038 Desire Line

Traces of use or wear that indicate preferred methods of interaction.

• Desire lines generally refer to worn paths where people walk, but can be applied to any signs or traces left by user activity.

• Desire lines represent a noninvasive and unbiased measure of how people use things. For example, wear on computer keys indicates their frequency of use.

• Desire lines can be artificially created and studied using technologies such as video cameras, GPS, and website heat maps.

• Pay attention to desire lines. They indicate strong and unbiased user preferences, and represent opportunities for improvement.

See Also Affordance • Cost-Benefit • Gamification Performance Load • Root Cause

Desire lines are often seen branching off of designated paths, indicating a strong pedestrian preference for alternate routes.