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Sex, Drugs and
Infinite Scroll
The Biology Behind Engaging Design
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Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Popular is not always factual.
Don’t believe everything you
see on the web.
Quick Story
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Biology is an
exquisite designer.
The Problem
How do we design for
an ambiguous future?
“What does UX look like
in the future?”
Wrong question.
“What about human
biology helps us design
great user experiences for
tomorrow?”
100% of your customers
are human.
Product Innovation is Evolutionary,
but not in the way we were taught.
#1
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Adaptation happens in
response to pressure.
Don’t wait for
environmental stress,
go create it yourself
Cycles of near wins that
lead to more attempts.
Lesson from biology:
Innovation happens when
you foster an environment
of adaptation.
Biology Drives Our State,
not the technology.
#2
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
“Movement is the only
thing you have to affect
the world around you”
Daniel Wolpert
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
All tech starts out big
and clunky but
becomes more mobile.
#convCon @freshtilledsoil
#convCon @freshtilledsoil
Mobile is a biological
state, not a technology.
Lesson from biology:
It’s not mobile first, it’s
mobile forever.
Innovations Feel Like Superpowers,
even when disguised as a phone.
#3
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Source: The Telegraph
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
An interface is a just
another conversation.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
“I need a ride”
“Where are you?”
“Over here”
“Cool, I’m on my way”
“So how did it go?”
You Ride Share App
Top 5 apps of 2016 are
all social or messaging
apps.
Echo, Google Home,
speech recognition, AR,
VR, AI, adaptive UI and
data analytics.
Lesson from biology:
The best products extend,
enhance or amplify our
biological powers.
Specialize to Exploit New Niches,
but remember context is everything.
#4
We’re always on, but
not always on the
same device.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
brains
No substitution effect as
new products are added.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Different context means
solving the same problem
with different designs.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
__________ isn’t the same
for all apps.
Shopping
__________ isn’t the same
for all apps.
Notifications
__________ isn’t the same
for all apps.
Navigation
Experiences and
technology are becoming
more specific and filling in
the niches.
Lesson from biology:
Experiences might produce
a similar outcome, but their
designs will be different.
Humans Are Emotional Messes,
and that’s a good thing.
#5
Your brain on drugs.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Tracking workout
data is the tip of
the iceberg.
Dopamine:
Notifications lead to
feeling good.
Oxytocin:
Social validation leads
to sense of belonging.
Serotonin:
Recognition leads to
feelings of pride.
Serotonin:
Recognition leads to
feelings of pride.
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Brain and body
chemistry drives
emotions and emotions
drive behavior.
Amygdala
Neocortex
Emotions are required
to activate decision
making.
If you’re not assisting
your users to ‘feel’ their
experience, you’re not
helping them.
People use your
product because it
makes them feel
something.
Make someone feel
good and you win…
Make someone feel
good in front of others
and you win big time.
Case Study:
Car safety and “soccer
mom’s” perceptions
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Source: Kelly Blue Book
What does safety look
like to the customer?
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
BMW forgot to ask what
safety looked and felt
like to their customers.
Lesson from biology:
The best products make
humans feel more ______
What can biology teach us
about creating products
for the future?
Don’t wait for the crisis.
Force positive adaptation by
constantly seeking feedback.
#1
Build for humans, not tech.
Develop a product roadmap
that allows humans to be
humans.
#2
Amplify current powers.
Create superpowers by
extending our senses.
#3
Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.
Specialize for your niche.
Context is everything. Get out
of the building and witness.
#4
Make humans feel.
Build products that make
humans feel smart, safe,
recognized, and loved.
#5
Final Thought
Warning:
Please try this at home
Thank you!
richard@freshtilledsoil.com
@rmbanfield
@freshtilledsoil
www.productleadershipbook.com

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Sex, Drugs and The Infinite Scroll: The biology behind engaging design.