The value of friction

The challenge for designers isn’t to eliminate all friction, but to find the right balance — enough resistance to create value and meaning, but not so much as to become genuinely obstructive. This “golden ratio” of friction might be different for each experience, but the principle remains: some friction isn’t just acceptable, it’s essential.

I’ve found that some friction in design is fine. Too much turns into dark patterns. Too little can lend toward the path of overuse.