Surely sludge = friction?

While hearing Cass Sunstein talk about his new book Sludge, I thought surely this is fiction?

Not knocking it, I’m already known for saying friction can be a good thing.

One of the things I really like about the design guidance is the time to stop. A lot of the time we rush design in a frictionless way but we need to deliberately add friction.

Ian Forrester speaking at the ICO Privacy by Design 2021 conference

Remember those books?

Design is about removing friction?
I was reminded of a number of design books I read when in College and University. They were held up as the way to do good design. Its something I did explore at UCD gathering last year.

Remember…

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Hooked by Nir Eyal

Made to stick by Chip Heath, Dan Heath (although this isn’t what I remember it to be)

Even reading the titles now makes it very clear how much things have changed.