Reducing User Friction Trail
A developing investigation into how small interface decisions compound into major usability problems.
The Thread
Started with project kickoff discussion about onboarding, but this connects to a bigger pattern I keep noticing:
Users abandon products not because of missing features, but because of accumulated friction.
Evidence Connecting
From Research
- Onboarding research shows drop-off points correlate with cognitive load
- Progressive disclosure reduces friction but can hide discoverability
From Fragments
- Progressive disclosure examples - successful apps reveal complexity gradually
- [Need to capture] - examples of friction I’ve experienced recently
From Experience
- Every extra click is a small betrayal of user trust
- Form fields that could be pre-filled but aren’t
- Confirmation dialogs for non-destructive actions
Emerging Framework
Friction = Cognitive Load + Physical Effort + Emotional Labor
- Cognitive: Understanding what to do next
- Physical: Number of clicks, typing required
- Emotional: Anxiety about making mistakes
Questions This Trail is Raising
- Can we map the “friction journey” the way we map user journeys?
- How do you measure friction quantitatively?
- What’s the relationship between feature richness and interface friction?
Next Steps
- Start collecting friction examples in daily app usage
- Research if anyone has created friction measurement frameworks
- Connect with onboarding research methodology
This trail connects UX research with product strategy - might develop into framework for product decisions.