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.”
INTRO Feeld is a dating and social discovery app designed for people interested in exploring alternative relationship models, including ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, and kink. Unlike traditional dating apps, it emphasizes openness, inclusivity, and curiosity, allowing singles and couples to connect with others who share similar values around relationships and intimacy. Due to the nature of […]
Design Critique: Feeld Read More »
Picture having a caretaker who knows when your plant needs water, soil, or care when sick. That’s the essence Planta aimed to offer with schedules, reminders, guides, identification, and a light meter. This critique takes a beginner’s view, focusing on adding plants, reminders, and the homepage, using ideas from Don Norman and Jenny Davis. Onboarding
Design Critique: Planta (iOS App) Read More »
Hume AI is a text-to-speech (TTS) product whose primary selling point is its advanced emotional intelligence (EI). Emotion is, after all, the most powerful tool of voice—amplifying meaning, tone, and impact in text. Since achieving natural-sounding TTS has become largely a solved problem, the differences between products in basic voice quality are shrinking (or just
Design critique: Hume AI’s Hero Section Read More »
Finch is a self-care app that works like a digital Tamagotchi. It blends nostalgic virtual pets with wellness routines. Users nurture a virtual pet bird by completing wellness tasks, check-ins, and reflections. As the Finch grows, so does the user’s sense of progress in their self-care journey. By following the app’s flow, from creating your
Design Critique: Finch (iOS App) Read More »
Stellarium is a mobile planetarium app that allows users to explore the night sky in real time. By pointing their device upward, they can identify stars, planets, and constellations through a realistic visualization. The experience feels immersive and inspiring, but certain design choices introduce challenges around discoverability and ease of use, particularly for beginners. Onboarding
Design Critique: Stellarium (iOS App) Read More »
Flo is a menstrual cycle–tracking app that helps users monitor periods, ovulation, or pregnancy. It also offers resources on menstruation, pregnancy, mental-health and sexual wellness, along with symptom logging. This critique reviews Flo through concepts from Design of Everyday Things and How Artifacts Afford, focusing on the experience of a user tracking their period. Onboarding
Design Critique: Flo (iOS App) Read More »
Astopia is an all in one astrology guide, with the goal of making difficult astrological principles understandable to everyday consumers. In this critique, I look at Astopia from the standpoint of a novice user. My focus is on how well the app bridges the gap between the user’s mental model and the system’s behavior, On
Design Critique : Astopia Read More »
Wise is a money transfer platform that lets users send funds abroad, receive international payments, check exchange rates, and pay bills globally. In this critique, I examine the experience of a user who depends on a personal Wise account to exchange money with her sister studying and working overseas. My analysis draws on Don Norman’s
Design Critique: Wise (iOS App) Read More »
This critique explores the Kitty Collector app, launched in 2014, which appears outdated compared to 2025’s small gaming apps. Despite its age, the developers (Hit Point Co. Ltd.) have effectively addressed key design elements, reflecting Japan’s emphasis on user experience. The app is crafted with the mental model of cat lovers in mind, avoiding the hook of prolonged screen time, a challenge even for small game apps today.
Design Critique: Kitty Collector Read More »
Fable has a solid concept but its design slips in places. In this critique, I nitpick small issues – like hidden features, vague labels, and weak feedback in the reading flow. The club flow shows it can be done well; the real task is carrying that same clarity across the app.
Design Critique: Fable – (IOS App) Read More »