Calm design is often dismissed as unrealistic in an economy that thrives on engagement. But is an attention-respecting approach to UX truly at odds with business success? This article explores why calm design isn’t just feasible—it’s a necessary shift toward more sustainable and user-friendly digital experiences.

In a world where digital experiences often bombard us with distractions and overstimulation, The Calm Design Approach offers an alternative—a design philosophy rooted in intentionality, presence, and depth. By shifting the focus from capturing endless attention to creating mindful interactions, this approach prioritizes well-being, cognitive clarity, and meaningful engagement.

The attention economy has shaped how digital products are designed. But what if we shifted from capturing attention to supporting intention? The intention economy offers a different path—one where technology helps users achieve their goals instead of distracting them.

In a world dominated by screens, paper’s tactile, focused experience is being rediscovered in new ways. This post explores how paper, an ancient invention, continues to shape modern digital design, and whether its power to create focused, mindful experiences can inspire a new wave of calming, distraction-free technologies.

Gamification is often associated with engagement and motivation, but it can also introduce distractions that seem at odds with a mindful, calming environment. By simplifying rewards, focusing on intrinsic motivation, and using subtle feedback, we can create a gamified experience that enhances mindfulness rather than detracting from it.

In our digital world, notifications often compete for our attention, contributing to digital fatigue. By considering users’ rhythms and preferences, we can design notifications that respect their time and attention, making them feel like thoughtful nudges instead of interruptions.

Some design choices feel almost hostile—tricking users, making actions confusing, or manipulating behavior for profit. These so-called dark patterns are easy to spot but harder to challenge. That’s why I’ve been working on a simple framework to help evaluate when a design prioritizes business goals at the expense of user well-being.

Calm design and attention management are gaining traction among designers, but how do we convince stakeholders that these principles matter? Can we measure calm as a key performance indicator (KPI)?

Good design has always reflected the needs of its time, from industrial efficiency to modernist calm. Today, it often revolves around maximizing engagement. But what if we shifted our goal from capturing attention to liberating it? Wouldn’t that be good design?

As many UX designers feel overwhelmed by the fast-paced demands of the field, I recommend trying a Calm Thinking approach—mindfully integrating well-being into both your design process and products. By prioritizing calm, we can create more meaningful and fulfilling user experiences.

I explore three simple yet profound metaphors: the woods, the car, and my upstairs neighbor. Each offers a snapshot of how technology can blend into our environments and enhance our awareness without demanding constant focus.

In a world flooded with distractions, designers face a new challenge: helping users stay mindful and present. Revisiting Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think inspires a reflection on how design can evolve beyond usability to focus on attention management.

In an overstimulated world, can we design digital experiences that respect user attention? By embracing concepts like desinteraction, designers can strike a balance between engagement and a more thoughtful approach to interaction.

Incorporating the “material turn” in interaction design and learning from contemporary art can empower us to design with a stronger focus on physical contexts, resulting in more mindful user experiences that manage attention more effectively.