This document discusses the concept of "elitist UX" and argues against the common practice of designing for the "lowest common denominator." The author claims elitist UX focuses on solving meaningful problems for engaged users rather than making things simple for passive users. While some may argue elitist UX is exclusionary, the author says it is not about excluding users but developing new interaction methods enabled by technology. The overall message is that designers should have a vision for the future and not be afraid to lead users to a better experience through more advanced design.

1. What’s Wrong With Elitist UX?
Andrew Heaton

2. Hi, I’m Andrew
I’m a Designer

3. Purposely Irregular Big Design, Small Screen
Zen, Punk Rock and Ruthlessness in Experience Design Conceptual Design for Mobile Devices
Andrew Heaton Andrew Heaton
(and a writer).

4. If I'm curt with you it's because
time is a factor. I think fast, I talk
fast and I need you guys to act fast
if you wanna get out of this.

5. I want to talk about Experience Design.

6. We All Say We Fight For the Users

7. We All Say We Fight For the Users

8. Stop treating them like idiots.
Become elitist in your e!orts and stop worrying
about what they may or may not do.

9. WTF?

10. Elite. Elitism. Elitist. Eel Pie.
You keep using that word. I do not
think it means what you think it means.

11. When I was a kid, This was my cool.

12. This was the Top 40

13. Because I called bullshit on crap music,
I was labelled a snob and an elitist.

14. What is Elitism? What defines an Elitist?

15. One who despises people or things
regarded as inferior, especially because
of social or intellectual pretension.

16. One who despises people or things
regarded as inferior, especially because
of social or intellectual pretension.
or specifically: an Asshole.

17. Elitism is the belief that some individuals form
an elite — a select group with a certain intrinsic quality,
specialized training, experience, and other distinctive
attributes — are those whose views on a matter are to
be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight.

18. Elitist UX is simply an insightful and skilled designer
creating for an elevated class of user.

19. Elitist UX is simply an insightful and skilled designer
creating for an elevated class of user.

20. Is Elitist UX Exclusionary?

21. Are These Your Users?

22. What About Him?
You Should Be So Lucky.

23. We are assholes about personas.

24. Elitist UX focuses on Use, not the User.

25. Tricky Question:
Do you want every person with $5 to be your customer?

26. Would I rather design for a million passive users
or 250,000 active ones?

27. So it is exclusionary?

28. So it is exclusionary?
Maybe.

29. Better Question:
Is there a class divide based on technology usage?

30. Digital is not a technology issue. Digital is a cultural issue.

31. And culture is changing.

32. And culture is changing... Rapidly.

33. UX “Gurus” tell us we should
design for the lowest common denominator.

34. Fuck That Shit.

35. We are trained to not expect anything from our users.
We are told to believe expecting things from users is bad.

36. Don't make them think? We better be past this by now.
Mindless users mean useless design.

37. If design solves problems,
we know users are already engaged in that problem.
They are already thinking.

38. If it’s not significant enough to solve their problem,
blame your designs, not the user.

39. Many will gasp.
Walk it o!, princess... There’s enough mediocrity in the world.

40. We should not be too comfortable.

41. We do not design to make things simpler.
We design to make people’s lives better.

42. When we think of elitist design, we are not thinking
of excluding users from solving their problems.
We are proposing new methods to perform
actions only possible with current methods of
development and display.

43. No one used a gesture until it became culturally
relevant though technology to do so.

44. D Ct
DESIGN CONTENT
B C P Dv M
BRAND CONCEPT PRODUCT DEVELOP MARKETING
THIS IS EXPERIENCE.

45. Don’t be scared of leading.
We do it by default most of the time.

46. Don’t Be Afraid of Visions

47. Older cultures chewed leaves and ate plants
to invoke visions and transcend their daily life
to see a future state.
We tend to drink co!ee, craft beers and
single malt, but we need to get back in the
habit of seeing the future.

48. The future state is a tangible thing...
and we, as designers, will be the ones to find it.

49. Thanks.

50. Be Good.

51. @tigerstripe