Unveiling the UX Lessons from Indian Hindu Mythology — Part 2
The Mahabharata, a monumental epic filled with tales of bravery, moral dilemmas, and the triumph of righteousness, holds within its narratives a treasure trove of wisdom that resonates deeply in the world of UX design.
Let’s embark on this journey of discovery of Maha Bharatam together in Part 2.
In this exploration, we’ll uncover insights from key episodes and characters in the Mahabharata, offering guidance for UX designers. These timeless tales provide wisdom on user privacy, inclusivity, persistence, ethics, clarity, and adaptability , crucial principles in modern UX design.
Dignity Preserved: Draupadi’s Cheerharan (Disrobing)
In the court of Hastinapura, Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, faced humiliation as Duryodhana ordered her to be disrobed in public. In her distress, she prayed to Lord Krishna for help, and miraculously, her saree kept extending, preserving her dignity.
Draupadi’s harrowing ordeal in the court of Hastinapura teaches us the importance of protecting users’ privacy and dignity in design.
Lesson: User Privacy and Dignity in UX Design
UX designers must prioritize user privacy and dignity, ensuring that sensitive data and interactions are safeguarded, just as Draupadi’s honor should have been protected.
UX Examples
Exiled Resilience: Pandavas’ Journey
The Pandavas were unjustly exiled for 13 years, including one year in incognito. During this time, they faced numerous challenges, adapting to different roles and environments while maintaining their resilience. They even served in the court of King Virata, with Arjuna taking on the guise of a eunuch dance teacher.
The Pandavas’ years in exile emphasize the importance of resilience, adaptability, and user-centeredness.
Lesson: Resilience, Adaptability, and User-Centeredness in UX Design
UX designers should create experiences that are resilient, adaptable to changing user needs, and always prioritize the users’ best interests, just as the Pandavas faced numerous challenges during their exile.
UX Examples
Tragic Hero: Karna’s Journey
Karna, born to Kunti, was abandoned and raised by a charioteer. Despite his courage, he faced discrimination due to his low birth. Duryodhana, recognizing his abilities, made him the King of Anga. However, Karna’s true identity remained hidden, and he was denied equal status.
Karna, despite his noble qualities, faces discrimination throughout his life. His story highlights the importance of creating inclusive and equal experiences.
Lesson: Inclusivity and Equality in UX Design
UX designers should create interfaces that are inclusive and treat all users equally, regardless of their background or circumstances, just as Karna deserved equal treatment.
UX Examples
Sacrificial Dedication: Ekalavya’s Commitment
Ekalavya, a young tribal boy, aspired to become an archer under the mentorship of Dronacharya, the royal teacher. However, Dronacharya rejected him due to his low caste. Undeterred, Ekalavya crafted a clay idol of Dronacharya and practiced archery diligently. He excelled and became a formidable archer, displaying remarkable dedication.
Ekalavya’s unwavering dedication to mastering archery, despite adversity, teaches us about the importance of persistence and user-centricity in design.
Lesson: Persistence and User-Centricity in UX Design
UX designers should persistently work to improve their designs based on user feedback and changing needs, just as Ekalavya tirelessly honed his skills.
UX Examples
Unyielding Resolve: Bhishma’s Determination
Bhishma, born as Devavrata, took a solemn vow of celibacy to ensure his father’s happiness. Throughout his life, he served the Kuru dynasty selflessly and with unwavering loyalty, even renouncing the throne for the greater good. His determination to maintain his vow and protect his dynasty in the face of personal sacrifice exemplifies resilience.
Bhishma’s commitment and endurance, despite challenging circumstances, underscore the importance of resilience in design.
Lesson: Resilience in UX Design
UX design emphasizes creating interfaces and experiences that can withstand challenges, ensuring users can navigate and interact effectively even in difficult circumstances.
UX Examples
Sacrificial Valor: Abhimanyu’s Sacrifice
During the Kurukshetra War, Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, displayed extraordinary valor by entering the complex Chakravyuha formation, a battlefield tactic. However, he only knew how to penetrate it, not escape. Tragically, he got trapped and fought valiantly until he was overwhelmed and killed.
Abhimanyu’s bravery in the Chakravyuha teaches us about the importance of providing clear guidance and user-friendly interfaces.
Lesson: User-Friendly Design and Navigation
UX designers should provide clear guidance and intuitive navigation within the product, ensuring that users can easily achieve their goals, just as Abhimanyu needed guidance to navigate the complex battlefield formation.
UX Examples
Skill Mastery Challenge: Dronacharya’s Test
Dronacharya, the royal archery instructor, organized a test for the Kuru princes, including Arjuna and Karna. He placed a wooden bird high in a tree and asked each prince to aim at its eye. When Dronacharya questioned his students about what they saw, most described the bird, the tree, or the sky. However, Arjuna only saw the bird’s eye. Impressed by his intense focus and skill, Dronacharya chose Arjuna as his prime disciple.
Dronacharya’s test of the Kuru princes’ archery skills illustrates the importance of recognizing and catering to diverse user skill levels.
Lesson: Skill-Based User Onboarding in UX Design
UX designers should offer user onboarding experiences that adapt to users’ skill levels, ensuring that both novices and experts can use the product effectively.
UX Examples
Devious Designs: UX Lessons from Sakuni’s Games
Sakuni, the uncle of the Kauravas, used deceit to manipulate events in the Mahabharata. One of his schemes involved inviting Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, to a rigged game of dice. Sakuni ensured that the dice were loaded, leading to the Pandavas’ loss of their kingdom and Draupadi’s humiliation.
Sakuni, a master of manipulation and deceit in the Mahabharata, is known for his cunning schemes and unethical tactics. While his actions serve as cautionary tales in the epic, they also offer valuable lessons for ethical UX design.
Lesson: Ethical UX Design
UX designers must adhere to ethical principles in their work, ensuring that the products and experiences they create prioritize user well-being, transparency, and honesty, unlike Sakuni’s devious games.
UX Examples
Divine Discourse: Arjuna and Krishna’s Dialogue
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna was filled with doubt and moral dilemma about fighting against his own relatives and friends. He turned to Lord Krishna, his charioteer, for guidance. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna delivered a profound discourse, addressing Arjuna’s concerns and providing spiritual wisdom.
Arjuna’s moment of doubt and Krishna’s guidance in the Bhagavad Gita exemplify the importance of clarity, empathy, and user-centricity in design.
Lesson: Clarity, Empathy, and User-Centricity in UX Design
UX designers should provide clear guidance, empathize with user needs, and place users at the center of the design process, just as Krishna guided Arjuna through his moment of crisis.
UX Examples
In the Mahabharata, UX designers find valuable insights. Draupadi’s disrobing incident stresses user privacy and dignity. Karna’s tale emphasizes inclusivity, Ekalavya’s dedication advocates persistence, and Bhishma’s resolve signifies resilience. Abhimanyu teaches clear guidance, Arjuna-Krishna dialogue emphasizes empathy, and Dronacharya’s test addresses skill levels. Duryodhana’s palace enforces clarity, and the Pandavas’ exile calls for adaptability. Sakuni’s game cautions on ethics, user well-being, transparency, and honesty in UX design and many more.
Let’s look forward to our next part, and keep learning from these ancient stories to make better designs.
Stay curious and keep making things better for people!
