SOMETIMES HARD UI CAN BE A BLESSING

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Harder-to-use interfaces can improve user outcomes when designed intentionally, as research on disfluent fonts shows that cognitive strain helps people think more carefully and perform better on complex tasks. The key factor is user motivation - B2C users who personally need to solve problems are often more willing to engage with added complexity than B2B users who may be using software out of obligation. Examples include legal advice apps that improved query quality by replacing simple text fields with guided prompts and B2B tools where power users prefer complex interfaces like command lines for greater control and efficiency.