The “uncanny valley” is that unsettling gap between almost human and human. In UX and product design, it’s the moment when something looks realistic enough to trigger our expectations for real-world behavior, but falls just short, creating discomfort instead of delight. Think avatars with glassy eyes, chatbots with suspiciously human typing pauses, or “realistic” micro interactions that feel off in a way you can’t quite name.
Dark Forest UX describes a user experience that feels inscrutable, unpredictable, or even threatening, much like wandering through a dark forest. For users, it’s an experience where they’re unsure what’s happening, what’s safe to do next, or what consequences their actions might trigger.
Empty Fridge Syndrome describes the disappointing experience users have when they first open a newly installed app or sign in to a new product, only to find… nothing. No data, no guidance, no value. Just an empty, cold interface waiting for them to figure out what to do next. The app looks polished from the outside, but when you “open it up” (the fridge), it’s empty or filled with placeholders.
The Lorem Ipsum Trap refers to the mistake of designing and evaluating interfaces with placeholder text, like the classic “lorem ipsum” filler, instead of realistic, meaningful content. It’s what happens when designs look polished in mockups but break down when confronted with the messy, unpredictable reality of actual user content.
Frankenstein design refers to a user interface or experience that feels stitched together from mismatched parts, often inconsistent in style, behavior, and purpose. It happens when components, patterns, or ideas from different sources are cobbled together without a coherent vision, resulting in a product that “works,” but feels awkward, confusing, or even unsettling.
Pixel peeping refers to the obsessive examination of a design at an extreme level of detail, scrutinizing every pixel, alignment, or color value, sometimes to the detriment of the bigger picture. It’s when designers zoom all the way in and get stuck fussing over tiny visual details that most users will never notice.
Cargo cult UX describes the practice of copying design patterns, UI elements, or user flows from other products, often popular or “successful” ones, without understanding the underlying principles that make them effective (or whether they’re even appropriate for your context). In other words, borrowing the form of good design, but not the function.
Dribbblization describes a design trend where interfaces prioritize aesthetic polish and flashy visuals over usability, clarity, and real-world context, often inspired by the kind of mockups shared on design showcase platforms like Dribbble. It’s when designs look amazing in a static shot but fall apart when used.
Mullet UI refers to an interface that’s all “flash and show” up front, but clunky, outdated, or neglected in the back. In other words: “Business in the front, party in the back”, just like the infamous haircut. It’s a design that impresses users initially with a sleek homepage or landing screen, but quickly reveals poor usability, inconsistency, or a lack of care deeper in the experience.
Lipstick on a pig describes the act of superficially improving the visual appearance of a product or feature, without addressing its deeper flaws or usability problems. This happens when designers apply a new coat of paint to a bad experience, hoping that users won’t notice the core issues lurking underneath.