So much of the news about technology is that it's bad for us - it's tapping in to our worst possible selves, it makes us anxious, we get caught in a dopamine loop. We'd just be happier without it. Or would we? Maybe, just maybe, there are things that make us happy when we use a favorite website and tap into a trusted mobile app. A combination of data, little things, not-so-little things, social science, experiments, and real life uncovers some moments of truth about happy user experience, including a short list of patterns, across sites and apps, that make people happy.
Text of Design For The One Little Thing That Changes Everything
Design For The One Little Thing That Changes Everything Pamela Pavliscak @paminthelab
We think that Big Things Will Make Us Happy
Credit: ThinkGeek Monkeys We seek Adventure
We desire Fortune Credit: Fat Face & Me
Credit: Yuko Honda We seek Perfection
We crave Fame
In design, we think Maybe Innovators Know Happiness
We really Dont Know What Will Make Us Happy
Source: Change Sciences People say this makes them happy online Not too busy Beautiful and colorful My favorite sites are easy to use It has to be simple & clean Convenience above all else
Source: Shutterstock parallax simple authentic food cats infographics video mobile responsive clever flatbyod IoT big tiles typography Designers think maybe this (for now)
We sometimes Dont Remember What Made Us Happy
Source: Giles Colborne ModCloth something dresses something tchotchkes awesome retro fashion pic unknown Draw your favorite site from memory
Credit: Github Shop We remember where we focus Attention
We remember the Feeling
Rated Better Than Other Sites Source: Change Sciences HappinessRatingAfterUse Amazon Expedia CBS WebMD Ally Aetna Healthcare.gov HGTV eHealth Chase Apple Kayak PBS Priceline Bank of America Citi Best Buy n=7000 We feel happy, we think a site is better
Actually, Little Things Make Us Happy
Special Treats make us happier
Shared Moments add up to joy Credit: Todd Williamson
Credit: Angie Hu Follow the principles Autonomy Variety Friendship Continuity Credit: Peter Haugen Little Surprises bring delight
As in the rest of life Little Things Make Us Happy Online
Online study 250 sites 7000 people
Field research 450 people #pandatime
Experiments with informed consent, of course 50 people Credit: British Airways
meh delighted wowzahappycontent ( - - ( ( ( ( ( ! ! All the happinesses
Not just Delight
1 happy moment = 5% increase in happiness rating More happy moments, more happiness Source: Change Sciences n=7450
We are h (app) y when we feel Smart
AUTONOMY I can do this
Source: Change Sciences Time Success not so happy happy More time without success, less happy
CONTROL I feel less anxious
MASTERY Ive got this down
There is a trick to it but now that I know the trick, I tell everyone. -M, Boomer, Wired
Source: Change Sciences EaseofUseCombinedScore 65 Happiness starts here Without easy, there is no happy
Design so I can be Independent
We want to feel as if There Is a Real Person in There
Most big companies sound like they are talking to themselves about themselves. -F, Boomer, Wired
AUTHENTICITY It feels like a real conversation
RESPECT You know there are boundaries
CARE Youve got my back
one night stand complete stranger fling secret affair enemy casual acquaintance stalker - prey guru - disciple teacher- student Source: Harvard Business Review annoying acquaintance fleeting acquaintance star -groupie dealer - addict villain-victim online friends marriage on the rocks ex-friends marriage partners love-hate best friends teammates buddies old friendscolleagues siblings neighbors former friends PRICE MARKET SHARE It doesnt have to be complicated
Design as if we are Friends IRL Credit: Natalie Downe
The sites that make us happy Engage All Our Senses
+ + + = Everything is amazing and no one is happy We tire of what once made us happy
PLAY I can try things without risk
One minute Im just playing around and the next thing I know its a credit hit. -M, Boomer, Wired
VARIETY You surprise me a little
CURIOSITY I always wondered
Credit: Kris Krug No Shame
The last thing I want is to feel bad about myself because I clicked on something. -F, Millennial, Wired
Design for the Thrill of the New Credit: Hootsuite on Instagram
We feel most satisfied when there is Continuity
Help, its a trap! Its not about getting through the funnel
CONNECTION You know there is no digital / real divide
CURATION You help me discover myself
Even though I know its an algorithm, somehow it feels personal and human. -M, Millennial, Influencer
ASPIRATIONAL You speak to the better me
I feel a little bit cooler just having been to the site, like maybe Im in on a secret. -F, GenX, Influencer
Design for Past, Present & Future Credit: The Sherbet Patch
When we are happy and we know it We Really Do Show It
Source: Change Sciences A little happy--------------------------------------------------Really happy Happy people want to explore Greater happiness, greater engagement
Source: Change Sciences Happiness Recommendations More happiness, more recommendations
Source: Topsy + Change Sciences Happy sites 65+ social sentimentLess happy 45 social sentiment Happy feeling, happy talk
Great happiness, greater likelihood to return Likelihood to return Source: Change Sciences HappinessRatingAfterUse Amazon Expedia WebMDChase Home Depot Delta Priceline Bank of America US Bank Best Buy Kayak CBS T Rowe Price Hotels.comUSAA Humana
Keep finding the Little Things That Make Us Happy
Measure Before, during & after
weeks days hours minutes now now minutes hours days knowing smile now anticipation happy spot afterglow fond memory The Happy Experience Continuum
Pay attention to The Small Touches
Take the pledge Happiness First #happyfirst
H A P P Y Practice Design Pamela Pavliscak @paminthelab ChangeSciences.com
