Embracing Friction — From the Desk of van Schneider — Edition №254

When everything is easy, nothing feels meaningful.

Our drive for simplification pretty much shaped our collective assumptions about software design: easier is always better, and friction is always bad . The best interface is the interface that needs no learning at all, isn't this what we've been preaching for years?

Looking at the evolution of software design, it reveals a similar trend towards oversimplification. Modern UIs increasingly strip away depth and complexity to the point where they are essentially undermining the user's intelligence. When UX designers sit together today, there's a default assumption of user incompetence. But perhaps more troubling: ... See more

Good complexity creates new possibilities. Poor complexity creates unnecessary obstacles.