Red Owl

31/07/2025

☀️ Summer reads for curious minds

This season, we’re revisiting 5 articles we shared that shaped our thinking in 2025. From UX testing techniques to designing with cognitive science in mind.

Whether you’re working through the heat or on a well-deserved break, these reads are packed with insights for better, smarter digital experiences.

📚 Your summer UX reading list:

1. European Accessibility Act (EAA): What businesses need to know before June 28th, 2025 (https://simple-code.agency/blog/project-management/how-european-accessibility-act-eaa-affects-your-business)

2. 63% of Websites Receive AI Traffic (https://ahrefs.com/blog/ai-traffic-study/)

3. Google doesn’t hate AI content: IT just hates bad content (https://www.oncrawl.com/technical-seo/google-doesnt-hate-ai-content-hates-bad-content/)

4. How to create quality content (https://ahrefs.com/blog/quality-content/)

5. How does user digital behaviour change in the spring & summer months? (https://www.click.co.uk/insights/how-does-user-digital-behaviour-change-in-the-spring-summer-months/)

What’s on your reading list this summer? Let us know in the comments! 🦉

29/07/2025

📱 Ever feel like your users are everywhere and nowhere at once? You're not alone. What looks like multitasking is really a brain in task-switching mode and your UX should account for it.

Design for clarity. Write for attention.

👉 Swipe through to find out how to help users stay focused, even when they’re pulled away.

✨ Sources:

🔹 Nielsen Norman Group (https://www.nngroup.com/articles/serial-task-switching/)

🔹 American Psychological Association (https://www.apa.org/topics/research/multitasking)

🔹 Unplugged (https://unplugged.rest/blog/multitasking-myth-and-how-its-killing-your-focus)

24/07/2025

Mental models shape how people expect your product to behave. When reality doesn’t match, confusion takes over.

That’s where testing comes in and the Wizard of Oz method is a clever way to uncover what users really expect, without building a full prototype.

🧙 In this method, users interact with what seems like a working interface, but a person is manually controlling and generating the system responses behind the scenes. It's especially helpful for testing conversational interfaces and AI-driven products early, while keeping prototyping costs low.

👀 Curious how it works?
Read The Wizard of Oz: A Usability Testing Technique at Nielsen Norman Group (https://www.nngroup.com/articles/wizard-of-oz/)

The Wizard of Oz is a user-research method where a user interacts with a mock interface controlled, to some degree, by a person.

22/07/2025

Ever wonder why users expect the search bar right there?

It’s not a guess. It’s a mental model at work.

Mental models shape how people interact with your product.
They’re built from past experiences and habits and when your design doesn’t match them, frustration follows.

💡 In this week’s post, we unpack what mental models are and why they matter for UX copywriters and designers alike.

🎯 Because great experiences start by meeting users where they already are.

👉 Swipe through to find out how to work with mental models, not against them.

16/07/2025

🚨 Let’s rethink our CTAs.

This post breaks down why switching to first person can make all the difference. It’s not clever wording. It’s clear thinking. And it works.

Because when your button says what your user is thinking, clicking feels easy.

💬 Got a CTA that feels a bit off? Drop it in the comments and we’ll help you rewrite it. 🦉

10/07/2025

This week we’ve clarified some essential concepts. Today, let's jump back to basics and explore how we're reading online.

Inspired by Vitaly Friedman’s article in Smashing Magazine, we’re revisiting the F-shaped pattern. It often appears when users scan content, especially on pages with lots of text.

It’s not the only way people read on the web, but it is a helpful reminder of how attention flows.

Here are a few things to try:

🔹 Place key details towards the top and left
🔹 Break up sections with clear headings and space
🔹 Use lists and short lines to help guide the reader

When we write with real behaviour in mind, our content becomes easier to understand and more inclusive.

📖 Read the full article to find out about the different scanning patterns on the web: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2024/04/f-shape-pattern-how-users-read/

Scrolling, scanning, skipping: How do users consume content online? Here’s what you need to know about reading behavior and design strategies to prevent harmful scanning patterns. An upcoming part of Smart Interface Design Patterns.

08/07/2025

🤔 UX terms you hear all the time, but never quite know what they mean?

Let’s fix that!

From A/B testing to personas, we’re breaking down some of UX’s most used terms. No buzzwords, no fluff. Just real-world examples you’ll actually remember.

Because understanding how people experience your product starts with knowing how they think.

Got a term you’re still unsure about? Drop it in the comments and we'll feature it next. 🦉

03/07/2025

☀️ The UX of Summer: Is your site ready?

As temperatures rise, users shift to mobile and scroll on the go between activities. As Consult highlights in this insightful article, it’s time to adapt your digital strategy to match this behavioural switch.

Here’s how to take a mobile-first approach:
✅ Review mobile usability and test forms and buttons in real-life conditions.
✅ Keep messages short and snappy.
✅ Make navigation easy and smooth.

Summer brings new habits and expectations. Let’s make sure your design meets them!

https://www.click.co.uk/insights/how-does-user-digital-behaviour-change-in-the-spring-summer-months/

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26/06/2025

The European Accessibility Act is just days away from taking effect.

As part of our ongoing campaign on accessibility, we’re sharing a helpful article by Simple Code that outlines how the regulation will impact digital services and what businesses can do to prepare.

If you’re still unsure where to begin, this is a great place to start.

📩 Want to make your website more inclusive? Get in touch to see how we can help you meet the requirements with clarity and ease.

📖 Read the article: https://simple-code.agency/blog/project-management/how-european-accessibility-act-eaa-affects-your-business

The European Accessibility Act takes effect in June 2025 across all EU member states.

It introduces clear requirements for digital accessibility including websites, apps, online shops, banking systems, and customer support tools.

If your business has 10 or more employees or over €2 million in revenue, these rules likely apply to you.

Non-EU businesses offering digital services in the EU must comply as well.

Each country sets its own penalties, but they often include fines or restrictions on digital services.

Not sure what this means for your business? We’ve explained it clearly in the article linked below 👇