25 Jul Lesson 5: Words, Power, Edge
Reference: Barbara Kruger
Learning Objectives
- Examine how language frames insight and shapes power relations.
- Practice distilling tension without flattening meaning.
- Learn to use form (typography, hierarchy) as part of research argument.
Headline
“If you must compress, compress the system—don’t compress the user.”
Narrative & UX Interpretation
Kruger’s bold text slaps meaning into view. She exposes how statements position the reader. In research, our words do the same: “Users want…” vs. “She said…” are not neutral choices. The deck’s grammar becomes ideology. Choose your language with precision, or it will choose for you.
Developing Critical Thinking
- Rewrite an “insight” three ways: stakeholder voice, user voice, your voice. Compare.
- Identify verbs that erase agency (“Users struggle” vs. “We confused them”).
- Design a one-line poster that holds the tension, not the resolution.
- Ask: Who gains power from this phrasing? Who loses nuance?
Anchor & Process Grounding
- Anchor: Writing Effective UX Insights / UX Communication (NN/g).
- Grounding Move: Create a language checklist: Avoid “users say,” cite directly, label inference vs. quote, and state who decided each wording change.