Desire, data, and doubt — the sacred fundamentals of human interaction

Timeless wisdom from sci-fi applied to UX.

Artwork by Steven Saunders, a recreation of the original paperback cover by Vin Di Fate

A few weeks ago, I finished reading God-Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert. It’s a heart-wrenching and disturbing masterpiece. The protagonist of the book says the following about human behavior:

“Desire brings the participants together.
Data sets the limits of their dialogue.
Doubt frames the questions.”

According to Herbert, any agreement or interaction between individuals or groups is an “agreement tripod” — like a table with three legs — based on the three fundamentals D-s: data, desire, and doubt. This concept perfectly fits how users behave when interacting with digital and non-digital objects.

Let’s break it down with an example:

1. Say I want some tea — that’s desire. It’s the motivation that sparks action.
2. I need to decide what type of tea to prepare. I have 15 different kinds in the cupboard, so now I have to analyze the options. Is it time for something spicy, strong, or fruity? That’s data analysis — sorting through the available information to make a choice.
3. The instructions on the packaging state: “Add two pinches to the kettle.” But wait — how much is “two pinches,” exactly? Congrats, we’ve arrived at doubt — the moment where uncertainty kicks in.

Tea as an example of 3-Ds (source)

Each of these stages — desire, data, and doubt — has been well-researched individually, including by experts like the Nielsen Norman Group. But I’ve never seen them brought together so neatly as by Herbert.

Science fiction can indeed teach us to understand human behavior better. Now the question is, how can being aware of the fundamental three Ds help us UX-ers create better stuff?

1. Being aware of user desire helps us get them closer to the desired object faster.
2. Being aware of data helps us narrow down or increase the options for the dialogue with the user.