Designing with assumptions is slowing you down
In UX, the most damaging decisions aren’t usually made out of laziness or ego, they’re made out of assumption
Assuming users know what that icon means.
Assuming the flow is logical.
Assuming people actually read error messages (spoiler: they don’t).
We see this all the time, especially in fast-moving product teams and early-stage start-ups. The more familiar you are with your own product, the easier it is to overlook what’s unclear to a new user, and when assumptions go unchecked? They turn into friction points — subtle blockers that chip away at trust, slow down conversion, and quietly tank your UX.
🔧 What’s the fix?
Here’s what we recommend (and practice ourselves at Designed for Humans):
Prototype with purpose. Not just to make stakeholders happy, but to spot confusion early. Even rough sketches or clickable mockups can reveal major blind spots.
Test earlier, smaller, and cheaper. Don’t wait until after launch to validate. Test with five users, one task, one goal. Observe. Ask. Learn. Repeat.
Make space to rework. If your roadmap doesn’t leave breathing room for iteration, you’re setting your product up to ship with flaws you could’ve fixed. Budget for feedback. It’s not a delay, it’s risk mitigation.
Invite users in. At Designed for Humans, we don’t design in a vacuum, we co-create with real users. That means testing assumptions before they become problems, and designing with people, not just for them.
💬 Pro tips for new UX designers
If you’re just starting in UX (or mentoring someone who is), here are a few quick wins:
Narrate your designs — If you can’t explain why something is there, it probably doesn’t need to be.
Run a find-the-friction test — Ask users where they felt stuck, unsure, or annoyed. Then fix those first.
Audit assumptions, not just interfaces — Make a list of things you’re assuming users will understand. Test the riskiest ones.
Always ask: “What would my gran do?” — Would someone completely new to this product get what to do next? If not, make it clearer.
✨ Final thought
Good UX isn’t about being perfect the first time. It’s about spotting where you’re wrong and being brave enough to change it.
At Designed for Humans, we believe the best ideas happen when we listen, include, and test boldly. Because designing for real people means checking your assumptions early and often.
👉 What’s one assumption your team might be making right now that’s costing your users?
Designed for Humans is here to make your UX resonate and work for real humans.
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