Taylor Swift isn’t just a music icon. She’s a master of strategy, storytelling, and intentional decision-making. And as it turns out, those same principles apply to great UX design. Whether she’s crafting the perfect tracklist or picking the right collaborators, Taylor knows how to make every move count.
Us Swifties at Bold Insight love any opportunity to talk about our favorite mastermind. So, what can The Life of a Showgirl era teach us about human factors and UX?
“Think of your energy as if it’s expensive, as if it’s a luxury item”: Respect the session
Taylor recently said her energy is a luxury item and the same goes for each usability session. Every usability session is precious. These are real people taking time out of their day to help improve your product. Make it count. Come prepared with clear objectives, prioritize the questions that will give you the insights you need, and be intentional with every conversation. Treat your participant’s time the way Taylor treats a 10-minute version of All Too Well: with care, purpose, and zero filler.
Limit the tracklist: Focus on what matters
Taylor announced that The Life of a Showgirl will have just 12 curated, intentional songs. Why? Because more isn’t always better. TTPD was beautiful and poetic, but let’s be frank—it was a lot. The same rule applies to UX findings. When analyzing results, it’s tempting to include every single insight, but not everything deserves a spot on the album (or the report). Instead, focus on what’s actionable and will make the biggest impact for your users. Highlight the top issues, provide clear recommendations, and don’t let the noise get too loud.
Goodbye Jack, hello Max Martin and Shellback: Choose the right collaborators
Taylor picked her producers for The Life of a Showgirl because they were the right people for the job. They understand her vision and know how to bring it to life. The same is true when you’re selecting a research partner. A great human factors or UX partner doesn’t just check boxes—they help guide the process, uncover meaningful insights, and make the whole experience ✨shimmer ✨.
Bringing it all together
From being intentional with time, to curating what matters most, to choosing the right collaborators, Taylor’s approach is a blueprint for better UX. When you keep these principles in mind, your product will hit all the right notes—and your users will thank you for it.
Looking for a partner to make your next study a chart-topper? At Bold Insight, we help companies design products that are safe, effective, and user-friendly. Ready to create something that never goes out of style? Let’s talk – we will bring the sourdough starter.