In a world increasingly dominated by screens, fostering genuine connection is more impactful than ever.

What is Behavioral Design?

While technology offers multiple tools for communication, it can also lead to feelings of isolation. This is where behavioral design comes in. By understanding how people think and behave, product designers can create experiences that not only fulfill a need but also nurture meaningful connections.

Behavioral design is an approach to Product Design that considers human psychology and behavior. It involves influencing or altering human behavior through the use of both external stimuli (the environment) and internal stimuli (the self).

Understanding System 1 and System 2 Thinking

System 1 thinking is fast, intuitive, and emotional, guiding most of our daily decisions. Think of recognizing a friend’s face in a crowd — it’s effortless. System 2 thinking, on the other hand, is slow, deliberate, and logical, employed for complex tasks like solving math problems.

Effective products cater to both systems. A well-designed interface uses System 1 for ease of use, while nudges and prompts can trigger System 2 for thoughtful decision-making.

Building bridges in a digital age

Despite the relevant challenge related to the decline of social interaction and the potential for AI to fill this gap, well exposed in the Harvard Business Review’s article AI’s Trust Problem: Why We Need to Rethink Human-Machine Collaboration, many apps and digital products are exploring ways to foster connections between users and AI entities. Let’s look at some of them!

Slack 📱

Features like huddle compliments and notification messages are how Slack leverages social psychology to create a more positive work environment. Publicly recognizing achievements through features like “good job” notifications taps into System 1 thinking, triggering positive emotions and encouraging continued user engagement.

Airbnb 🏠

Airbnb understands the importance of trust when connecting strangers. Detailed profiles and host messaging features allow for clear communication and understanding, fostering a sense of connection and security for both hosts and guests.

Loom 📹

Loom, a video messaging platform, uses nudges to encourage user interaction. Prompts to leave comments or reactions after viewing a video trigger System 1 thinking.

Duolingo 🌎

Duolingo gamifies language learning by incorporating leaderboards, progress rewards, and community competition for XP. This fosters a sense of community, motivating users to stay engaged and connect with others on their language-learning journey.

Peanut 🤰

Peanut recognizes the need for social connection among mothers. It uses the “similarity bias” by highlighting commonalities between users, creating a safe space for women to connect and share experiences.

Opal 🎧

Opal, a focus app, employs behavioral design to prevent users from abandoning their goals. When a user attempts to delete the app, Opal displays a motivational message, appealing to System 1 emotions and encouraging continued use.

Alexa 👋

Amazon’s Alexa is pushing the boundaries of human-computer interaction. Using generative AI, Alexa strives to deliver a more human-like voice experience and learn user preferences, potentially fostering trust and familiarity with users.

How Product Designers can spark joy through design

Decision-making is unconscious. Emotions and feelings influence decisions, not just logic and reasoning. You need to make an emotional connection to trigger action and decision-making. And as social creatures, we thrive on human connection.

Integrating behavioral design principles into your product is not just about creating a functional app; it’s about crafting an experience that resonates with users on a deeper, emotional level. Here’s how you can weave elements of human connection into your design, making your app not just useful but also delightful. Let’s use a fitness app as an example! 🏋️

• Personalize the experience. Offer personalized workout plans and motivational messages like, “Great job on completing 5 workouts this week, [User’s Name]!”.

• Encourage social interaction. Enable users to share their workout routines, comment on each other’s progress, and join virtual fitness challenges.

• Use emotional triggers. Send notifications like, “Take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come today.”.

• Simplify complex actions. Break down goal-setting into simple steps and use visual aids to show progress towards fitness goals.

• Leverage positive reinforcement. Use badges, points, and congratulatory messages like, “Congratulations! You’ve reached a new personal best!”.

• Ensure ethical AI integration. Clearly explain how AI provides personalized workout recommendations based on user data, ensuring transparency and trust.

Key takeaways

Human connection is a fundamental human need. Products designed with behavioral design principles can not only fulfill functional needs but also spark joy by fostering a sense of connection and belonging. This, in turn, can lead to increased user engagement and brand loyalty.

Remember, the power of human connection is a superpower — leverage it to create products that make a positive impact.

Before signing off, here are some products that already leverage this superpower:

• Zeplin plugin for Figma

• Headspace

• GPT-4

• Spotify Wrapped

… And if you want help sparking joy through design, talk to Pixelmatters. 😎