Written by 
The tension between modernism and postmodernism is more than a philosophical debate — it is a cultural and political contradiction that plays out daily in the UX domain. On one hand, modernism champions clarity, function, and universal accessibility — principles that are central to the discipline. On the other hand, postmodernism thrives on skepticism, irony, and the dismantling of conventional structures. This paradox becomes glaring in the UX arena, where practitioners who often espouse progressive, postmodern ideologies paradoxically adhere to modernist methodologies in their work.
UX Design’s Modernist Foundation
At its heart, UX design is unapologetically modernist. It seeks to simplify complexity, reduce cognitive load, and create interfaces that serve everyone — ideals rooted in a belief of universal truths and functionality. The field’s commitment to accessibility and usability echoes the rationalist optimism of modernism.
This philosophy, however, is politically aligned with pragmatism and incrementalism — values often associated with traditional liberalism or moderate conservatism by…