In today's rapidly evolving design landscape, it's crucial for aspiring designers to embrace the intricacies of user experience (UX) in complex systems. This article serves as an invitation to explore these multifaceted challenges and elevate our profession.

Dear Junior Designer, one of the pivotal choices in your UX journey will involve selecting the types of problems that resonate with you. Understanding your relevance in the field and the skills you wish to develop is fundamental.

Interestingly, while UX design has reached unprecedented popularity, the discourse often overlooks the full breadth of our profession, inadvertently constraining future possibilities.

We tend not to discuss the design of complex systems, missing out on a wealth of opportunities.

The Dominance of Familiarity The UX design field is witnessing a surge in interest, evidenced by the influx of messages from recruiters and the eagerness of mentees to join the ranks. The growth statistics from our community, Calgary UX, reflect this trend.

This is not just a local phenomenon; it's a global trend. Peter Ramsey has effectively compiled data from Google and LinkedIn, illustrating the steady growth of UX over time.

However, we are only scratching the surface of our potential. The focus of our professional practice primarily centers on a select few applications, devices, and companies. Attending top design conferences often reveals a repetitive lineup of familiar brands and topics.

Prominent companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft frequently dominate discussions, creating a narrow perception of the vast possibilities within the profession.

To illustrate, try checking the Fortune 500 list. I found only 105 companies that I recognized as of May 2022. Notably, my confidence waned quickly; several top-ranked firms were entirely unfamiliar, emphasizing the hidden potential for design thinking in sectors like healthcare.

We often perceive certain brands as overwhelmingly large when, in reality, their impact may be smaller than it appears. For example, Tesla ranks 100, while HP sits higher at 56, despite receiving less attention.

Exploring the top 100 most innovative companies reveals a similar trend. My own revelation came from discovering Intuitive Surgical, which utilizes advanced robotics in surgery. The potential for groundbreaking design in such sectors is immense.

A narrow focus can hinder the aspirations of emerging designers. Many portfolios revolve around popular platforms like Spotify, yet many wonder why they fail to stand out. The Spotify team boasts 200 designers and 2000 engineers dedicated to creating exceptional experiences. Why not tackle more unique challenges?

Designing for the likes of Spotify may seem impressive, but it’s akin to competing against seasoned NBA players in a pick-up game. Their experience will reveal any flaws in your concepts.

That said, I'm not suggesting you start designing for high-stakes environments like robotic surgeries. There are simpler ways to differentiate yourself, especially considering the myriad of poor usability examples available.

Take, for instance, the Bulk Rename Utility app. How could you redesign it to enhance usability?

This represents an excellent opportunity to showcase your design and critical thinking skills, similar to what Aneel Kaushik has done.

It's amusing to hear concerns about competition or the saturation of the design market. We are only beginning to address complex challenges, and the road ahead is filled with possibilities.

Monoculture and the Illusion of Exclusivity in UX New designers often confine themselves to similar products and companies, inadvertently reinforcing the power dynamics of hiring practices. I frequently hear talented individuals placing all their hopes in a few renowned firms.

Applying multiple times to the same companies over several years should not be normalized. While it’s beneficial to learn about specific interview strategies, ensure you're not compromising your unique identity in the process.

Don't pause your life awaiting a breakthrough. The notion of a "dream job" can be misleading, as what you perceive from the outside may differ significantly from the reality.

It’s common to see individuals transitioning between recognizable companies, still identifying with their previous employer. Your experience should reflect your potential, not merely a string of past roles.

Now is an exceptional time to be involved in UX! There are abundant professional avenues, yet the perception of scarcity persists.

We need more designers—many more! We require them to explore diverse issues and engage with various companies.

Identifying Complex Problems Beneath our daily routines lie complex systems that facilitate our lives, often unnoticed until they falter. When crises arise, we witness the chaos that ensues, leaving us in awe of the hidden intricacies.

The logistical operations behind our supermarkets went unnoticed until the pandemic prompted panic-buying. Infrastructure issues remain invisible until power outages occur, revealing our dependency on complex systems.

Complexity has always existed; it has merely been interwoven, digitized, and abstracted into more compact forms.

This illustration from a decade-old article highlights the transformation brought by the iPhone, which replaced 23 devices. Consider the complexity involved in repairing an iPhone 13 versus those 23 devices.

Complexity as a Necessary Aspect It’s easy to demonize complexity in a world that prizes simplicity. The mantra "Keep it simple, stupid" permeates product meetings. Negative feedback on complexity can often spell doom for iterations.

To maintain relevance in our intricate world, we must shift our perspective on complexity, recognizing it as essential for systems to thrive and adapt. Products that cannot navigate complexity ultimately fail.

As Paracelsus stated, "the poison is in the dosage."

The Complexities of System Thresholds Every functioning system has a complexity threshold that determines its capacity before collapsing.

Consider a highway built to handle 500,000 to 1,000,000 vehicles daily. When usage exceeds this threshold, the system becomes ineffective, impacting interconnected networks.

Shifts in social dynamics may lead to reduced traffic, allowing for repurposing of infrastructure, ideally toward more sustainable solutions.

Within operational complexity, comfort levels can vary based on individual experiences. Different users—like taxi drivers or parents—navigate the same systems yet face distinct challenges.

Complexity fosters curiosity, where macro and micro elements continuously influence one another, necessitating a broader understanding of design principles beyond simplistic notions.

We, as UX designers, must expand our focus beyond John Maeda's "Law of Simplicity" and delve into Complexity Theory.

The parallels between Design Thinking and Complexity Theory are striking. Eli Sopow, Ph.D., explores Complexity Science's relevance to Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) in organizations. This relationship holds significant implications for UX.

Simplicity Does Not Equate to Absence of Complexity Believing simplicity is merely the opposite of complexity is misleading. Simplicity emerges from effectively managing complexity.

As Melvin E. Conway noted, organizations produce designs reflective of their communication structures.

> “Any organization that designs a system (defined broadly) will produce a design whose structure is a copy of the organization’s communication structure.” > — Melvin E. Conway

Imposing simplicity can be detrimental. Consider what you would exclude if limited to 140 characters—what meaning would be lost? This is why platforms like Twitter often spiral into miscommunication.

A lack of complexity can lead to perceived emptiness, prompting our minds to fill in the gaps, sometimes absurdly.

The Thrill of Engaging with Complexity My fascination with complexity may be challenging to articulate. Picture a powerful telescope aimed at a distant planet, allowing you to explore its minutiae.

Your emotions oscillate between childlike wonder and overwhelming dread at the enormity of the task.

One day, you receive a directive to shift from observation to designing the next generation of that telescope.

Complex applications can evoke similar feelings. You're venturing into uncharted territory, filled with potential and challenges.

Working with Complex Systems For professionals who maintain and evolve these critical systems, managing complexity relies on training, habituation, and user interfaces that highlight relevant information.

Why do we rarely hear about these interfaces? Often, their users operate from secure environments, limiting access and knowledge.

Historically, these applications have been cumbersome, challenging to learn, and prone to errors. The infamous control room at Three Mile Island serves as a stark reminder of the importance of usability.

Media portrayals often misrepresent the efficiency of new nuclear energy interfaces, hindering the conversation around this potential solution for our energy needs.

We must advocate for the design of complex systems, showcasing possibilities and inspiring more UX designers to engage with these challenges.

Identifying Complex Applications Differentiating applications by complexity should not come across as patronizing. Complexity varies across the board, and even a casual game can be more intricate than critical software.

The distinction lies in how complexity is presented to users and their autonomy in navigating it.

In the future, we may see applications enabling us to control home-sized nuclear reactors as easily as smart thermostats, but we aren't there yet.

Here are some common characteristics that may define a complex application:

Support Critical Functions: Complex systems are often invisible. For example, energy companies rely on UIs to track grid performance, representing numerous interactions that go unnoticed.

Lengthy Implementation Cycles: Installing complex systems requires significant time, data migrations, and training before a user can effectively engage with the system.

Over-reliance on Training: Industries may emphasize rigorous training, posing challenges for UX improvements due to the costs associated with re-training.

Small User Base: Designing for niche B2B applications contrasts sharply with consumer-facing platforms, impacting user recruitment and feedback mechanisms.

Pragmatic over Aesthetic: Complex projects often prioritize functionality over aesthetics, demanding focus on usability and information architecture.

High Information Density: Users in complex environments require access to a wealth of information simultaneously, necessitating skilled UI design to manage data effectively.

Existence of Shadow Systems: Sub-systems often arise to adapt to contextual variability, complicating the design process and necessitating consideration of these elements.

Errors Have Severe Consequences: In high-stakes environments, mistakes can have dire outcomes, reinforcing the need for thorough testing and UX strategies to mitigate risks.

Does it not sound enticing? The reality is even more captivating, and you will relish the challenge.

Ever pondered why people enjoy spicy food or thrill-seeking activities? Designing complex systems evokes a similar sense of satisfaction.

There’s a unique pride in knowing your work may not win accolades yet holds immense significance. Complex applications may lack glamor but are vital to users.

It can be frustrating to toil away on intricate systems that users adore, where your work directly impacts critical information. You embrace this challenge, knowing your efforts alleviate user burdens.

You will collaborate with astute individuals who critically evaluate your designs, ensuring that every pixel is a thoughtful decision.

Ultimately, you define your path through the problems you choose to tackle.

> “The simple problems will not come to you. If they would have been easily solved, someone else would have done it already.” > — Advice from President Eisenhower to John F. Kennedy