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title: UX & Familiarity

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# UX & Familiarity
### "Familiarity and consistency is quite powerful in design."

#### Why do designers care about familiarity?
Familiarity is a huge part of a design's evolution, and in particular, its inception. When designing an experience, it is worth baring in mind that familiarity is often far more important than a potentially better, but new, user experience. For example, it might make more sense to use a hamburger menu to save space in your screen, however, if >50% of users tested weren't familiar with a hamburger menu, you will automatically cause confusion and a sense of unfamiliarity - this will either distract the user from completing the task at hand, or worst case - they will quit the app and not return. 

#### Why is this important for Bitcoin/Crypto?
When we begin to put financial sovereignty in the hands of users, it is a powerful tool - but equally an overwhelming experience. For example, if I accidentally reveal my private key to the wrong person, or even copy down my back-up seed phrase incorrectly, I could lose hundreds (if not thousands!) of $$$. Therefore, whilst self-sovereignty is important, designers have the challenge of "how can I make this user feel as safe and comfortable (familiar) as possible?"
- I believe it is therefore essential to create/use points of familar reference. Here is an example in everyday life:


    - I move into a new place, with new housemates, I feel a little overwhelmed. I know I want this place to "feel like home" (comfortable), but how do I create that positive psychological experience? It can be as simple as smelling a flower that reminds you of a familiar childhood experience, or perhaps seeing a pattern on a cussion that brings you back to a familiar time, or maybe the sound of a blackbird in the garden. These visual and lingual ques can also be created within software, reminding the user of an application they have used in the past that makes them feel like they are "at home" ... a). it works, b). they are safe and can navigate their own experience, c). their money is in safe/trusted hands...


#### How can we find these creature comforts/familiarites?
This is something I would like to explore further... perhaps developing a questionaire that encompasses different language and iconography used across multiple payment platforms, and gathering feedback on how users interpret these - does X or Y provoke a greater feeling of safety? 
- Iconography: here we can look at visual ques... what provokes a faster, more confident completion of user tasks (e.g Sending or Receiving a payment)
- Language: gathering similar reactions to different words with similar meanings (e.g Bank Account, Wallet, Address, Savings, Balance... Create Invoice, Receive Payment, Request... Send, Transfer, Pay)
