All I know is that on the other side of good design is joy. And as much as possible, whatever I'm doing, I want to do it in such a way that the people who experience it have a smile on their face and that they actually get joy from the work that I do.
I've been on the other side where I've done work and it hasn't been all that amazing. And it's received with you know, kind of you know, slight smile, you know, all the way down to a frown. That's a horrible experience.
The difference between a slight smile and genuine delight
So I'd much rather invest my time trying to create delight, trying to create joy because that's also how I want to be treated. There's a huge difference between you know, using my resource for something that truly brings joy versus something that is just a poor experience.
The Joy Spectrum
Genuine Delight
When someone's face lights up and they can't help but smile
Slight Smile
Polite acknowledgment that something is acceptable
The Frown
When someone's experience is frustrating or disappointing
How this philosophy shapes every design decision
This isn't just about making things look pretty. It's about understanding that every interaction, every button click, every form submission, every page load is an opportunity to either create joy or create frustration. And I choose joy.
When I'm designing a user flow, I'm not just thinking about functionality. I'm thinking about how someone will feel when they complete a task. Will they feel accomplished? Will they feel like the system is working with them rather than against them? Will they actually enjoy the process?
Design Decisions Driven by Joy
- Micro-interactions that feel satisfying and responsive
- Clear feedback that confirms successful actions
- Intuitive navigation that feels effortless
- Performance that doesn't interrupt the user's flow
The ripple effect of joyful design
When someone has a genuinely delightful experience with something I've designed, it doesn't just make them happy in that moment. It changes how they think about the brand, the product, the company. It creates a positive association that extends far beyond the digital experience.
And maybe more importantly, it changes how they think about themselves. When a digital experience feels effortless and enjoyable, people feel competent and capable. They feel like they're in control, not fighting against a confusing interface.
So yes, I invest my time in creating joy through design. Not because it's the easy path, but because it's the right path. Because how I want to be treated is how I want to treat others. And because in a world full of frustrating digital experiences, being the company that creates genuine delight is a competitive advantage that goes far beyond aesthetics.
The goal isn't just to build functional websites. It's to build experiences that make people smile. That's my philosophy, and it shapes every pixel, every interaction, and every decision I make.