Are we designing user experiences? Maybe NOT

Understanding the Basics

Let’s start with the definition of the word experience. A quick glance at the dictionary will tell you it’s “an event or occurrence that leaves an impression on someone.” But when I asked ChatGPT to dig deeper, it gave me a fascinating breakdown of what it truly means to “experience” something:

Key Aspects of "Experiencing Something"

1. Sensory Engagement: Using your senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to interact with the world.
   Example: The aroma of fresh coffee, the warmth of sunlight, or the sound of live music.

   
   

2. Emotional Connection: Feeling joy, sadness, excitement, fear, or other emotions.
   Example: Falling in love, grieving a loss, or the thrill of an adventure.

   
   

3. Active Participation: Doing or trying something new.
   Example: Traveling to experience a new culture, learning a skill, or volunteering.

   
   

4. Personal Growth: Gaining wisdom, resilience, or perspective through challenges.

   
   

   
   

So, Are Designers Really Designing Experiences?

Not exactly. Here’s the twist: We’re not designing experiences themselves—we’re designing the environments where those experiences happen.

Why This Shift in Perspective Matters for Designers

You might shrug and say, “It’s just potato (puh-TAY-toh), potato (puh-TAH-toh)—same thing!” But switching the narrative from “designing experiences” to “designing environments” changes everything.

Let’s break it down:

Imagine pouring your heart into crafting what you believe is the perfect user experience. But here’s the catch—user experience is subjective. One person might find your design intuitive and joyful; another might feel lost and frustrated.

Why? Because how someone experiences your work depends on factors beyond your control: their mood, past traumas, cultural context, or even how much sleep they got last night.

User personas help us understand needs, frustrations, and expectations—to an extent. But they’re not crystal balls. You could follow every best practice and still have users react in ways you never anticipated.

So here’s the problem: We’re spending endless hours designing something we can’t fully control. It’s like throwing confetti into the wind and hoping it lands in a perfect shape.

The Power of Designing Environments

Now, pause for a moment. What if we shifted focus from experiences to environments? Suddenly, you’re back in the driver’s seat.

Designing an environment means:

• Crafting spaces (digital or physical) that guide users, not control them.

  
  

• Planting signposts, not shackles. Think of it as building a playground: You set the swings, slides, and sandboxes, but kids choose how to play.

  
  

• Embracing flexibility so your design adapts to diverse human behaviours.

  
  

For example:
A well-designed app interface isn’t just “user-friendly”—it’s a stage where users can stumble, explore, or sprint toward their goals. Your job isn’t to dictate their journey but to ensure the stage supports every possible act.

A Conclusion: Let Go of Control, Gain Influence

Here’s the truth: You’ll never design an experience that resonates identically with everyone. And that’s okay. By focusing on environments, you trade the illusion of control for something far more powerful: influence.

Think of yourself as a curator, not a puppeteer. Build environments that:

• Invite curiosity through intuitive layouts.

  
  

• Spark joy with thoughtful micro-interactions.

  
  

• Foster resilience by anticipating (and forgiving) human error.

  
  

And remember—great environments don’t demand a specific experience; they create the conditions for great experiences to unfold. So, the next time you hear “potato, potahto,” smile. Your job isn’t to argue over pronunciation. It’s to design the kitchen where both potatoes and potahtos can become something delicious. 🥔✨