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UX Guides

Short lessons on UI craft, AI + UX, and proven A/B test patterns — each with real Do/Don't examples explained like for kids.

UI ideas from Practical UI and Dos and Don'ts for Form Input. AI + UX from practical product work. A/B patterns inspired by abtest.design.

A/B test patterns

Winning experiments from real apps — trials, paywalls, onboarding, checkout, and retention.

Don’t

Control — unclear trial

Blinkist Premium

Start free trial

When do I get charged?

Do

Winner — clear timeline · Blinkist +23%

How your free trial works

  1. Today — Full access starts
  2. Day 5 — Reminder notification
  3. Day 7 — Trial ends, plan begins
Start 7-day free trial

A/B tests · 7 min · 4 examples

Free trials people actually start

Make trials feel clear, easy to redeem, and low-risk — lessons from Blinkist, Slopes, Going, and more.

Don’t

Control — promo line

“The #1 running app for serious athletes.”

Go Premium

Do

Winner — social proof · Runtastic +44%

★★★★★ Maya T.

“Finally stuck to my training plan for 3 months.”

Go Premium

A/B tests · 7 min · 4 examples

Paywalls that convert (without feeling mean)

Social proof, soft gates, yearly defaults, and clear tier contrast — from real A/B winners.

Don’t

Control — signup first

Join Pinterest

Email

you@email.com
Continue

No content seen yet

Do

Winner — explore first · Pinterest +20%

Keep exploring — or save your finds

Sign up to save

A/B tests · 7 min · 4 examples

Onboarding that shows value first

Let people explore, pick multiple goals, and delay scary steps — Pinterest, Headspace, TikTok patterns.

Don’t

Control — account wall

Create account to book

Email

you@email.com

Password

••••••••

Do

Winner — light checkout · HotelTonight +15%

Order summary

Name

Alex

Email

alex@email.com

Set a password later via email link

A/B tests · 6 min · 4 examples

Checkout with less friction

Cut account walls, clarify payments and delivery, and keep pricing estimates honest.

Don’t

Control — streak = full goal

Daily goal: 30 XP

Streak breaks at 29 XP

Do

Winner — decoupled · Duolingo +40%

🔥 12-day streak

1 lesson keeps it alive · Goal still 30 XP

A/B tests · 6 min · 4 examples

Retention loops that stick

Make streaks achievable, motivation personal, and progress visible — Duolingo, Opal, Stash lessons.

AI + UX

Design AI chats, prompts, trust signals, and collaborator flows people can rely on.

Don’t

Wrong — fake human agent
S

Sarah · Support

Hi! I’ve reviewed your account and fixed billing.

Looks human — but it’s a bot guessing

Do

Right — clearly labeled AI
AI assistant · Can make mistakes

I can explain plans and draft replies. I can’t change billing myself.

AI + UX · 7 min · 4 examples

AI chat interfaces people trust

Design AI chats that feel honest: clear roles, easy edits, and no fake “human” vibes.

Don’t

Wrong — vague wish
Make this UX better

AI invents random redesigns

Do

Right — design-brief prompt

Role: Senior UX writer

Goal: Empty-state for search

Constraints: ≤12 words, no emoji

Format: 3 options as a list

AI + UX · 6 min · 4 examples

Prompts designers can reuse

Write prompts like design specs: role, goal, constraints, and examples — not vague wishes.

Don’t

Wrong — guess looks final

Your competitor’s churn is exactly 12.4%.

Stated as fact — may be hallucinated

Do

Right — draft + verify

Draft · verify before sharing

Estimated churn ~10–15% based on public reviews — confirm with your data.

AI + UX · 6 min · 4 examples

Honest AI confidence & errors

Help people know when to trust AI — and how to recover when it’s wrong.

Don’t

Wrong — endless spinner

Thinking…

Do

Right — streaming draft

Here’s a clearer empty state: “No projects yet.

Words appear as they’re generated

AI + UX · 5 min · 4 examples

AI loading states that don’t panic people

When AI takes time, show progress, partial results, and a way to stop — not a frozen spinner forever.

Don’t

Wrong — silent overwrite

Your brief was replaced.

New AI brief content only…

Do

Right — suggest then apply

Yours

Original brief…

Suggestion

Clearer brief…

Apply suggestion

AI + UX · 6 min · 4 examples

AI as teammate, not magic button

Design AI features as a collaborator with review — not a one-tap “do everything” magic wand.

UI fundamentals

Forms, buttons, color, clarity — the building blocks of usable interfaces.

Don’t

Wrong — radios for many flavors

Add flavor

Vanilla
Caramel
Hazelnut
White Chocolate

Only one can stay selected

Do

Right — checkboxes for many flavors

Add flavor

Vanilla
Caramel
Hazelnut
White Chocolate

UI · 6 min · 4 examples

Checkboxes vs radio buttons

Learn when people can pick many things, and when they can pick only one.

Don’t

Wrong — placeholder as the only label
ed@uxtribe.eu

Hint disappeared — what was this field again?

Do

Right — label stays visible

Email address

ed@uxtribe.eu

We’ll never share your email.

UI · 7 min · 4 examples

Friendly text fields

Make typing into forms feel easy: clear labels, smart defaults, and less busywork.

Don’t

Wrong — everything shouts
SavePublishShare

Which one is the main action?

Do

Right — one primary
PublishSave draftShare

UI · 6 min · 4 examples

Buttons that make sense

Teach people what to click first with clear button weights and honest labels.

Don’t

Wrong — pale text

A handmade laptop stand crafted from walnut veneer. Ideal for home or office use with improved ergonomics.

Hard to read, especially outdoors

Do

Right — strong, soft text

A handmade laptop stand crafted from walnut veneer. Ideal for home or office use with improved ergonomics.

Free shipping · 5.0 (23 reviews)

UI · 6 min · 4 examples

Color & contrast for everyone

Use color to guide attention — without leaving people out who see differently.

Don’t

Wrong — too many at once

Pick a flavor

Vanilla
Caramel
Hazelnut
Raspberry
Lavender
Strawberry
Cinnamon
Almond
Cherry
Honey
Pumpkin
Peppermint

Do

Right — fewer + Show more

Pick a flavor

Vanilla
Caramel
Hazelnut
Raspberry
Lavender
Strawberry

UI · 7 min · 4 examples

Less is more (without hiding the important stuff)

Cut clutter, reduce choices, and break big tasks into small steps so brains stay calm.

Don’t

Wrong — toggle needs Apply
Get notified on subscribe
Share data with apps
Apply settings

Switch already felt “on”

Do

Right — instant effect
Get notified on subscribe
Share data with apps

Changes apply the moment you flip

UI · 6 min · 4 examples

Toggles & sliders done right

Use switches for instant on/off, and sliders only when “about this much” is good enough.

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