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Up to now, this publication has focused on very specific parts of the ownership experience.
But it’s time to take a step back and consider a more general question: what it is like to run a store with one of these devices?
And, while we benchmark that experience, it’d be unfair to not include the billion-dollar behemoth that is Shopify. So for this final chapter, I’ll be throwing them into the ring too.
Summary: Verifone are so far behind with their software—compared to iZettle, SumUp, Square and Shopify—that I doubt they’ll ever catch up.
🙉
Why you can’t blame the chimpanzee.
📈
Why mundane tasks hurt so bad.
🏌️♂️
The importance of timing.
🙅♂️
How data lies.
👨🦯
The danger of MVPs.

A behind the scenes look at how I redesigned the Built for Mars sign-up flow, and iterated from early feedback.
The two "obvious" fixes that did nothing
Why you shouldn't always force an input
Why limiting the user's choices can be beneficial
Hinge built its reputation on a single promise: it's the dating app that wants you to leave. This is a breakdown of how the interface is actually engineered to make sure you don't.
How dating apps keep you engaged (not romantically)
The design equivalent of clickbait headlines
How Hinge leverages social scarcity
The challenge for a navigation app isn't to efficiently show you the best route, it's to make you believe that you've found the best route.
How strategy influences design
Waze is cornered, and slowly shrinking
What Apple's strategy appears to be

From rat mazes to coffee apps: why the motivation to reach a reward increases the closer your users get to their goal.
How to use the Goal Gradient Effect
Spinning the flywheel of purchases
Why your rules need to be clear
Sometimes, the best onboarding is no onboarding, and simple products get bogged down with unnecessary explanations. This case study on Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Asda demonstrates when to just let the user try it for themselves.
Sometimes the best onboarding, is no onboarding
“Show, don’t tell” often beats education
Data can’t always tell you when onboarding is wrong

An analysis of Monzo’s 1p challenge, focusing on the middle slump, where progress slows and motivation quietly fades.
Delight can replace progress, but only temporarily
"The middle" is the real retention problem
Motivation needs contextualised reference points
Up to now, this publication has focused on very specific parts of the ownership experience.
But it’s time to take a step back and consider a more general question: what it is like to run a store with one of these devices?
And, while we benchmark that experience, it’d be unfair to not include the billion-dollar behemoth that is Shopify. So for this final chapter, I’ll be throwing them into the ring too.
Summary: Verifone are so far behind with their software—compared to iZettle, SumUp, Square and Shopify—that I doubt they’ll ever catch up.
🙉
Why you can’t blame the chimpanzee.
📈
Why mundane tasks hurt so bad.
🏌️♂️
The importance of timing.
🙅♂️
How data lies.
👨🦯
The danger of MVPs.

A behind the scenes look at how I redesigned the Built for Mars sign-up flow, and iterated from early feedback.
The two "obvious" fixes that did nothing
Why you shouldn't always force an input
Why limiting the user's choices can be beneficial
Hinge built its reputation on a single promise: it's the dating app that wants you to leave. This is a breakdown of how the interface is actually engineered to make sure you don't.
How dating apps keep you engaged (not romantically)
The design equivalent of clickbait headlines
How Hinge leverages social scarcity
The challenge for a navigation app isn't to efficiently show you the best route, it's to make you believe that you've found the best route.
How strategy influences design
Waze is cornered, and slowly shrinking
What Apple's strategy appears to be

From rat mazes to coffee apps: why the motivation to reach a reward increases the closer your users get to their goal.
How to use the Goal Gradient Effect
Spinning the flywheel of purchases
Why your rules need to be clear
Sometimes, the best onboarding is no onboarding, and simple products get bogged down with unnecessary explanations. This case study on Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Asda demonstrates when to just let the user try it for themselves.
Sometimes the best onboarding, is no onboarding
“Show, don’t tell” often beats education
Data can’t always tell you when onboarding is wrong

An analysis of Monzo’s 1p challenge, focusing on the middle slump, where progress slows and motivation quietly fades.
Delight can replace progress, but only temporarily
"The middle" is the real retention problem
Motivation needs contextualised reference points