We just hosted our very first New York Tech Week event! 🙌

It was a fantastic session exploring our theme: “Crafting AI products that stick.” You can watch the recording here.

One of the big ideas we tackled was how AI products can earn and maintain user trust - a topic I love diving into, because it’s a timeless challenge in UX design.

So how do we design products that users actually trust?

We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this.

Let’s dig in.

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How to design for trust

As product builders and designers, we talk about trust all. the. time.

Trust is an abstract concept. You can’t see it, but you feel it when it’s there. And you definitely notice when it’s not.

The invisible force behind products people love

Think about the digital tools and products you keep coming back to.

Chances are, it’s not just because they’re useful. It’s because they feel like a dependable friend: consistent, honest, and reliable.

That’s trust at work, and it doesn't happen by accident.

How top products build trust

They always provide feedback

When we interact with a product, we're constantly asking ourselves (consciously or not):

“Did that work?”
“Am I doing this right?”
“Is the system responding to me?”

Without feedback, we're left in uncertainty, and uncertainty erodes trust.

So, how do we provide a sense of certainty, and control?

The answer: provide feedback to user actions.

Whether it’s a confirmation message, a subtle loading animation, or an immediate error flag, it reduces anxiety and provides certainty.

They focus on details

Imagine walking into a building with uneven floors, loose shelves, leaking pipes, and windows that refuse to be shut properly.

Not exactly inviting, is it? The same goes for UI design.

Inconsistent padding, mismatched fonts, and erratic color usage can make your product feel unprofessional and untrustworthy.

That’s why paying attention to these details is crucial. They’re the foundation of a professional and reliable user experience.

They give the right amount of information

You've definitely heard that transparency builds trust.

But transparency isn’t about overwhelming people with information. It’s about being clear, timely, and relevant.

When it comes to trust, how much you say matters just as much as what you say.

This is the idea behind progressive disclosure - showing only the essential information upfront, revealing more detail as needed.

UX is about feelings

At the end of the day, what sets your product apart isn’t just what it does, but how it makes people feel.

Building trust is essential, and getting it right makes all the difference.

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Thanks for reading!

Anyi & Andrea

Co-founders @ Koi Studios​