Jakob Nielsen’s recent article, Heuristics Cartoons, makes a brilliant case for using humor and visuals to teach UX principles—because let’s be honest, nobody remembers dry design theory. But a well-drawn cartoon? That sticks.
Here is a quick review and summary of why this approach works and why every UX designer should care.
The Power of Cartoons in UX Education
Nielsen argues that heuristics (those golden UX rules we all pretend to memorize) are easier to grasp when presented as simple, funny illustrations rather than bullet points.
Why It Works:
Visuals > Text – Our brains process images 60,000x faster than text.
Humor = Retention – People remember jokes better than jargon.
Instant Clarity – A cartoon about a confusing error message explains the problem way faster than a lecture.
3 Key UX Lessons (That Jakob’s Cartoons Explain Perfectly)
1. “Error Messages Should Actually Help”
Cartoon Example: A user stares at *”Error 404: ID-10 Tissue”* while their computer bursts into flames.
Lesson: Bad error messages blame users instead of guiding them. Good UX solves problems, not creates them.
2. “Don’t Make Me Think (Literally)”
Cartoon Example: A checkout form with 87 fields, including “Your childhood pet’s nickname.”
Lesson: Friction kills conversions. If users need a PhD to check out, you’ve failed.
3. “Consistency is Boring… But Critical”
Cartoon Example: A website where every button looks different—some blink, some scream “CLICK ME!!”
Lesson: Inconsistent UI = user rage. Predictability = user happiness.
Why This Matters for UX Designers
- Training Teams: Cartoons make onboarding faster and funnier.
- Client Buy-In: A funny sketch can convince stakeholders faster than a 50-slide deck.
- Memorable Learning: Design principles stick better when they’re visual + entertaining.
Final Thought: Stop Being So Serious
UX doesn’t have to be a snoozefest. As Nielsen shows, the best way to teach design is through storytelling, humor, and visuals.
So next time you explain heuristic #4 (“Match Between System and Real World”), maybe just draw a confused grandma trying to use TikTok. It’ll work better.
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