This content originally appeared on NN/g latest articles and announcements and was authored by Sarah Gibbons, Claire Jen
Summary: Overreliance on frameworks as universal solutions rather than adaptable starting points undermines critical thinking and threatens our field's intellectual rigor.
The Template Trap
In our field of experience design, we're witnessing a concerning trend: an overreliance on templates, frameworks, and "ultimate" checklists . Every day, a new "ultimate UX toolkit" or "complete design-system template" circulates across platforms like LinkedIn. With UX’s explosive international growth and the rise of social media, we're falling into the template trap — the mistaken belief that downloading the latest framework or checklist will solve all our design challenges.
Consider design thinking as an example. When applied thoughtfully, with the right context, to the right situation, and with appropriate expectations, it's incredibly valuable. But as it grew in popularity, people began promising that simply following its steps would revolutionize everything — and (of course), it didn't deliver on those inflated promises.
Templates and frameworks have evolved beyond their intended purpose as starting points and are increasingly treated as universal solutions — complete answers to complex design challenges.
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This content originally appeared on NN/g latest articles and announcements and was authored by Sarah Gibbons, Claire Jen
Sarah Gibbons, Claire Jen | Sciencx (2025-05-30T17:00:00+00:00) The Template Trap: How Template Culture Is Dumbing Down UX. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/05/30/the-template-trap-how-template-culture-is-dumbing-down-ux/
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