"But not all friction is accidental. And not all friction is bad. Friction, when designed deliberately, serves a different purpose. It introduces a pause. A moment of awareness. A small resistance that asks the user to pay attention to what they're doing, rather than simply passing through an interface on autopilot. Friction exists to make us notice what we're doing."
"For years, good digital design has been framed as the removal of friction. Faster flows. Fewer steps. Instant feedback. Smooth, seamless interactions that disappear into the background. If something slows a user down, it's treated as a flaw to be eliminated. And in many cases, that instinct is right. Unnecessary friction is frustrating. It wastes time. It creates confusion where none should exist."
Good digital design has often prioritized removing friction: faster flows, fewer steps, instant feedback, and seamless interactions that disappear into the background. Unnecessary friction can be frustrating, waste time, and create confusion. However, some friction is intentional and beneficial. Deliberate friction introduces a pause, a moment of awareness, and a small resistance that asks users to pay attention instead of operating on autopilot. Frictionless design can optimize for motion rather than meaning, causing actions to lose weight and decisions to blur into habits. Good friction is purposeful and earns its place by supporting judgment, care, and reflection while respecting users' time.
Read at Carlbarenbrug
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