Hammers, Constraints, Usability and Writing
Somethings Novel — May 2, 2025
Something I’m writing…
It’s Not Always Hammer Time
Choosing the right UX tool for the problem
Imagine hiring a contractor to renovate your kitchen. He shows up with a confident smile, a massive trailer—and just one tool: a hammer. He’s good with it. Real good. You’ve seen him do things with a hammer that no contract has ever done. But…would you trust him to handle plumbing, electrical, and cabinetry? Or hang new drywall with invisible seams?
In digital design, we see this all the time by rushing to “solve” problems with UI layouts. Dragging rectangles and pushing pixels like it can fix everything. But many UX issues don’t live on the surface. They live much deeper in the structure, strategy, or system flow.
This article explores how to recognize different types of UX problems and how to choose the right tool (not just the most familiar one) to solve them.
Sometimes, you don’t need a better hammer. You need the right tool for the job.
Something I’m thinking about…
Design systems often get a bad rap for being limiting. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard: “The design system doesn’t support that.” But after years working with design systems, I don’t think that’s the real problem. More often, I think it’s a misunderstanding of how to use design systems or mismatched expectations of what a robust system actually offers.
If your design system is well-built with thoughtful tokens, flexible base elements, and strong foundations, it doesn’t confine you. It gives you a framework to build within. You can still make what you need. And you can do it in a way that’s aligned and scalable.
Systematic adherence isn’t a creativity killer. It’s an enabler. And a powerful one at that.
Something I’m reading…
I’m currently between books. I just finished my last book and haven’t cracked into my next one yet. So this week I’m going to highlight an article.
A different kind of usability — Why B2B and Enterprise UX requires a different mindset
by Neil Turner
Usability is a huge concern for folks in UX. It’s one of the primary ways that we measure the success of our design work. But, what if business-to-business has a different priority than business-to-consumer? What if…
“Rather than making it easier and more satisfying for users to carry out their tasks, it’s about making it quicker for users to complete their tasks (and with fewer errors)...” — Neil Turner
Neil does a great job laying out how a different kind of mindset is needed when it comes to usability for B2B experiences.
Something I’m enjoying…
Writing. I’m 14 weeks into 52 weeks of 52 articles. So far, I’m managing to write an article a week. It’s not easy every week to get my writing done. But it’s been very satisfying. One of my favorite pieces is the clarity that comes after laboring over trying to communicate a concept or idea that I’ve been mulling over. I’m incredibly grateful for the response that my writing has received. I don’t consider myself a great writer, each week dealing with imposter syndrome. However, that’s not why I write. I write because I want to be a better writer, and it takes practice. I do my best to write like no one is reading. And there’s something gratifying in working hard to communicate clearly.
So, if you’re here…thank you for spending time reading my content. It means a ton.
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Guess what. There are no affiliate links in this issue. So if you had concerns, you get a free pass this week. But, next week I bet they’ll be back. As always, thanks for your ongoing support.