The art of guiding minds to discover solutions they truly embrace
Let’s talk about one of the biggest challenges in UX design — persuasion. Many of us have been there — in front of the screen, with a design solution that is elegant, functional, and thought out to the last detail. But instead of recognition or support, we get questions, doubts, or even worse, alternative ideas that don’t solve the main problem.
What’s happening? The answer is simple: ideas that aren’t accepted as “their own” often face resistance.
Just like in Inception, when Dom Cobb and his team plant an idea in Robert Fischer’s subconscious, they know it will only be accepted if he perceives it as his own. Only then does the idea blossom and lead to the change that is needed. This is an art, and for UX designers, it is the key to success.
What matters to others?
Before we defend our idea, we need to understand what motivates others. Every stakeholder looks at design through their own lens:
- The business team wants higher profit and clear results.Developers look for technical feasibility and efficiency.Marketing is focused on the brand, audience, and messaging.Legal department thinks about regulations and risks.
This means the UX designer needs to put themselves in each of their shoes. Our goal is not to impose a solution, but to help others see its value by connecting it to what is important to them.
The path to the idea starts with empathy
This is where the real magic happens. Empathy is our secret weapon.
To convince Robert Fischer to change his life, Dom doesn’t just “plant an idea” in his subconscious. Instead, he leads him down a path that helps him arrive at the conclusion himself. The UX designer must do the same:
- Listen carefully — Ask questions that reveal the core pain points and needs of others. What problems are they solving? What worries them?Adapt communication — Speak the language of the respective stakeholder. The business team will appreciate numbers and projected results. Developers will want clarity on technical feasibility.Use stories — People connect emotionally with stories. Explain your idea through a scenario that shows how it will work in practice.Let them participate — Instead of presenting the finished solution, lead a discussion. Let stakeholders add their own ideas and feel that they have contributed.
Positive ideas are stronger than negative ones
In the movie, Dom and his team choose to plant a positive idea in Fischer’s mind because it is much stronger than a negative one. The same applies to UX design.
Let’s say your design faces criticism. Instead of focusing on what “doesn’t work” in the alternatives, direct the conversation towards the benefits of your solution. People love to feel inspired, not attacked.
How to lead others to our solution without them even realizing it?
One of the key lessons from Inception is that people must reach the idea themselves. If we try to impose our solution directly, we face resistance. Therefore, instead of saying “This is the best option,” we can ask questions like:
- “How do you think users will react to this design?”“If we had to choose the easiest solution for the user, which do you think it is?”“How could we minimize the risk here, based on your experience?”
These questions engage people, make them think, and lead them towards the idea we have already built. When they reach the conclusion themselves, they will be more likely to accept it.
Involve them in the process
Before presenting your ideas, talk to the different teams and listen to their concerns and suggestions.
One of the most successful approaches to persuasion is working with the different teams beforehand. For example, if we have limitations from the developers, design constraints from marketing, or risks pointed out by the legal department, it’s important to include these perspectives in the solutions we present.
This preliminary work gives you valuable insights to include in your solution. When it’s time for the presentation, we can say: “This option takes into account the developers’ comments on efficiency and the constraints we discussed with the marketing team. That’s why it’s simplified and functional at the same time.”
It’s wonderful for people to feel that their concerns are heard and respected, to see themselves in the solution, and this will build greater trust in you and your proposal.
Present alternatives, but never impose them. Instead, prepare everyone for an informed choice — show what the current situation is and compare each proposal with its pros and cons. When others see the path leading to your solution themselves, they will accept it as their own more easily.
Leading Through Comparisons: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Informed Choices
Another important point is the way we present solutions. Instead of pushing a specific proposal, we can describe the current situation and show how each new solution addresses the problems.
For example:
- “This is our current state. The main problem is [X].”“Proposal 1 addresses this problem by [advantage], but has [disadvantage].”“Proposal 2 is a different approach — it has these advantages [list], but you also need to consider [disadvantage].”
This way, we give stakeholders the opportunity to objectively assess the advantages and disadvantages, instead of feeling pressured. We lead them, but they feel free to make the decision.
Inspire Through Imagination
In Inception, the idea they manage to plant isn’t just “logical”. It’s emotionally significant for Fischer — a connection with his father. The same applies to our designs.
When we present our solution, it’s important to create a vision for the future: “Imagine how users will interact with this design. Imagine what this will mean for the business when [X result is achieved].”
This approach inspires and makes the solution more meaningful. We aren’t just offering a design — we’re offering a transformation that others want to embrace.
You have the most powerful device in the world — an idea
Ideas are the most powerful weapon a person can possess. An idea, however, is nothing on its own if it remains locked in your mind. If you never bring it out to be presented to others and challenged, it will die with you. But when you give life to an idea and communicate it effectively, it can change the world.
How many times have you presented an idea, only for it to be rejected? And instead, something mediocre was accepted? Often the only difference isn’t in the quality of the idea, but in the way it was conveyed. Because an idea needs to resonate to create change. And change is difficult — it cannot be achieved by one person. An idea needs to spread to be effective, to gather people around it, and provoke action.
One of the most successful structures for persuasion and presenting ideas is the one described by Nancy Duarte in her TED Talk. She suggests the following approach:
- What Is Now — Describe the current situation, clearly outlining the problems or limitations that exist. “Currently, our users struggle to find the necessary information on the website. The average search time is 30 seconds, which leads to a high drop-off rate.”What Could Be — Shift the focus to the future, showing how your solution could transform that state. “With the implementation of this new design, users will find the needed information in under 10 seconds. This will improve engagement and increase sales by 20%.”Repeat sequentially — “What Is Now” — “What Could Be”, to create a contrast between the present and the vision for change.The New Bliss — Finish with an inspiring conclusion that shows the value of the accepted solution and what it will achieve for everyone. “Imagine a platform so intuitive that users don’t even think about how to use it. They find what they need with ease, and your business thrives.”
When you communicate an idea, think about its journey. Start with “now” — show the reality that everyone recognizes. Then contrast it with “what could be” — a transformed version of that reality that excites, inspires, and motivates. Make this difference so clear that it triggers a desire for action.
And at the end of your presentation, always describe the “new blissful world” — the utopia that you will all achieve together if you work towards this idea. Only then will you inspire people not just to accept your idea, but to recognize it as their own and fight for it shoulder to shoulder with you.
Guide, Don’t Impose
You are not here to tell people what to do. You are here to lead them towards the solution. If you are patient and thoughtful enough, you will help others reach the idea you want to promote.
And remember: the best UX designers are those who combine creativity with diplomacy.
Inspiration Above All
“If you want to build a ship, don’t just rally people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks. Instead, teach them to yearn for the endless expanse of the sea.” — this quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a perfect metaphor for the work of a UX designer. To lead teams and stakeholders towards our idea, we need to awaken in them a vision of “what could be”.
Instead of overwhelming them with details, tasks, or limitations, it’s important to inspire them with the potential of the solution — with the future we can build together.
Show them how your proposal can not only solve the current problem but also open doors to new opportunities. When people see not just the product, but the promise of change, they will strive towards this idea with all their heart.
This Isn’t My Idea
People often reject ideas when they feel they are being imposed on them or perceive them as foreign. This is a natural reaction — we protect our autonomy. But when an idea grows in their minds, they embrace it and start defending it as their own. How do we achieve this?
Create conditions for “planting a seed”: Instead of directly imposing an idea, prepare the ground. For example, ask questions like “How do you think we can improve this?” or “What do you think the ideal solution would look like?”. This provokes thought and makes them part of the process.
Give them space to discover the idea themselves: Use the storytelling approach. Tell a story that illustrates your idea without naming it directly. For example, instead of suggesting a new working method, tell how a similar approach achieved success in another company.
Allow the idea to “mature”: Give time for reflection. Ideas aren’t accepted immediately — people need to feel that they are reaching them themselves.
Instead of a final
An idea is like a seed — if it remains buried in the dark, it will never grow. But when we bring it into the light and share it with others, it can provoke real change. It’s not enough just to have a good idea — you need to find the right way to communicate it, because that can be the difference between it being accepted or forgotten.
To communicate an idea effectively means going through three main phases: showing what “is now”, revealing “what could be”, and finally — creating a vision for the “new world”. You are the guide who shows the way forward. That’s why it’s important to create a contrast between the present, which everyone knows, and the possible future, which will inspire.
Ideas that aren’t accepted as their own, for others to believe in them, rarely survive. As it’s said: “Yes, but that’s not your idea, because you know I planted it in you.” People have a natural resistance to imposed thoughts because there’s no personal connection to them. But if you approach it in such a way that the idea is “born” in their minds, it will be nurtured, defended, and developed as their own.
The key is to use positive emotion, because “positive emotion always trumps negative emotion.” Instead of imposing, invite people to dream, to participate, and to be creators of the idea. For example, instead of stating: “This is the best solution,” ask a question like: “What do you think the ideal solution would look like?”. This way you create a sense of co-authorship and receive important opinions to take into account.
Don’t forget that the real magic of ideas happens when they leave your mind and start living in the minds of others. Then they become a powerful catalyst for change.
Remember that ideas perceived as their own become part of a person’s identity. And when someone feels an idea is theirs, they will defend it more strongly than you ever could.
How do you approach it when you want to convince others in your work? Share your tricks and success stories in the comments!
UX Moments: It’s not your idea because you know I gave it to you was originally published in UX Planet on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
