When we think about designing digital experiences, it’s natural to wonder about the patterns that designers follow to make those experiences intuitive and satisfying for users. One valuable source of insight comes from observing how people interact in real-life situations, whether within a community, at the office, through books, articles, or social media content. These observations can greatly inform decision-making during design sprints.
One personal favorite reference of mine is the book ‘The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business’ by Charles Duhigg.
Duhigg delves into the psychology of habit formation, which has direct applications in UX design. The book touches on concepts like mental models, design patterns, consistency, and the user-centered approach. When I picked up this book in early 2023, my focus was primarily on improving my own mental habits and understanding how they function, with the hope of ‘hacking’ them. Little did I know that the book offers a broader perspective, connecting human behavior and psychology to our everyday routines, marketing strategies, and consumption habits.
Many of these human behaviors become evident during user testing, especially when users engage with websites and apps. In this article, I want to focus on ‘Cues, Routines, and…
