UX ON TELEVISION
4 user experience lessons from “Wednesday”
What the horror comedy can teach us about a positive UX experience
With nearly 6 billion minutes watched in the first week of release, it’s safe to say Netflix’s Wednesday is pretty popular. Millions of people, including myself, have binged Tim Burton’s newest creation.
If you haven’t seen Netflix’s Wednesday, stop reading now. Go watch Wednesday and then return because this article will be filled with spoilers.
If you have seen the latest binge-worthy show, you’ll know Wednesday Addams isn’t exactly the easiest person to get along with. She loves death and torture, doesn’t want to make friends, and doesn’t ever blink. Despite her distaste for pleasing people, she can actually teach us a few ways to create a better user experience.
Warning: this article is filled with spoilers for Wednesday.
1. The best answer isn’t always the obvious one.
When searching for the monster that has been on a killing spree, Wednesday accuses the obvious choice of Xavier Thorpe. After all, all signs point to him. He has been in close proximity to every attack, he draws pictures of the monster, and some of the victim’s belongings were found in his apartment.
But to Wednesday’s surprise, the monster ended up being her love interest, Tyler. The “normie” that was supposedly attacked by the monster himself. Turns out, he was secretly a Hyde all along.
In UX, you might have an obvious solution. It may seem like all of the signs point that way, but it isn’t always the best solution. It is important to test your theories and use data to validate your designs. As Wednesday learned, sometimes the right answer is not one you would have predicted.
2. Find your people.
Wednesday Addams isn’t exactly a people person. She has a cold demeanor, actively tries not to make friends, and appears emotionless.
Despite all of this, she still ends up with people that will literally fight monsters for her. Her roommate, Edin, turns into her best friend and eventually even gets a hug from her. Wednesday’s personality isn’t for everyone. In fact, most people stay away from her. But she finds her people anyway.
Just like Wednesday, your product doesn’t need to be made for everyone. In fact, a lot of times it shouldn’t be. Pick the people you’re really trying to serve, and don’t worry about the rest. I mean this in regard to personas, not designing for accessibility or inclusion.
Not everyone in the world is going to use your product. As Dita Von Teese says, “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” No matter how good your product is, everyone is still not going to use it. Instead, pinpoint exactly who you want and design well for them.
3. Say it how it is.
It’s no secret that Wednesday doesn’t sugarcoat. It’s one of the things that made audiences love her. She says exactly what she is thinking, no matter if it’s socially acceptable or not.
Whether people like her or not, they know exactly who Wednesday is and what she means. She isn’t going to spend time trying to read between the lines. When Tyler confronted her about their flirtatious relationship, her reply was, “It’s not my fault I can’t interpret your emotional Morse code.”
While we don’t have to be as dark as Wednesday, we should strive to be clear and straightforward in UX. The user shouldn’t have to “interpret your emotional Morse code” when navigating your product. Make buttons and links clear about where they will lead. Be direct with why there is an error and how to solve it. Prioritize clarity, then add personality.
4. Empathy goes a long way
When Wednesday first arrives at Nevermore, she encounters Bianca, a Siren who uses her song to charm her way into the school. Bianca is one of the most popular students, labeled the “queen bee” by Enid.
Typical to a teenage drama, being queen bee means that Bianca becomes the rival. She is extremely competitive and does not take well to anyone doing better than her. She can be ruthless to prove she is the best, as seen by her sabotaging other boats during the Poe Cup.
Later in the season, we learn that Bianca is jealous of Wednesday because of her ability to not care what other people think. She reveals her insecurity about being liked for her true self, not because she is a Siren.
Bianca starts out the season as a likely villain. As the audience, you see her insecurities manifest in a bit of bullying. But as the season progresses, the writers of the show make you empathize with Bianca and you realize she wants to be the best at everything because she wants to win over people with her efforts, not her Siren’s song. She is misunderstood and all she really wants is someone to unconditionally love her.
The core of UX is empathy. You have to put yourself in the shoes of your users and understand what they’re going through, what they need, what they don’t need, and what frustrates them. Empathy mapping is the first step in design thinking for a reason: all the decisions you make as a UXer should stem from understanding and advocating for your user.
“Empathy is at the heart of design. Without the understanding of what others see, feel, and experience, design is a pointless task.” — Tim Brown, IDEO.
If you’re not sure where to begin when designing, take a moment to empathize with your user and figure out what they need from you.
UX lessons are everywhere
Inspiration can be found in the most unusual places: Nevermore Academy, the land of Ooo, or at an office in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
What’s a UX lesson you’ve learned from television? I’d love to hear it!
Have a story of your own? Write with us! Our community thrives on diverse voices — let’s hear yours.
