Analysis of Design Friction for Mobile Service UI based on the Sensitivity of Personal Information Types

Abstract

Background ‘Design Friction’ is a microinteraction design that intentionally creates points of friction to ensure the user’s attention. Interactions lacking design friction can cause problems such as reduced accuracy and incorrect selection, and thus must be considered during the user experience/user interface (UX/UI) design process. Despite its significance, there remains a lack of in-depth research regarding design friction. Moreover, the fact that the characteristics of design friction can shift depending on the inherent risks of tasks has not been adequately discussed. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the design friction factors applied to each user task, discussing the appropriate direction of design friction in mobile services associated with user privacy. Methods Through an extensive literature research, this study identified the key attributes of design friction. Based on this foundation, a categorization matrix was developed. Rigorous measures were taken to ensure the reliability of the study, including expert reviews and inter-coder reliability. Then, a dataset of 630 interface screens was collected for each user task related to mobile services that utilize personal information. Subsequently, cluster analysis and categorization were performed. Results As a result of the study, the categorization matrix composed of four categories and fourteen checklists was designed for the analysis of design friction. Moreover, the research identified four distinct types of friction: Absence of Friction, General Friction, Visual Friction, and Proactive Friction. Building on these findings, the study proposed guidelines for tailoring design friction according to the sensitivity of the information involved. Conclusions The theoretical significance of this study lies in its detailed classification of the design friction concept, which had previously been approached comprehensively, through a combination of literature review and content analysis. Furthermore, this study holds practical significance by introducing a friction measurement framework. This framework empowers designers to systematically appraise and gauge elements of stability and credibility in real-world contexts.