Why you should avoid UX copycat
Tags: Product Design, Creativity, User Experience, UX Design, User Research

Why you should avoid UX copycat

The negative impacts of copying main players’ ideas and how to always challenge yourself

A trend observed for a while in the field of UX is the copying of design solutions proposed by the major players. Today, unfortunately this approach is becoming more and more a standard practice in our field. The “do it like Instagram or WhatsApp” seems to be the automatic answer to any UX problem that needs solving.

Of course the companies behind these amazing products are big, have dozens of “more-brilliant-than-me” designers, use AI tools to validate their assumptions and alternatives, create their own design systems and are able to perform massive testing sessions to validate their hypotheses. And yes, learning from masters, by copying, is an essential part of artistic training. But let me explain why copying design solution without thinking is the worst path to create a valuable product, and how it can totally sterilize your creativity and miss the point.

Why is copying worse than cheating?

Missing the WHY. Copying an existing design will totally sidestep the intellectual process that allows you to move from the problem to the solution. You will lose the purpose of UX. By focusing only on the WHAT, you will remain ignorant of the real user needs and the motivations behind them. You will not investigate the pros and cons of each potential alternative. It will save time and mental effort but using this shortcut you will avoid the most important point: the original problem to address.

Copying an existing design will totally sidestep the intellectual process that allows you to move from the problem to the solution.

Creating a Frankenstein’s monster. More commonly, you will resort to adding pieces of others’ designs into your own solutions. Except if your objective is to do an exact clone of an existing product, which is not the ideal path to an innovative and superior outcome. UX is not about assembling some elements. If you think that way, I can confirm that your fears will come true, and you will be replaced by an AI in the coming years. No, UX deals with telling a unique story because people crave stories that generate emotions. You have to put your heart into your creation, and sculpt a free-standing, cohesive vision.

Losing your credibility. If you play the game of the copycat, it’s 100% sure that you’re going to lose. Because you will not be able to justify your choices. No need to be a UX expert to propose a design solution done by a third party. You just have to download the app and use it. If it were that easy, even your mother could be a UX designer!

Why Seeking for inspiration is better?

Good artists copy; great artists steal. Pablo Picasso

State of art. Making a state of the art is always good as it is taken as source of inspiration. Collect, compile, annotate all you can gather. It can help you to rebound and iterate on your own solution.

Find the WHY behind each rationale. Some great, famous products explain their UX rationales and guidelines. If you take time to read them, you will have the opportunity to understand the reasons behind the designers’ choices. If you then decide to be inspired by an existing principle you will know the reason behind it.

Re-start from a blank page. A long time ago in a far, at a faraway client, an old UX Jedi master taught me to force myself to start from a blank page for each new design problem I meet. Even if you fall back on an existing solution in the end, following this advice will push you to think afresh, to associate new ideas, to investigate alternatives and to activate your neurons.

Force yourself to start from a blank page for each new design problem you meet.

Always prototype. No matter whether you draw it, do a wireframe, or code it, you need to produce a prototype. It will help to think through your “hand”, reappropriate you an alternative and will allow you to build the story you want to share with users.

The great creators are those who are able to free themselves from the rules, while knowing why. Like them, you too can become a wise lion or lioness of UX, building strong muscles and a powerful roar to defend your users’ needs. So don’t be a UX pussycat!