A user-first interface removes decisions the user should not have to make. Every extra choice, every unlabelled icon, every screen that requires a second look is a small tax on attention.
Design for the second visit
First impressions get the most attention in design reviews, but the second and tenth visits are where products are actually judged. Layouts that reward familiarity beat layouts that reward exploration.
If a feature needs an explanation, the explanation is the bug.
Test with people who have no context. Watch where they hesitate. Those pauses are a more reliable brief than any feedback round.
