The attention economy has shaped the way 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.

While gamification can boost engagement, it often introduces distractions that seem at odds with a mindful, calming environment. But I believe there’s a way to harmonize these two elements. 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. I’ve been rethinking how notifications can be more supportive than disruptive. By considering users’ rhythms and preferences, we can design notifications that respect their time and attention, making them feel more 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.

Designing for calm—experiences that respect users’ attention and well-being—resonates with designers, but convincing stakeholders is another story. How do we measure calm? Is it even a KPI? While it may not be as tangible as clicks or engagement, calm design impacts productivity, user satisfaction, and long-term loyalty.

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.

Can we design digital experiences that respect user attention in an overstimulated world? By embracing concepts like “desinteraction,” we have the power to balance engagement with a more thoughtful approach.

By embracing the “material turn” in interaction design and learning from contemporary art, we can design with a stronger focus on physical contexts, creating more mindful user experiences that better manage attention.