views on UX-related topics 💬 — Part 1

Studio Jimmy Elias (SJE_)
5 min readJun 23, 2023

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“UX Gossip” is a series of instagram posts revolving around personal views on UX-related topics. #uxgossip

#1 Designing for user’s behaviour

When Nike’s innovation team designs for users’ behaviour. Nike GO FlyEase, bi-stable hinge and midsole tensioner allowing hands-free entry. Human-centred and designing for accessibility.

#2 Submission to the Market

It was launched with a defined well-thought user experience. Notifications were limited to 6 contacts and social media channels couldn’t be linked to the watch. Soon enough, updates involved connecting unlimited contacts along with all social media channels. This didn’t only change the product vision and value, but also turned part of the product design and interface obsolete.

#3 Architecture meets user experience design.

When Architecture meets user experience design. The Laguna Garzon bridge in Uruguay is designed in a circular shape forcing drivers to slow down and allowing pedestrians to enjoy the panoramic views.

#4 Facebook’s context‑aware rollout

This is not an A/B testing. While in the United States and Europe the focal point of the latest version of Facebook is the marketplace, in some countries the focus remains on groups and videos. No, this is not context-aware in terms of value and culture and what the users need, but rather a technical restriction not allowing the planned rollout (marketplace not functioning in countries where online payment is not available).

#5 One loose screw

The obsolescence of a product often starts with the failure of one of its components. This makes out of the perfectly-functioning remaining ones, dysfunctional. The same with processes; one loose screw and the whole product wobbles. The Corona Warning app is a great example. Following the quarantine period, the app is stuck with the “thank you” screen instead of turning back to the exposure logging.

#6 Stories are everywhere!

Taking a look at the ‘stories’ in social media channels and how they’re everywhere today! Are new features being released as a submission to the market or are they bringing more value to the experience?
Does it fit the context and lead to valuable behavioural change or we, the users, just adapt to it since ‘now it’s there’?

#7 Designing addictive features

About designing user-centric yet addictive features. Loren Brichter designed the pull-to-refresh interaction, first used to update Twitter feeds. He didn’t know his creation will become the most addictive design feature in modern technology.

#8 Architectural Engineering

Learning from architectural engineering. Veluwemeer Aqueduct is a 3-meter deep and 25-meter long navigable aqueduct in Harderwijk, Netherlands. A stunningly designed piece of architectural engineering allowing regular road traffic and boats to pass overhead.

#9 Humour & UX

Humour in favour of a delighted user experience design. The “Gorillas fave” is a highlight section in the Gorillas App, a groceries app delivering within 10 minutes. The branding of the app revolves around the gorilla. The ‘Gorillas fave’ is an extra section listing Gorillas’ favourite breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner: Banana. A Bio banana that can be added directly to your cart.

#10 Anticipating User’s behaviour

Purposely anticipating user’s behaviour. It’s not about entertaining easter-eggs. Anticipating user’s behaviour and infusing purpose into this anticipation, add value to the experience and to the brand. This doesn’t impact only the conversion rate but also the brand perception. Once the user ‘copies’ the product name, a tooltip comes on view “the clever client compares. And buys at the end at Saturn.”

Stay tuned for more UX Gossips. Until then have a look into SJE_’s Instagram feed or write us in case you have UX thoughts you would like us to gossip about.

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Studio Jimmy Elias (SJE_)

Multidisciplinary Creative Director — Experience Design, founder of Studio Jimmy Elias (SJE_). Also UX Trainer, Lecturer at RFH and judge at the FWA.