📰 3 DESIGN ARTICLES
THE NECESSITY OF UX TO CURB DIGITAL ADDICTION
- Constant notifications, performative social media interactions, and algorithms that steer towards targeted content all create an environment that becomes increasingly more challenging to turn off.
- UX Designers have a unique opportunity to contribute to this landscape in a way that considers the intended use of a digital product while also balancing interactions or features that may ultimately be detrimental to a user’s mental health.
- “Breaking the chains of digital addiction is crucial for reimagining the User Experience. The consequences of not doing so include becoming less intentional and deliberate in our digital interactions, leading to concerns such as addiction and a more divided or polarized society.”
CHATGPT OUTPERFORMS HUMANS IN EMOTIONAL AWARENESS TEST
- In a recent experiment, ChatGPT was asked to assess how a person would most likely feel in a set of given situations, such as being reunited with a loved one.
- The AI’s ability to interpret human emotion, and therefore create an empathetic response, has potential applications in a multitude of practices, such as customer service, the medical industry, or interpersonal coaching—but would people welcome the help?
- “A separate question is whether people would feel differently about the same message if they knew it was written by an AI versus a human. Artificial intimacy, created through a reliance on artificial empathy, is a separate issue that could leave people feeling more alienated and lonelier at the end of the day.”
WHEN AND WHY DIGITAL NOISE CREATES CHURN
- “Digital noise” is created when a feature of a product creates overwhelming options or interactions, potentially leading to a negative user experience.
- Whether it be an onslaught of unread Slack channels or misplaced policy guidelines, noise can lead a user to drown out information or disregard it entirely.
- “What I've observed in my consulting career is that reducing noise (e.g., removing unused features, or resolving minor design inconsistencies) can have a real impact on the underlying business. A start-up might need more features, or better advertising… or it may just need less ambient noise.”
💜 PORTFOLIO INSPIRATION
Stephanie Lin, a UX Academy graduate, leverages a prior background in nutrition research to bring comprehensive case studies exploring wellness and accessibility. Her portfolio projects include thoughtful work where usability is at the heart of the design process.
Got a portfolio you love that you’d like to share with our audience? Email your suggestions to hello@designlab.com.
INTERESTING STUFF ...
- Apple's AR/VR Headset Coming Soon
- Making 3D Design More Accessible
- Non-AI Art Generator (AKA: Just a Person) Goes Viral
- Tennis Rackets of the Future?
Design is art optimized to meet objectives - Shimone Shmueli
FROM THE LAB
LAUNCH YOUR NEW CAREER IN 2024
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Reserve your seat now and only pay when the cohort launches.
MASTER DATA & DESIGN
Become a more data-adept designer as your New Year's resolution. A new cohort of Data-Driven Design begins next month, launching on February 2nd.
Gain a strong proficiency in using product metrics in your design process throughout this 6-week course, where you’ll work hands-on with real data sets and connect with other successful designers and mentors.
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