There were times when I encountered designs that seemed straightforward to others around me but left me completely baffled. I’d watch as others navigated effortlessly, while I was left feeling frustrated and embarrassed. I wondered if there was something wrong with me. Studying UX design enlightened me a bit - my struggles were in part due to flawed design, in part diverse user interactions and in part because of me, but not in the way that I thought it to be.

Scenario 1: The Flawed Design

During a university project, I struggled with a software application designed to streamline our group work. The interface was cluttered and unintuitive, leaving me frustrated. Meanwhile, my classmates navigated it with ease. I later learned that their previous experience with similar applications helped them adapt quickly. This experience underscored how familiarity with design flaws can make them seem less problematic to those who’ve encountered them before. It raises an interesting question: To what extent should we expect users to adapt to and learn from poorly designed interfaces?

Scenario 2: Cultural Design Differences

While traveling in Japan, I faced a challenging menu at a local restaurant. The menu was filled with a variety of items and presented in a format I found overwhelming and unfamiliar. Even when I translated the menu to English using my phone, I struggled to understand the options and felt lost. However, the locals seemed perfectly comfortable with the menu. It dawned on me that the design was standard in Japanese dining culture, reflecting local norms and practices. This experience illustrated to me as to how cultural differences can influence how intuitive or confusing a design appears.

Scenario 3: Fear

Previously, accumulated self-doubt had led to a defensive mindset: if something seemed unfamiliar or intimidating, I would give up very quickly. I reasoned that if I didn't try hard, my lack of knowledge was due to avoidance, not failure. This reluctance kept me stuck with familiar designs, even when new tools could have boosted my productivity. My hesitation to explore and adapt to new designs revealed that my struggles were more about my unwillingness to engage with them than the designs themselves.

These experiences highlighted that my challenges with user interfaces were not solely about my personal shortcomings but were influenced by design flaws, cultural contexts, and my own mindset. Understanding this has shifted my perspective from self-blame to recognizing how design impacts user experience on a broader scale.

Now, as I pursue a career in UX design, my goal is to create more intuitive and accessible interfaces. I want to ensure that designs are not only functional but also considerate of diverse user backgrounds and mental models. By focusing on user-centric design, I aim to build systems that reduce frustration and make technology more approachable for everyone, helping others avoid the same pitfalls I encountered.