Insights from CoderPush’s UI/UX Designer.
In the tech world, design is often mistaken for decoration – sleek buttons, smooth animations, or vibrant color palettes. While these elements are visually appealing, impactful product design goes far beyond the surface.
At CoderPush, we believe that great design solves real user problems, not just impressing them visually. That’s the mindset our UI/UX Designer, Hailie Vũ, shared in her TechTalk session #101 “Designing with Impact”, and it’s shaped how we think about UI/UX design in every project.
Moving Beyond Looks
It’s easy to associate good design with a polished UI. But a sleek interface can still frustrate users if the experience underneath is broken or confusing.
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
– Steve Jobs –
When design focuses only on visual details, it risks becoming superficial. A beautiful UI without thoughtful UX is like a stunning door that’s impossible to open. That’s why we’ve learned to shift our focus from “looking good” to “working well.”
The UX Iceberg: What Users Don’t See Matters Most
One metaphor that stuck with us is the UX iceberg – a simple but powerful way to explain where the real design work happens
Source: Kowalczyk K., 2025
Above the surface:
- Color schemes, typography, and layout
- Icons, button styles, and animations
Below the surface:
- User research and task flows
- Information hierarchy and logic
- Accessibility and micro-interactions
- Error prevention and empty states
Like an Iceberg, most of the effort and value in UX design is invisible to users – but it’s what determines whether the product feels intuitive or frustrating.
At CoderPush, we often collaborate with startups under tight deadlines. It’s tempting to prioritize UI polish for demos or launch. But designing with impact requires us to invest in the invisible parts that actually shape the experience.
Why UX Is the Core of Designing with Impact
At its core, UX is about problem-solving.
When we ask “What problem are we solving for the user?” – We shift our focus from visual design to functional impact. Small changes often make a huge difference:
- Clear navigation reduces user drop-offs
- Better form design increases conversions
- Microcopy prevents confusion
- Smart defaults save user time
These aren’t glamorous features, but they’re what make users come back.
Beware of “Catfish Design”
One memorable concept Hailie shared was “Catfish Design” – when a UI looks polished but delivers a misleading or poor experience.
It’s like an online profile that seems perfect… until you meet in real life.
Examples include:
- A button that appears clickable but does nothing
- An onboarding flow that ends in a dead-end dashboard
- A signup screen that hides extra steps until it’s too late
Catfish design erodes trust. It may win short-term attention but fails in long-term usability and retention. As a team, we’re more mindful of creating honest, trustworthy interfaces that match the experience underneath.
Real-World Examples of UX Impact
Some of the best design examples aren’t flashy – they’re thoughtful.
- Amazon’s one-click ordering removes barriers and respects user time.
- Strava’s automatic ride detection anticipates behavior and supports the user without asking.
These are examples of UX that solves real problems quietly and effectively – and often go unnoticed, which is a sign they’re working well.
How CoderPush Designs with Impact
At CoderPush, we work closely with startups and tech teams, often under fast-paced timelines. We’ve learned that investing early in UX – even just thoughtful user flows and microcopy – saves time, reduces bugs, and improves product outcomes.
Here’s how we apply the concept of “Designing with Impact”:
- Start with user problems, not UI mockups
- Validate with research, even lightweight surveys or interviews
- Collaborate across teams – UX is not just a designer’s job
- Design honest experiences – avoid catfish UX
- Focus on flow – not just screens
Final Thought: What Designing with Impact Really Means
Designing with impact doesn’t require fancy UI trends. It requires empathy, clarity, and commitment to solving real problems. The question we ask in every design sprint isn’t “Does it look good?” – it’s:
“Does it help the user succeed?”
🚀 Work With Us
CoderPush is a remote team of senior developers and product collaborators. We help startups build software that’s not just functional – but delightful to use.
Need help designing with impact? Let’s talk
