The Actionable UX Podcast

#8 Gestalt Principles 5-12

Gestalt principles are one of the most powerful tools you can have at your disposal as a Product Designer. They are a set of rules backed by robust research that define how we visually interpret everything around us, how we recognize patterns, how we perceive groups of objects, and how things are structured. This episode covers the principles of figure-ground, pragnanz (or simplicity), emergence, common region, multi-stability, invariance, symmetry and order, and lastly, common fate. Interested in boosting your career in UI/UX or learning how to build world-class products? The Interaction Design Foundation is offering 3 free months off your yearly membership to Actionable UX Podcast listeners! Use the link below to take advantage of this exclusive offer: https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast [https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast]   References: * Wertheimer, M. (1923). Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt. Psychologische Forschung, 4, 301-350. (In German) Koffka, K. (1935). Principles of Gestalt psychology. Harcourt, Brace & Company. * Köhler, W. (1920). Die physischen Gestalten in Ruhe und im stationären Zustand. Erlangen: Philosophische Akademie. (In German) * Nathalia Bustamante. “What Is Gestalt Psychology: Theory & Principles.” Simply Psychology, 7 Sept. 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-gestalt-psychology.html.  [http://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-gestalt-psychology.html.] * Wagemans J, Elder JH, Kubovy M, Palmer SE, Peterson MA, Singh M, von der Heydt R. A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception: I. Perceptual grouping and figure-ground organization. Psychol Bull. 2012 Nov;138(6):1172-217. doi: 10.1037/a0029333. Epub 2012 Jul 30. PMID: 22845751; PMCID: PMC3482144.

#7 Gestalt Principles 1-4

Gestalt principles are one of the most powerful tools you can have at your disposal as a Product Designer. They are a set of rules backed by robust research that define how we visually interpret everything around us, how we recognize patterns, how we perceive groups of objects, and how things are structured. This episode covers the principles of proximity, similarity, continuity, and closure. Interested in boosting your career in UI/UX or learning how to build world-class products? The Interaction Design Foundation is offering 3 free months off your yearly membership to Actionable UX Podcast listeners! Use the link below to take advantage of this exclusive offer: https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast [https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast]   References: * Wertheimer, M. (1923). Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt. Psychologische Forschung, 4, 301-350. (In German) Koffka, K. (1935). Principles of Gestalt psychology. Harcourt, Brace & Company. * Köhler, W. (1920). Die physischen Gestalten in Ruhe und im stationären Zustand. Erlangen: Philosophische Akademie. (In German) * Nathalia Bustamante. “What Is Gestalt Psychology: Theory & Principles.” Simply Psychology, 7 Sept. 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-gestalt-psychology.html.  [http://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-gestalt-psychology.html.] * Wagemans J, Elder JH, Kubovy M, Palmer SE, Peterson MA, Singh M, von der Heydt R. A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception: I. Perceptual grouping and figure-ground organization. Psychol Bull. 2012 Nov;138(6):1172-217. doi: 10.1037/a0029333. Epub 2012 Jul 30. PMID: 22845751; PMCID: PMC3482144.

#6 Must Reads: Articulating Design Decisions by Tom Greever

Tom Greever's Articulating Design Decisions [https://www.amazon.com/Articulating-Design-Decisions-Communicate-Stakeholders/dp/1492079227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QINJEQH9NZS8&keywords=articulating+design+decisions+by+tom+greever&qid=1701811345&sprefix=%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1] is a masterclass in how to collaborate, communicate and gain alignment with your team members in order to build world-class user experiences.   Purchase a copy here [https://www.amazon.com/Articulating-Design-Decisions-Communicate-Stakeholders/dp/1492079227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QINJEQH9NZS8&keywords=articulating+design+decisions+by+tom+greever&qid=1701811345&sprefix=%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1]   3 months free off yearly subscription for Interaction Design Foundation: Interested in boosting your career in UI/UX or learning how to build world-class products? The Interaction Design Foundation is offering 3 free months off your yearly membership to Actionable UX Podcast listeners! Use the link below to take advantage of this exclusive offer: https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast [https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast]   References: * Greever, Tom. Articulating Design Decisions. “O’Reilly Media, Inc.,” 25 Sept. 2015.

#5 Paradox of Choice

More options often cause decision paralysis, buyer’s remorse, and dissatisfaction. Help users make faster decisions by providing less choices.   3 months free off yearly subscription for Interaction Design Foundation: Interested in boosting your career in UI/UX or learning how to build world-class products? The Interaction Design Foundation is offering 3 free months off your yearly membership to Actionable UX Podcast listeners! Use the link below to take advantage of this exclusive offer: https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast [https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast]   References: * Williams, Darrell. “What Is Hicks Law and How Can We Use It to Simplify Choices?: VWO.” Blog, 20 July 2023, vwo.com/blog/what-is-hicks-law-and-how-it-can-simplify-choices/. * Iyengar, Sheena S., and Mark R. Lepper. When Choice Is Demotivating: Can One Desire Too ... - UW Faculty Web Server, faculty.washington.edu/jdb/345/345%20Articles/Iyengar%20%26%20Lepper%20(2000).pdf. Accessed 4 Aug. 2023. * W. E. Hick (1952): On the rate of gain of information, Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 4:1, 11-26

#4 Dual Process Theory

Dual Process Theory suggests we have two general modes, or systems, of thinking that we use to navigate our every day lives. System 1 refers to our automatic, reactive, emotional, unconscious thought processes that occur almost instantaneously without conscious effort. System 2 refers to our mode of thinking that  slow, deliberate, intentional, and analytical. This topic is fundamental for understanding how to build intuitive product experiences.   3 months free off yearly subscription for Interaction Design Foundation: Interested in boosting your career in UI/UX or learning how to build world-class products? The Interaction Design Foundation is offering 3 free months off your yearly membership to Actionable UX Podcast listeners! Use the link below to take advantage of this exclusive offer: https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast [https://www.interaction-design.org/learn-ux-design?ep=the-actionable-ux-podcast]   References: * Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. Print. * Poole, Steven. The VR Book: Virtual Reality in Art and Culture. London: Laurence King, 2017. Print. * Nielsen, Jakob. "Mental Models." Nielsen Norman Group, 2005, www.nngroup.com/articles/mental-models/ [http://www.nngroup.com/articles/mental-models/]. * Nielsen, Jakob and Whitenton, Kathryn. The Aesthetic-Usability Effect. Nielsen Norman Group. 2007. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/aesthetic-usability-effect/ [https://www.nngroup.com/articles/aesthetic-usability-effect/]. * Evans, J. S. B., & Stanovich, K. E. (2013). Dual-process theories of reasoning. Annual review of psychology, 64(1), 255-286. * Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. * Stanovich, K. E. (1999). Who is rational? Studies of individual differences in reasoning. New York: Oxford University Press. * Wason, P. C. (1966). Reasoning. In B. M. Foss (Ed.), New horizons in psychology (pp. 135-171). Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin. * Evans, J. S. B. (1984). Heuristic and analytic processing in reasoning. British Journal of Psychology, 75(4), 451-466. * Evans, J. S. B., & Over, D. E. (1996). The two faces of reason: A dual-process account of reasoning. Trends in cognitive sciences, 1(1), 46-52. * Stanovich, K. E. (1999). Who is rational? Studies of individual differences in reasoning. New York: Oxford University Press. * Stanovich, K. E., & West, R. F. (2000). Individual differences in reasoning: Implications for the rationality debate?. Behavioral and brain sciences, 23(5), 645-665. * Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18(6), 643-662. http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Stroop/ [http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Stroop/]. Frederick, Shane. (2005). Cognitive Reflection and Decision Making. American Economic Review, 95(4), 829-836. https://doi.org/10.1257/089533005775196732 [https://doi.org/10.1257/089533005775196732].