Chinese app design: weird, but it works. Here's why

705K views · 2 years ago · explainer · evergreen

Phoebe Yu explains why Chinese app design looks crowded and strange to Western eyes and why it works for its users. It looks at how culture shapes interface preferences.

HN people use it to explain why UX that feels nice differs between East Asian and Western audiences, and as proof that interfaces are part of culture.

“User interfaces are part of culture, like everything humans touch.”

3 comments from Hacker News

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@InsideOutSanta2025 · in “Hyperview – Native mobile apps, as easy as creating a website”
There's a pretty big difference in what UX "feels nice" to East Asian audiences vs Western audiences. This video provides some insight into why this might be: ▶ this video
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@zi_2024 · in “Chinese app design: weird, but it works [video]”
Submitted the video to Hacker News.
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@idiotsecant2026 · in “Is this the end of the once-mighty GoPro?”
'China' can do UX just fine, when the incentive is there. Part of the reason UX seems rough, outside of low quality products where it's a tertiary consideration, is cultural differences. User interfaces are part of culture, like everything humans touch. Those preferences shape the resulting tech. Sometimes those choices are less optimal for western users with their own preferences. ▶ this video
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