Start Thinking In Terms Of People Instead Of Users

In the sea of websites and apps, designers and marketers need to forget their focus on “users” and start serving experiences for "people".

Over the past decade or so, thanks to the rise of 'Design Thinking' and more complex platforms and mobile apps, there's been a big shift in the tech space where we've really started to embrace an idea of what a "user experience." consitst of. It's like, we've moved away from just thinking about 'consumers' and 'customers' and started to really focus more on just 'users', you know?

In the web community, there's been a lot of chatter about creating experiences that go beyond just being functional. We're talking about making stuff that not only works well but also feels good and meaningful. It's not just about making things easy to use; it's about making people feel better about themselves and their engagement frictionless when they interact with our products.

Users today want to feel seen as individuals.

They want brands to recognize who they are, where they're coming from, what they believe in, to only see relevant content and how they want to be seen by others. That's why you're seeing more diversity in lifestyle brands and even tailored product ranges, like Nike's sportswear for Muslim women. We've got to start seeing people as people, not just as customers or users.

These days the lines between physical and virtual experiences are blurring more and more. Our phones have practically become extensions of ourselves right? So, if we want our web products to really fit into people's lives, they've got to complement their other experiences, both digital and non-digital. It's all about seeing people as these complex beings, not just users of our stuff.

Experiences aren't one-size-fits-all either. They're contextual, personal, and often blend together.

We've got to think about people in a holistic way, taking into account all the complexities of being human. And sure, this approach comes with its own set of challenges, but hey, that's how we keep evolving, right?

Let's move away from just talking about users' needs and start a real conversation about people and their needs. As web designers and developers, our job isn't just about fixing problems for users anymore. It's about anticipating and preventing issues before they even pop up. Because let's face it, we're all in this together, whether we're users or consumers.

And you know what? By constantly labeling people as users or consumers, we're only adding to this culture of overconsumption and product overload. The real problem to solve isn't just users' problems; it's the problem of being a user in the first place. So, let's change the game and start having more meaningful conversations with our 'users.'

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