The author reflects on a new coffee shop in Los Angeles that, while visually appealing, fails to cater to customers working on laptops due to poor design choices, such as inaccessible power outlets and a tiny wifi password display. This situation leads to a discussion among customers about the importance of design as a form of governance that shapes user experience. The author emphasizes that effective design should allow for user flexibility and adaptability, enhancing customer experience rather than restricting it. The piece calls for a shift towards ‘Calm Technology’ principles, which prioritize efficient user interactions and self-governance, ultimately improving how technology serves humanity. The author plans to launch a standards body focused on Calm Technology to promote these ideas and enhance user experiences.
| name | description | change | 10-year | driving-force | relevancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calm Technology Standards Body | A new organization aimed at promoting Calm Tech principles in design. | Shift from traditional tech design to a more user-centric approach. | Widespread adoption of Calm Tech principles across digital and physical products. | Growing frustration with poor user experiences in digital products. | 5 |
| User Self-Governance | Increasing emphasis on allowing users to self-govern their interactions with technology. | From top-down governance in design to user-driven adaptability. | Users will expect and demand more control over their digital environments. | Desire for autonomy and personalization in user experiences. | 4 |
| Re-arrangability in Spaces | The trend of designing physical spaces that allow users to modify their environments. | Moving from fixed arrangements to flexible, user-driven layouts. | Public spaces will increasingly be designed with user adaptability in mind. | The need for environments that cater to diverse user needs and activities. | 4 |
| Recognition of Attention as a Resource | Growing awareness that user attention is a finite resource. | Shift from maximizing engagement to optimizing for meaningful interactions. | Designs will prioritize user attention management, leading to more efficient interfaces. | User fatigue with overly engaging or distracting digital experiences. | 4 |
| Feedback Mechanisms for Design Improvements | Emergence of systems for users to provide feedback on designs seamlessly. | From limited feedback options to robust mechanisms for user input. | Companies will develop agile feedback systems to quickly adapt to user needs. | Demand for responsive and accountable design practices. | 3 |
| Recognition of Implicit Feudalism in Design | Awareness of how design choices limit user agency in digital spaces. | From unexamined design practices to critical evaluation of user agency. | Developers will prioritize user agency, leading to more empowering designs. | A backlash against restrictive digital environments and demand for agency. | 4 |
| Focus on Long-term Value Creation | Shift in focus from short-term gains to long-term customer loyalty in design. | From immediate engagement metrics to sustainable user relationships. | Businesses will build loyal customer bases through thoughtful design choices. | Recognition that long-term value drives sustained success in competitive markets. | 5 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| Poor Design Governance | Design that lacks user-centered governance leads to frustration and inefficiencies in spaces intended for productivity, such as coffee shops. | 4 |
| Brittle Designs | Rigid design choices restrict users’ ability to modify their environment, resulting in suboptimal experiences and alienation. | 5 |
| Digital Feudalism | User autonomy is compromised in digital platforms due to implicit governance that prioritizes engagement over usability and customer needs. | 5 |
| Attention Resource Mismanagement | Increasing demands on user attention hinder effective interaction with technology, making it difficult to focus on meaningful tasks. | 4 |
| Lack of Effective User Feedback Mechanisms | Users often lack avenues for expressing dissatisfaction with products, leading to perpetual design flaws that frustrate consumers. | 5 |
| Short-term Value Design Mindset | Designing for short-term engagement leads to unsatisfactory experiences that do not foster long-term user loyalty. | 4 |
| Governance Blind Spots | Designers may overlook the behavioral aspects of governance, resulting in alienating structures that do not meet diverse user needs. | 5 |
| Market and Consumer Disconnection | Top-down design decisions often ignore the real needs of customers, leading to a disconnect between intended experience and actual use. | 4 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| Collaborative Space Redesign | Customers collectively rearranging furniture to better suit their needs reflects a growing trend of users actively participating in the design and functionality of spaces they inhabit. | 4 |
| Self-Governance in Design | Consumers are increasingly expecting to have a say in how products and spaces are designed, leading to a push for more adaptable and user-friendly environments. | 5 |
| Calm Technology Adoption | A shift towards designing technology that minimizes user distraction and promotes seamless interaction with the environment and tools. | 5 |
| Expectation of Flexibility | Customers are beginning to expect flexibility in design, allowing them to modify their environments or tools to better suit their needs. | 4 |
| Demand for User-Centric Governance | A growing awareness and demand for governance structures that prioritize user needs and experiences in both physical and digital environments. | 5 |
| Attention Economy Awareness | Increased recognition of the finite nature of user attention, influencing design choices to optimize for meaningful engagement rather than mere interaction. | 4 |
| Feedback Mechanisms in Design | Emphasis on creating mechanisms for users to provide direct feedback on design functionality, enhancing user experience and product evolution. | 5 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| Calm Technology | A design philosophy that optimizes user experiences to require minimal attention and enhance self-governance. | 5 |
| Re-arrangability in Design | The concept of creating flexible spaces that allow users to modify their environment to suit their needs, enhancing user experience and governance. | 4 |
| Digital Governance Architecture | A framework that defines the rules of engagement between users in digital platforms, influencing their interactions and behaviors. | 4 |
| Feedback-driven Design | A design approach that uses user feedback to continuously improve products, ensuring they meet evolving customer needs. | 4 |
| User-Centric Interface Design | Designing interfaces with a focus on user needs and behaviors, allowing for better engagement and satisfaction. | 5 |
| name | description | relevancy |
|---|---|---|
| Design Governance in Public Spaces | The importance of understanding user needs in the design of public spaces like cafes, emphasizing flexibility and user feedback. | 4 |
| Implicit Feudalism in Digital Design | The concept that digital platforms restrict user interactions, limiting self-governance and authentic engagement. | 5 |
| Calm Technology Principles | The need for technology that prioritizes user experience and self-governance over mere engagement metrics. | 5 |
| Attention Economy Challenges | The finite nature of user attention and its impact on design, necessitating approaches that respect user engagement. | 4 |
| Consumer Experience Redress Mechanisms | The lack of avenues for users to seek change and express dissatisfaction with poorly designed products. | 4 |
| Long-term Value in Product Design | Shifting from short-term gains to creating lasting value for customers through thoughtful design. | 4 |
| Governance and User Agency | The relationship between design choices and the ability of users to self-govern and engage meaningfully with products. | 5 |