The Hidden UX of Everyday Life: Design Lessons from the World Around Us

When most people hear “UX design,” they picture websites, apps, or a dashboard with a dark mode toggle. But the truth is, UX is not just digital, it’s all around us. Once you start paying attention, you’ll see that your day is full of tiny interactions that were designed to guide you, help you, or sometimes just not get in your way.

From your morning coffee to pressing a button at a crosswalk to waiting in line at your favorite theme park, UX is hiding in plain sight. Here are some examples I've noticed recently:

1. The Coffee Cup Lid

Let’s start with something simple: the lid on your to-go coffee. You’ve probably used hundreds of these without thinking twice. But have you ever noticed how the sipping hole is shaped to control flow? Or how the little air hole keeps your drink from glugging like a large water bottle? Or how the rim slightly curves to fit your lips better?

Companies like Viora even redesigned the lid to recreate the feel of drinking from a mug. It sounds ridiculous until you realize how much of the coffee experience is about feel.

Meg’s Moment: The tiniest details can have a big impact on how something feels.

2. The Crosswalk Button

Ever pressed a crosswalk button and wondered if it actually did anything? You’re not alone. In fact, many of them don’t. They’re “placebo buttons,” still there, but no longer functional. So why are we still pressing them?

Because it gives us a sense of control. And when they do make a click sound or light up, it feels like something’s happening although nothing is.

Check out this 99% Invisible episode on this very phenomenon.

Meg’s Moment: Users need feedback. Even if they’re waiting, they’re waiting with confidence.

3. Theme Park Waiting Lines

I went to Universal Studios recently and I was genuinely impressed by how much thought went into the lines.

But think about it: they zigzag to save space, they’re themed to match the ride, they play music or show clips to distract you, and they even display real-time wait times. They know you’re going to be waiting, and they’ve designed that experience to feel less painful. Here's more about the UX of waiting lines.

Meg’s Moment: You can’t always make things faster or shorter but you can make them feel smoother, more engaging, or just less annoying. That’s UX magic.

Final Thoughts

The more I study explore UX, the more I see it everywhere. It’s in the way doors open (or don’t), how soap dispensers are shaped, or even in which side of the box cereal opens from. Some of these choices make life easier. Some are... frustrating. But they’re all opportunities to learn.

If you start seeing the world through a UX lens, everything becomes a design opportunity. You become a more empathetic, thoughtful designer.

As Don Norman famously said:

Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design… because good design fits our needs so well that the design is invisible.

So next time something works beautifully or makes you want to scream, take a second to ask why. There’s probably a UX story behind it.

Thanks for reading!

I share design thoughts, real-life UX observations, and behind-the-scenes lessons as I grow in this field. You can follow me on LinkedIn or learn more in my other blog posts.