If You are a UX Designer, How Would You Make ‘Wrinkles’ Become Old-friendly?
Are you going to use checkboxes, menus, or just a label?
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One time I took a taxi and I was in a hurry. As I told the driver my destination, I glanced at somebody in the front mirror only to realize that it was me.
Oh my, I’m getting old.
My life was too busy that I didn’t realize time had passed me by. When I’m well-rested, I can still hide the age out of my face. But every sign of aging is already showing up — wrinkles, laugh lines, and gray hairs.
“Please don’t retouch my wrinkles. It took me so long to earn them.”- Anna Magnani.
I have to accept that I am now aging, and I am not young anymore.
Saying goodbye to our youth must be faced with no resistance. It’s something that I’m sure will happen to us all, no matter what age we are right now.
If somebody calls us ‘old,’ it’s okay.
Yes, it’s a label, and who cares?
Getting old needs acceptance. So, let the gray hairs be a reminder that we have reached this far. And the wrinkles as testaments of the bumps and humps along the way.
“My face carries all of my memories. Why would I erase them?”- Diane Von Furstenberg.
May we see the glow that goes beyond the mirror. The drooping eyes that say, “I understand because I’ve been there.” Or, the wrinkled smile that says, “Don’t worry, it will pass.”
Society may label us as “old,” but we are not just “labels” in reality. Instead, our victories are our “checkboxes,” and we have a “menu” of experiences from which others can learn.
Just like a software UX design, age deepens our perspective in life. Finally, we can make the complex simple. And transform the messy to easy.
In case you are not into software development, UX means user experience. One of its goals is to make the software user-friendly and easy to use. For more, check this out.
We can also use our “slider” to bring back memories. Some are good, some are bad. Yet, they made us who we are right now.
Of course, we don’t have the option to move our “slider” forward. But we are not afraid anymore. If there’s a storm, we know it will pass. Then the clouds become clear again.
“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright
When I was young, I got frustrated when things didn’t happen my way. But as the dots slowly connect, the reasons become more apparent. Instead of being afraid of the future, I now anticipate what’s next and am already grateful for what didn’t connect.
As we understand life beyond its trivialities, we may become better and not bitter. Age is not something we should be ashamed of, but something to be proud of.
Through the years, we have already created different designs in the tapestry of our lives. It made our story beautiful and colorful — a masterpiece.
“Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.”” — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec
We have done our best to pave the way. Anyone may call us “old,” but we know they are standing on our shoulders. We have done our part, and it’s time to let go.
And, if today you wake up and you feel old, then be happy.
It’s a privilege because some didn’t make it.
“Ageing is just another word for living.” — Cindy Joseph
Being old is not something that we can deny. It’s the truth, and it’s something that we have to live with.
After all, getting old is not that bad at all.
NOTE:I can’t help but smile while writing this. The UX idea just popped up when I started writing. I’ve been reviewing our mobile apps lately. I am not a UX designer, but I empathize with the users. So to all the UX designers, I salute you. The software world needs you :-).
