Design Critiques

What makes some designs good and others bad? Why do some designs work while others don’t? Posts in this category offer thoughtful design critiques of modern digital interfaces, with commentary inspired by Don Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things.”

“Do I Still Have to Buy Admission Too?” – Redesigning for Transparency at Shedd Aquarium

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Abstract A surprising UX issue emerged at Shedd Aquarium: many users didn’t know General Admission was included in the cost of Programs & Events. I focused on uncovering why this was happening and designing data-driven solutions that resolved it. I identified that this critical information was missing entirely, especially on mobile, using eye-tracking data, behavioral […]

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Accessibility of the New York Public Library’s Picture Collection: A Critical Assessment

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The New York Public Library’s Picture Collection is a trove of over 1.5 million images, ranging from vintage postcards to historical photographs. Digitized as part of NYPL’s Digital Collections, these images serve as resources for artists, researchers, and educators. However, many of these digitized images lack essential features, particularly alternative text. Providing context is central

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Assistive Technology: Estée Lauder’s Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant (iOS App)

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A Step Towards Making Beauty More Inclusive?

Estée Lauder’s Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant (VMA) app is a tool designed to make beauty more accessible to the visually impaired population. The app utilizes AI to provide voice guidance so that users can get real-time feedback on their makeup application. This blog post examines its accessibility features through disability models, highlighting its strengths, limitations, and potential for a more inclusive beauty industry.

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Design Critique: Stomper’s

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A Frustrating First Impression:Why Stomper’s Design is Driving Users Away ? At its core, Stomper has an exciting and creative premise. It transforms walking, an otherwise mundane activity, into something playful and interactive. But the frustrating registration process, unclear interface, and rigid game mechanics create unnecessary friction that discourages users before they can even enjoy

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Design Critique – Timeleft App

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Timeleft is a digital platform where users can book dinners with strangers matched through a personality algorithm. The premise is fascinating: every Wednesday, in cities around the world, curated groups gather over dinner, transforming the awkwardness of first meetings into something potentially meaningful. As someone who moved to New York City from India, I know

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Design Critique: Bloomberg Connects

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Bloomberg Connects is a free platform offering digital guides to cultural institutions like galleries, museums, and parks, featuring audio tours, videos, and interactive maps. As a new explorer of New York City’s cultural landscape, I’ll evaluate how this app shapes the museum experience through Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things” and Davis’s “How Artifacts Afford.”

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