Unveiling the Literal: What are the Physical Roots Powering Digital Design

Conceptual and abstract design is great, but sometimes, for users to get their jobs done most efficiently, why reinvent the wheel?

In this talk, Ryan explores the roots of common UI patterns and their physical origins. He then expands this into marketing strategies, product design and a real example of his award winning Service Design of the UK’s first paperless mortgage experience.

I explain that being on the Autistic spectrum means my mind struggles with conceptual and abstract thinking, and how this made me naturally gravitate to UX Design given its roots in physical design.

I begin by explaining the concept with real examples like car dashboards, UI components like accordions & carousels, and iconography like floppy disks!

Taking it up a level, I talk about ‘product-level; literalism, and how companies/products like Lyft, Google Sheets and FaceTime have embraced it to their advantage for adoption.

I showcase 2 real case studies;
1. Jones Knowles Ritchie’s work with Dominoes Pizza to redesign the product or packaging, using user research to inform the design using literalism.
2. My own, award-winning, design whilst at NatWest, of the UK’s first paperless mortgage experience.

I close with some future concepts, on how we can reverse modern technology, embrace literalism, to bring back nostalgic dopamine from days of old.