During my UI/UX studies at Newcastle College in 2023, I asked my instructor, Phill, why we don’t just use common designs to build things faster instead of doing lengthy user research.
Phill told me about a concept called “Paving the Cow’s Path.” He explained that the streets of Boston are famously confusing because they were paved over the winding paths cows originally made. In design, this is a warning not to just formalize an existing process without thinking if it’s actually the best way.
But in UI/UX, the idea is different and often positive. We watch how users naturally use a product—these are their “cowpaths” or “desire lines.” Instead of forcing them to follow a path we’ve designed, our job is to make their natural path easier and more efficient. We “pave” the paths they are already creating.
That conversation changed my perspective. I realized I was suggesting we ignore the user’s natural instincts. The most efficient design isn’t about building fast; it’s about building what’s most intuitive for the user. My job is to watch where users go and then pave that path for them.