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6/5/2025
Resistance to redesign often comes with plenty of reasons, but the real issue is usually something we don’t even notice.
When a redesign is based on real user problems and solid data, it tends to go more smoothly than expected.
Design doesn’t always deliver quick wins like ads or new features, but once we see it driving signups, retention or just making the product feel better, it’s an easy yes.
The key to a successful redesign? Clearly define the problem first. Once that’s done, you’re already halfway there.
"A new design? Our clients already know the old one well, and I don’t think we need to change anything."
You’ll often hear this when someone suggests launching a new design for an app, and at first, it sounds fair.
But if you take a step back and look at it from a distance, you might see that this resistance to change is actually... something else? Maybe we say we’re worried about how users will react, but in reality... maybe it’s just our own “gut feeling”?
Sometimes we think users will get confused or won’t like the new design. “Users have figured it out. Why should we change a thing?”
The mistake here is assuming that silence means satisfaction. Just because users aren’t actively complaining doesn’t mean they’re happy. They might be tolerating pain points, abandoning in the middle of the flow, or looking for support channels more than they should.
These issues often stay invisible until someone looks at the data or talks to users (For every customer complaint, there are 26 other unhappy customers who have remained silent) The key is to approach it with empathy and evidence.
- Running usability tests before and after changes
- Involving users early through prototypes
- Rolling out gradually and collecting feedback
- Keeping familiar elements where it makes sense, so users aren’t starting from scratch
When a redesign is based on real user problems and backed by data, it usually goes a lot smoother than clients expect. It reveals how many small frustrations users had that were making their experience harder than it needed to be. - Lida
We’re afraid to invest in design, because it’s often seemed to us subjective or cosmetic, like it’s about to make product “look nice”, but not necessarily bring any return of investment (ROI) and real business value.
It’s true.
Return on investment (ROI) in design is not always as obvious or immediate as something like paid ads or feature development.
UI designers focus only on delivering, without any concrete business goals in mind or that they can’t tie their decisions to user behavior or metrics. And it’s hard to just say “this design decision increased retention by Y%” unless there’s a mature UX process and data tracking in place, so design changes can feel like a cost center instead of a growth opportunity.
Clients need to see how good design helps their goals - like getting more signups, keeping users around longer, or making people enjoy using the app. Once they see that connection, they’re usually much more open to investing in it. - Lida
Many products are driven by short term goals:
Design work that pays off over the long term - like improving onboarding or reducing friction - is often pushed down the priority list, because it won’t give instant visible revenue “bump”.
One of the biggest reasons app redesigns fall flat is simple: no one’s really sure what problem they’re trying to solve.
It usually starts with vague feedback like “users are confused” or “the app feels a bit outdated.”
That might be true, but it’s not enough to guide a smart redesign. If you jump into new layouts or updated visuals without knowing what’s actually frustrating users, you’re basically guessing. And guesses are expensive.
That’s why it's so important to figure out where users are getting stuck and why, before redesigning anything.
These things show you what’s really not working:
- Look at your data
- Watch a few session recordings
- Read through support requests
Once the problem is clear, the design work becomes focused - you’re fixing the exact points where people struggle. And when you do that, the results are much easier to measure, and the value of the redesign is obvious. - Lida
It’s easy to stick with what’s familiar, because “it’s always worked.” But if we want to do what’s right for the company, we should stop and ask ourselves:
Am I keeping things the same because it’s truly better - or because I’m scared of change?
Wondering if your app needs a redesign? Send it over and we’ll give you honest feedback!
SEO enthusiast with an interest in all its nuances, Oliwer is also interested in learning about various topics. Privately, he loves to play all types of sports and likes reading.
Let's chat about your ideas and see how we can bring them to life. Drop us a message, and let's start this awesome journey together!
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