What Good UX Means for Kenyan Users

Description

Episode 27 | What Good UX Means for Kenyan UsersWhy do some apps feel like they were built for Kenyans—while others feel like they were simply translated for us?Great UX isn't just about beautiful interfaces or following global design trends. It's about understanding how people actually live, communicate, pay, travel, and solve everyday problems.In this episode of Kenyan Design Konversations, we're joined by Marianne, popularly known as The UX Girl, who shares her expertise and perspective on what it truly takes to design meaningful digital experiences for Kenyan users. Together, we unpack what good User Experience (UX) really means in the Kenyan context.From M-Pesa and mobile-first behaviour to connectivity, affordability, accessibility, trust, and digital literacy, we explore why designing for Kenya requires empathy, research, and a deep understanding of local realities—not just polished screens.Together, we discuss:What great UX looks like for Kenyan usersWhy local culture should shape digital experiencesCommon UX mistakes when designing for Kenyan audiencesHow mobile-first behaviour influences product decisionsThe impact of M-Pesa, internet access, and affordability on designWhy research should come before pixelsDesigning for different levels of digital literacyBuilding inclusive products for diverse communitiesBalancing global UX best practices with local user needsLessons from Kenyan products that are getting UX right—and where there's room to improveWhether you're a UX/UI designer, developer, product manager, founder, researcher, student, or anyone building digital products for Africa, this conversation offers practical insights you can apply immediately.Because great UX doesn't begin with design systems—it begins with understanding people.A special thank you to Marianne (The UX Girl) for sharing her experience and practical insights on designing products that genuinely reflect the needs, behaviours, and realities of Kenyan users.If this episode sparks new ideas, follow Kenyan Design Konversations on Spotify and share it with someone building the future of African technology and design.Join the KDK communityWebsite: https://kdk.co.ke/Kreative Konvo: https://kreativekonvo.kdk.co.ke/Campus Drive: https://campustour.kdk.co.ke/Shop: https://shop.kdk.co.ke/shopWhatsApp Community: https://tr.ee/otMQ4zF4pOFollow Kenyan Design KonversationsSpotifyYouTubeLinkedInInstagramX (Twitter)TikTokDesign for people. Design with context. Design for Kenya.