Adam offers tips for how to proceed when we are presented with a request for a shiny new pattern which is not grounded in research but rather follows a fad.
The purpose of design is to solve actual problems. Not made up “I’m bored so I’ll come up with something new” problems.
So how can we evaluate these patterns, avoid unnecessary work and ultimately avoid patterns that degrade UX?
He recommends we should start by asking three questions:
- Does research show this pattern solves a problem?
- Are there any potential usability issues with this pattern?
- How much effort is it to build?