Survival, Conformity, Apologies, and Walks
Somethings Novel — Issue #14
Something I’m writing…
When Business Survival Corrupts User Experience
How news industry user engagement created user harm
Ever notice how checking the weather on a news app somehow leads you down a rabbit hole of anxiety-inducing stories? That’s not an accident. The news industry has become a masterclass in psychological manipulation, trading user wellbeing for attention metrics. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: as UX designers, we can easily walk that very same path.
I wanted to reflect on how survival-mode tactics serve as a warning for anyone designing digital experiences. When revenue depends on engagement at any cost, user wellbeing is too easily sacrificed. And if we’re honest, how many of our own products prioritize metrics over the humans using them?
The question isn’t whether we can design better experiences. It’s whether we have the courage and integrity to do it even when revenue is on the line.
Something I’m thinking about…
You can’t force unnecessary conformity for products serving different use cases and expect it to produce something spectacular. In fact, you’ll end up with a lot of compromise leading to mediocre product experiences.
I’ve been wrestling with this tension lately. When does conformity make sense, and when does it become a straitjacket? The temptation is always to standardize everything for efficiency’s sake. But efficiency isn’t the same as effectiveness.
Maybe the real skill isn’t building a system that enforces uniformity. Maybe it’s building a system that supports variety, in a systematic way.
Something I’m reading…
Fast Company’s wrote a great article on Ram’s brand apology for killing the Hemi. And, now they’re bringing it back. And their apology is refreshing in a culture where corporations are encouraged to admit no wrong.
What caught my attention wasn’t just the apology itself, but how epically they owned the mistake. They killed something people loved, realized they messed up, and said so plainly. No corporate speak. No blame shifting.
There’s something here for how we handle design decisions that don’t land. Sometimes the best path forward isn’t defending your choice or pivoting quietly. Sometimes it’s just saying “we got this wrong” and doing better.
Something I’m enjoying…
Walks in the woods. While I was traveling for work, I found a mile-long path through a bird sanctuary and it was such a pleasant and refreshing time away from traffic, people, and the noise of modernity.
There’s something about being surrounded by trees that hits the reset button. No notifications. No screens. Just the crunch of dirt under my feet and chirps of happy birds overhead.
Sometimes we just need a mini-break. This one hit the spot.
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