Is Poor UX Killing Our Flow?
How Modern Systems Fail Us and Why Taoism Could Save the Day.
Ever been stuck in an infinite phone tree, swearing at a robot voice that doesn’t understand “representative.”
Or tried to navigate a retail website that feels like it was built by someone on a sugar high.
Then you’ve experienced the disease of poor user experience (UX).
It's so annoying, isn’t it — not just an inconvenience but a slow-drip poison for our collective sanity and productivity.
User experience—how we interact with systems, products, and services—has a profound impact on our lives.
A great UX feels like walking a beautifully paved path; it’s smooth, intuitive, and rewarding.
A poor one?
Well, for me it feels like I’m slogging through knee-deep mud while a disembodied voice shouts, “Error 404: Path Not Found.”
What’s worse, the chaotic complexity of poor UX goes against the ancient wisdom of Taoism and Confucianism, which value simplicity, harmony, and effortlessness.
Instead of cultivating wu wei—the natural flow of things—modern systems force us into yu wei, the clumsy, energy-sapping state of overdoing. And that, my friends, is where everything starts to fall apart.
Is Productivity Dying on the Altar of Complexity
Let’s talk about how poor UX is draining the life force out of us—our Qu if you will. Taoism teaches us to align with the flow of nature, to take the path of least resistance. Yet poor UX creates obstacles that turn simple tasks into Herculean labors.
Take phone trees. You call a company in good faith, hoping to solve a problem. Instead, you’re greeted with:
• “Press 1 for billing.”
• “Press 2 for technical support.”
• “Press 3 to speak to a representative… JUST KIDDING. Representatives are unavailable. Goodbye!”
This isn’t just bad UX. It’s an assault on your energy, a direct violation of wu wei. You leave the encounter angry, drained, and wondering if smashing your phone against the wall might feel more satisfying than getting through to a human.
And it’s not just phone trees. Poorly designed systems waste time on an industrial scale. Imagine how many cumulative hours humanity has lost to error messages, broken links, and endlessly spinning loading wheels.
If Confucius were alive today, he’d probably call it a societal breakdown of li—the rituals and structures that make life orderly and meaningful. Instead of rituals that promote ease, we’re stuck with systems that create chaos.
Stress is the New Normal
Bad UX doesn’t just waste time—it actively stresses us out. According to Taoist philosophy, harmony and balance are key to a healthy life.
Stress, on the other hand, is like an out-of-tune instrument screeching against the symphony of nature.
Think about the last time you encountered cognitive overload:
Filling out a government form online that asks for information even you don’t have.
Trying to unsubscribe from a subscription service, only to realize the “cancel” button is hidden like the Ark of the Covenant.
Dealing with a clunky workplace tool that takes five clicks to do what one should accomplish.
These experiences erode our emotional equilibrium, replacing qi with frustration. Taoism reminds us that stress is resistance to the flow of life, and poor UX creates resistance at every turn.
Confucius might add that bad UX also undermines our sense of Ren—our shared humanity. When systems prioritize efficiency for corporations over ease for users, they devalue the human experience itself.
Chipotle and doTerra: The Saints of UX
Not all UX is bad, though. In fact, some companies get it, and their mastery of user-centered design feels almost Taoist in its elegance.
Chipotle, a fast-casual restaurant founded in 19@3 with a commitment to ethically sourced, natural ingredients is in my opinion the fast-food embodiment of wu wei.
You walk into one of their locals and open their app, and everything flows. Want to customize your burrito bowl? Done. Need to skip the line? No problem.
Their app doesn’t just let you order food; it turns the experience into a game, rewarding you with points that eventually lead to free guac.
The Taoist principle of effortless action shines through here. Chipotle doesn’t just meet your needs—it anticipates them, removing obstacles before you even encounter them.
Then there’s doTerra, the essential oils powerhouse. Their UX is a masterclass in harmony:
Intuitive navigation that makes finding products easy.
A seamless ordering process that feels almost meditative.
Customer service that actually picks up the phone and listens (what a concept!), resolving any issues without stress.
doTerra’s approach reflects Confucian li—a respect for the rituals of commerce and human interaction. Their UX builds trust, loyalty, and even a sense of ren by putting the customer’s experience first.
The Taoist Cure for Poor UX
Taoism teaches that the best solutions are those that work with the natural flow of things. In UX terms, this means designing systems that feel intuitive, human, and effortless. So, how do we fix the disease of poor UX?
1. Cut the Clutter
The Tao is simple. Complexity is not. Strip away unnecessary steps, redundant buttons, and confusing language. If your users need a manual to navigate your system, you’ve already failed.
2. Listen to Users
Confucius emphasized the importance of empathy and mutual respect in all human interactions. Good UX does the same. Conduct usability testing. Ask for feedback. Make changes based on what users actually need, not what your designers think looks cool.
3. Prioritize Flow
The best UX aligns with wu wei. Everything should feel natural and easy, like water finding its path. If your system creates friction, reimagine it until the obstacles disappear.
When UX Gets It Wrong
Let’s circle back to phone trees because they’re the perfect example of what happens when UX gets it catastrophically wrong. Confucius would likely describe phone trees as a breakdown of li—the structures that should guide harmonious relationships. Instead of fostering connection, they alienate users.
A Taoist critique would focus on how phone trees violate wu wei. They don’t flow; they trap. They’re not intuitive; they’re maddening.
The solution?
Design systems that prioritize human interaction, not robotic efficiency. Give people the option to speak to a real person without jumping through hoops.
The Tao of Great UX
Poor UX is more than a nuisance—it’s a failure to honor the principles that make life functional and harmonious. In Taoist terms, it’s resistance where there should be flow, chaos where there should be simplicity. Confucianism reminds us that systems are meant to serve people, not the other way around.
Companies like Chipotle and doTerra prove that great UX isn’t just possible—it’s profitable. By aligning with principles of simplicity, harmony, and human connection, they’ve created experiences that don’t just work; they delight.
The cure for poor UX is clear: embrace the Taoist path of least resistance and Confucian respect for human dignity. Design systems that feel natural, intuitive, and effortless. After all, life’s hard enough without having to wrestle a phone tree.
Let’s fix UX—before it breaks us.
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Much Love,
Diamond Michael Scott — aka The Chocolate Taoist
Taoism applied to UX. Bravo! If only corporations would listen. Thank you
Dishonoring is the flavor of these times.
Inconveniences to be pumped for money, we who "need something" from any provider are problems to flatten. Grace and civility have fallen off the menu of American lives. It's all speedy dismissal.
The simplest option for me has been to engage well in the services and interactions I can, and boycott every non-essential product or place.
Not playing in traffic, not being used without thought, has saved my self-respect and money, kept me kind, and though I am hermetic I can be fully human with those who also are.