okovalenko.me
Product Designer @Readdle • Essentialist • Sharing thoughts • Collecting things around the web
#designsky #productivitysky
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What helps:
• Delay your reactions
• Check multiple sources
• Question emotional triggers
• Remember: urgency often serves someone
Our brains won't evolve faster.
But our habits can.
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This creates blind spots:
• We trust what's repeated
• We believe what's emotional
• We share what's shocking
• We remember what's scary
Perfect for survival.
Terrible for truth-seeking.
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The hard truth:
Our brain's verification system was built for:
"My friend told me there's a lion nearby"
Not for:
"Anonymous source says worldwide conspiracy"
Yet we're using same tools for both.
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Think about our ancestors:
• News traveled at walking speed
• Information was verifiable
• Sources were known
• Context was clear
Today:
• Instant global news
• Unknown sources
• Missing context
• Infinite scrolling
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Key principles:
• Core features must be obvious
• Advanced features must be discoverable
• Each layer should feel natural
• Navigation must be clear
It's not about hiding complexity.
It's about managing it.
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Why it matters:
• Reduces cognitive load
• Builds user confidence
• Enables feature discovery
• Scales with expertise
Poor Progressive Disclosure explains why powerful apps feel overwhelming.
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Good example: Apple Mail on macOS
Level 1: Write & Send
Level 2: Format & Attachments
Level 3: Signatures & Smart Mailboxes
Level 4: Server Settings & Rules
Complex system, clear hierarchy.
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Think about complexity in layers:
Layer 1: Essential features
Layer 2: Common actions
Layer 3: Advanced options
Layer 4: Power user tools
Each revealed at the right moment, not all at once.
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😂😂
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Next time you're tempted by a "better solution" ask yourself:
Is this truly better, or just different?
Because users don't want to admire your ideas.
They want to get things done. 🎯
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The hard truth:
• Common solutions > "Creative" ones
• Familiar patterns > Fresh ideas
• Consistency > Creativity
Great interfaces feel boring to designers.
But invisible to users.
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Think about it:
When users open your app, they're not starting fresh.
They bring years of mental models and learned behaviors.
Your job isn't to educate them.
Your job is to let them be productive instantly.
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Most designers fall into a trap:
"I have a better solution!"
"My version is more innovative!"
"This new pattern is clearer!"
But here's the truth: Users spend 99% of their time in OTHER apps.
Your clever solution? It's just cognitive overhead.
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Currently I use:
- Mobbin for real product references
- Pinterest & Arena for visual inspiration
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Yep
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Thank you 🙏