7 Good UX Design Examples You See Every Day Without Even Noticing

Do you know that the curve on a wooden ice-cream stick isn’t just random? It is invisible kindness disguised in the form of good user experience design(or UX). Everytime you eat an ice-cream and place that stick in your mouth, there is a small risk of cutting your tongue because of the sharp edges. That curve is not by chance but an intelligent example of good UX you see everyday.

Similarly, have you ever opened a door and instinctively known whether to push or pull without needing a sign? That’s good UX design and it has the potential to make a product feel human-ly, invisibly fluent and effortless.

One month ago, we purchased a coffee machine that had only one button with a single light indicator and a smooth water refill system. Without any manual, we were able to sip a perfect cup of coffee within a couple of minutes. This is basically good UX design at its best!

UX does not only belong to websites and applications, but it is basically an interaction with humans. From the checkout counter at malls to supermarkets’ layout, great UX design always removes friction and adds smooth flow to the process.

In this article at Emoris, we will try to explore real UX design examples that show how designers are have worked on to creating seamless products and services. We will be learning good UX design practices from everyday life and also understand how digital experieces are changing the world.

Of course, not every design works perfectly. So we also explored the other side of the coin in this article: Poor UX Design: Real-Life Examples of What Designers Should Not Do

Effortless Feel of Good UX Design

We barely notice good UX because it offers a seamless user experience. It is human psychology that when things work well, they simply blend into our daily routine. Most of the time, UX is recognized only when it’s bad because it slows down the task and leaves us frustrated and confused.

Do you know which app is your favorite on your smartphone? It could be Notion, Google Maps, or Spotify, because you don’t think consciously while using it, and that’s the sign of great UX. You use it smoothly, without any effort, and this is how UX design truly comes to life.

Empathy makes it possible, and designers strive to fulfill your needs without you ever having to ask. It is the result of thoughtful testing, adherence to principles, and continuous iteration on good UX design standards, not just luck.

If you think beyond the screen for a couple of seconds, you’ll start noticing the examples of good and bad UX design everywhere. In the real world, for example, a hotel room has a light and fan switch exactly where you expect it to be. Similarly, IKEA’s assembly guides use illustrations instead of text, yet people all over the world understand them. These are brilliant examples of physical UX design.

The Psychology Behind a Good User Experience

Good UX design plays with human emotions and psychology at its core. When people use an intuitive product, they feel calm and confident. When they use something confusing, they feel inadequate and anxious.

Good design examples share one thing in common: respect for human attention. Every click, physical gesture, and tap carries deep human emotion, because every second of friction can break a user’s trust. Therefore, best UX design practices focus on clarity, empathy, and simplicity.

7 Real Life UX Design Examples That Get it Right

1. Simple Google Search

If you want to observe a good user experience, you may open Google’s homepage. It has just a search bar, a logo, and two buttons, having minimal distraction, a clear purpose, and instant results. Google always strives to stick to UX design standards and work on familiarity, speed, and clarity by reducing unnecessary things to add more value.

2. Starbucks with Personal Touch and Predictable Flow:

Have you ever used the services of Starbucks around the world? You will notice the consistency from counter flow to menu layout, and you don’t need to learn “how to use Starbucks” because it is designed in a way to goes naturally with its UX.

Does it attract you to add a name to your mug of coffee? It may seem small thing, but it is one of the powerful good emotional design examples because it gives a feeling of personalization.

3. Navigation Through Google Maps

Good UX does not react, it anticipates, and Google map do it gracefully. It helps to select routes, predict traffic, and even guide you where and when to take the exit. The designers study human habits and emotions to understand how they look at screens while driving and how they act upon voice commands. This is empathy and generates a good user experience.

This is one of the top UX design examples that how empathic design can relieve stress and cognitive load.

4. IKEA Store Design That Guides Without Verbal Command

IKEA has installed a very interesting layout that is the best design example besides the digital world. It generates purchase through inspiration by paths, flow of movements, and product placement. This spatial physical design has strictly followed the UX design standards, playing with human psychology.

5. Duolingo that Turns Learning into Play:

It is always very difficult to learn a new language, but Duolingo has changed the game and made language learning as easy as a game. Rewards, progress motivation, and interesting reminders have made the whole process fun.

It nails UX design best practices, including motivation triggers, feedback loops, and emotional reinforcement. It engages the users positively, not forcefully, and proves that it is one of the best UX design examples.

6. Apple’s Package Unboxing:

Have you ever experienced the unboxing of Apple Packaging? Have you felt special while opening an Apple product? The Apple product box slide passes slowly, revealing the product as a gift, and this is intentional. Designers have researched that if the product box opens in 7 seconds, it will build an anticipation for users.

Therefore, it has a specific opening time that creates an emotional journey for an iconic good UX design example of Apple products. This is basically a thoughtful experience that elevates customers’ experience and sets an example of UX design best practice.

7. Airport Wayfinding System that Gives Clarity Under Pressure

As we know airports are very complex especially for new people, and have stressful environments. But some airports, such as Amsterdam’s Schiphol and Singapore’s Changi, are popular for calm ambiance, clear signage, and intuitive paths.

In the physical world, good UX design examples follow UX design standards from typography to placement of icons for comprehension and better visibility. Therefore, it is the general perception that good UX does not make things easy but helps to relieve anxiety and tension in strange places.

Common Things in the Above Examples

Have you observed what is common in the above examples? Empathy, feedback, simplicity, and pattern are common elements of good design examples. All the experiences of box opening, wayfinding in the airport, and new language learning feel very smooth and timeless.

The best designs in this world are a result of reducing confusion, anticipating needs, and respecting the time of the users.

The best user experience begins when art steps back and emotion leads the way.

How to Practice UX Thinking for Better Design Experiences?

It is not necessary to go to Google or Apple to design something meaningful with smooth experiences. You can apply the best UX design principles when creating a product, a portfolio, or even workplace arrangements.

You can start by asking:
• How can I make UX more welcoming, cleaner, and simpler?
• What emotions do users feel with my design?
• Where does confusion or hesitation start in the design?

You can also observe UX design examples around you: such as your favorite website or application, a coffee shop menu, or mall checkouts. Learn empathy, practice consistency, and in the longer term, you will realise that you are an improved designer and more importantly a far better human.

Conclusion

Being human first is the best way to create a great design because it creates design experiences that feel kind, welcoming, and natural. When designers follow UX design standards and try to apply best UX design practices to solve problems, they create calmness in the products within a noisy digital world.

Through this article, we have learned that good examples of UX design are all around us: from Google’s simplicity to Starbucks’ personal touch, and from IKEA’s store path to Apple’s packaging. Therefore, you will eventually come to realize that perfection does not create good user experiences; rather, it is empathy and connection that do.