Scott Belsky
Lazy, Vain, and Selfish
Inspired by Scott Belsky episode
Scott Belsky's 'lazy, vain, and selfish' user insight applies perfectly to toddlers—and honestly, to exhausted parents too.
Scott Belsky teaches designers that users are lazy, vain, and selfish. They won't read instructions. They care deeply about looking good. They want to know what's in it for them. This isn't being mean—it's just reality. Design for humans as they actually are.
Your toddler is spectacularly lazy, vain, and selfish. They will not follow a three-step instruction. They will, however, stage a full theatrical production about wearing the sparkly shoes in the rain because aesthetics matter more than waterproofing. And they need to know what's in it for them before they'll cooperate with literally anything you propose.
This is not a character flaw. This is just being human at maximum honesty.
So design for it. Make the right choice the easiest choice. Give them two options you can live with so they feel powerful. Tell them what they get: "Teeth brushed, then story." You're not manipulating them. You're just designing for the user you actually have instead of the imaginary cooperative one you wish existed.
