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Signed by Hubert The Eunuch
2026-01-18 08:26:05 -07:00

3.9 KiB

UX Delight Principles

Table of Contents

  1. Delight Hierarchy
  2. Micro-Interactions
  3. Personality & Voice
  4. Progressive Disclosure
  5. Contextual Intelligence

Delight Hierarchy

Before pursuing delight, ensure foundation is solid:

        ╭─────────────╮
        │   DELIGHT   │  ← Moments of joy, surprise
        ├─────────────┤
        │  USABILITY  │  ← Efficient, learnable
        ├─────────────┤
        │ RELIABILITY │  ← Works consistently
        ├─────────────┤
        │ FUNCTIONAL  │  ← Does what it claims
        ╰─────────────╯

Rule: Never add delight to broken functionality.


Micro-Interactions

Delight Opportunities

Trigger Example Delight Pattern
Task completion Agent finishes work Celebration animation
First-time action Initial conversation Warm welcome
Milestone reached 10th task completed Achievement unlock
Error recovery Retry succeeds Relief/encouragement
Wait time Loading state Engaging animation
Discovery Finding hidden feature Easter egg

Implementation Guidelines

  • Subtle > Flashy: Don't interrupt workflow
  • Skippable: Power users can bypass
  • Contextual: Match emotional moment
  • Consistent: Same action = same response

Animation Timing

  • Micro-feedback: 100-200ms (button press)
  • State transitions: 200-400ms (panel open)
  • Celebrations: 500-1000ms (completion)
  • Attention: 1-2s (notification)

Personality & Voice

Agent Personality Expression

Each agent should feel distinct through:

Language Patterns

  • Winston (Architect): Precise, uses diagrams
  • Sally (UX): Enthusiastic, user-focused
  • Barry (Quick Flow): Casual, action-oriented
  • John (PM): Formal, strategic

Response Timing

  • Eager agents: Respond quickly, short messages
  • Thoughtful agents: Slight delay, comprehensive

Visual Expression

  • Idle animations reflecting personality
  • Custom emoji/icon sets per agent
  • Color accents matching role

Avoiding Uncanny Valley

  • Don't pretend to have emotions agents don't have
  • Acknowledge AI nature when appropriate
  • Consistent personality (no sudden shifts)

Progressive Disclosure

Complexity Layers

Layer 1: Core Actions (Always Visible)

  • Chat with agent
  • View agent status
  • Navigate office

Layer 2: Power Features (Discoverable)

  • Memory dashboard
  • Task assignment
  • Deep work mode

Layer 3: Advanced (On-Demand)

  • MCP tool inspection
  • Worktree management
  • Context configuration

Disclosure Triggers

  • Time-based: Introduce after N sessions
  • Action-based: Unlock after completing X
  • Curiosity-based: Reward exploration
  • Need-based: Surface when relevant

UI Patterns

  • Expandable sections (accordion)
  • "More options" menus
  • Contextual tooltips
  • Inline tutorials

Contextual Intelligence

Smart Defaults

Reduce decisions by inferring intent:

  • Default to most-used agent
  • Remember last conversation
  • Pre-fill common inputs
  • Suggest next action

Proactive Assistance

Offer help before user asks:

  • "Looks like you're stuck. Want help?"
  • "You've been working on X. Ready to commit?"
  • "Mary has context on this. Want to loop her in?"

Environmental Awareness

React to user's context:

  • Time of day (greetings, energy levels)
  • Work patterns (suggest breaks)
  • Project state (recent errors, blockers)
  • Collaboration (who else is active)

Delight Through Intelligence

The most delightful experiences feel magical:

  • System anticipates needs
  • Remembers preferences without asking
  • Connects dots user didn't see
  • Removes friction before it's felt