Let's talk about designing for anxiety πŸ§˜β€β™‚οΈ Lately, our team has been thinking a lot about how p...Let's talk about designing for anxiety πŸ§˜β€β™‚οΈ Lately, our team has been thinking a lot about how p...
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Let's talk about designing for anxiety πŸ§˜β€β™‚οΈ
Lately, our team has been thinking a lot about how people feel when they first open a complex platform. Most of the time, they're slightly overwhelmed or anxious.
As designers, we often talk about beautiful layouts and good hierarchy. But none of that means much if the user feels lost or stressed out.
That's what led us to what I call calm design. Our team has been paying more attention to the small things that make an experience feel safe. Here are some of them:
β€’ softer copy;
β€’ guided empty states;
β€’ subtle feedback that lets users know they did everything right.
Social Tap is one of our projects where this was really put to the test. A platform for brands and influencers, with lots of features and two very different user types. Getting the emotional side of the experience right wasn't optional there.
At the end of the day, people might not remember what the interface looked like. They surely remember how it made them feel.
Do you think about the user's emotional state when creating a design? Would love to hear how you approach it πŸͺΌ
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Oleksandra's avatar
Hyperactive Design logo
Wow! That's really interesting 😍
Mark's avatar
Thanks a lot, Oleksandra!πŸ”₯
Olena's avatar
Such an important reminder. Thoughtful microcopy and subtle feedback rarely get the spotlight, yet they can completely change how a product feels to use
Mark's avatar
Couldn't agree more, Olena!Β πŸ™Œ
Vara's avatar
Love this perspective. How do you test for emotional states or anxiety levels during user testing sessions?
Mark's avatar
Thanks! Great question. We focus a lot on observing behavioral signals.
Olha's avatar
I always try to ask myself, if this action make the user pause and worry before finalizing a flow. Calm design is definitely the future of ethical UX. Thanks for raising such a meaningful topic!
Mark's avatar
Thanks for sharing your thoughts😊
Michael's avatar
Calm design is so crucial! Soft microcopy and clear feedback loops completely change how approachable a complex product feels. Social Tap is a great example of balancing rich features with emotional clarity. Loved this focus on lowering user anxiety! πŸ§˜β€β™‚οΈπŸš€
Mark's avatar
Appreciate the kind words😊
Asif's avatar
pro
β€’ Jul 28
I do, and error and empty states are where it pays off most for me. A calm, blame-free message right when someone braces to be scolded resets the emotional tone of the whole flow.
Mark's avatar
So trueπŸ”₯
IBIYEMI's avatar
Clean execution. The layout flows naturally and feels premium.
Mark's avatar
Thank you so much, IbiyemiπŸ™Œ
Mayowa's avatar
this is really interesting
Mark's avatar
Thank you! Glad you liked the idea.
SAMREEN's avatar
greate design
Mark's avatar
Thanks Samreen! Means a lot.
SAMREEN's avatar
my pleasure😍
Niclas's avatar
Probably not as much as I should... I often think in terms of it being clear, practical and nice to look at. I sure feel things when I design stuff, but I probably don't ask that specific question enough.. so good reminder.
Nazmul's avatar
Awesome πŸ”₯
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