Practical sense – Why common sense is more important than technological promises

This article is part of the series Futureproof HMIs.

It is perhaps the most underrated tool in HMI development—always available, free of charge, and astonishingly accurate when used consciously. So why is it so often ignored? Because the hype is louder.

Design dead ends that persist

Over the years, certain errors in thinking and reflexes have become established in UI development that regularly lead to poor interfaces – even though they could easily be exposed with common sense:

• “Icons instead of text, then we don't have to translate anything” – Sounds efficient, but usually does not ensure universal comprehensibility. The hundredth icon is only clear and quick to grasp initially if it is combined with a well-placed label.
• “Everything is important – the expert needs it” – Possible. But if you show everything, you make nothing visible. Good interfaces prioritize and hide things deliberately.
• “Users will figure out how it works” – No. Intuitive operation is not a coincidence, but the result of hard work.
• “We don't know what users will do with it – so we'd rather make everything adjustable” – Result: complex, unusable interfaces that are super easy to adjust.
• “We build for the extreme case” – And in doing so, we miss 80% of normal users. Better: design for the middle ground, cover exceptions.

💡 These and other UX myths (see also uxmyths.com, for example) are not harmless misconceptions—they cost real time, money, and acceptance.

The AI hype: Technology without a purpose is a waste

Another current example of a lack of practical understanding is the topic of AI. Suddenly, everything has to be “intelligent” – whether it makes sense or not. Voice assistants, chatbots, predictive maintenance features – often without a clear answer to the question: What real problem are we solving with this?

Yet the correct way to use AI is actually quite simple:

• AI is not an end in itself. It must serve a clear purpose.
• AI needs interfaces, not dependencies. Systems should remain open, modular, and updatable.
• AI must be comprehensible. A good HMI is explainable, not magical.

A healthy dose of skepticism protects against costly mistakes and ensures that AI is used where it really helps.

Practical sense in development – with a system

Common sense can also be promoted structurally:

• Cross-functional teams: UX, technology, sales, service – thinking together prevents tunnel vision.
• Usage scenarios instead of feature lists: What do users really do with the system?
• Tests with real users: They often show in 5 minutes what 5 meetings cannot clarify.
• Pragmatic decisions instead of ideology: Not “mobile first,” but “use case first.”

💡 The goal is clear: user interfaces that truly support their users—not impress them.

HELIO: Developed with common sense

Our HELIO platform is the result of many years of practical experience—and many avoidable mistakes that we are determined not to repeat. The result is a modular UI platform based on modern web technology. This makes HELIO inherently “AI ready.”

• It strictly separates UI logic from the machine backend.
• It offers open interfaces for third-party systems, including AI services.
• It enables the flexible integration of predictive maintenance tools, assistance systems, or visual analytics, for example.
• It relies on future-proof standards – no proprietary isolated solutions.

This allows companies to remain independent and integrate tools such as AI as soon as they are ready for planning and offer real added value. HELIO therefore not only provides methodology, but also an attitude: use what is needed, not what is currently shiny.

Conclusion: Fewer buzzwords. More common sense.

Technology is a means to an end – not the end itself. If you want to be successful in HMI development in the long term, you need attitude. Common sense protects against dead ends, promotes clarity – and ultimately leads to better products. And that's exactly what we believe in – in our work with customers. And in the development of HELIO.

Internal sources

E.HMI Connect – Excellent UX for sustainable particle foam production
hmi-project.com/de/projects/e-hmi-connect
vimeo.com/836150694

HELIO – Getting Started / The Project Editor
vimeo.com/906008708

Externe Quellen

UX Myths – Häufige UX-Irrtümer entlarvt
Sammlung von Mythen, z. B. „Icons verbessern Usability nicht automatisch“ oder „Experten brauchen keine Tests“.
uxmyths.com

The Intersection of Common Sense and User Research in UX Design
Ein Artikel, der erklärt, warum gesunder Menschenverstand hilfreich ist – aber nicht die Nutzerforschung ersetz
uxplanet.org/striking-the-balance-the-intersection-of-common-sense-and-user-research-in-ux-design-8efd21a70276

Designing better products just using common sense (Prototypr)
Vorschlag eines pragmatischen Designprozesses, der Common Sense nutzt, ohne komplexe Methoden zu überspringen
blog.prototypr.io

UX Is Just Common Sense. UI Is Where the Real Challenge Begins.
Medium-Beitrag zu zentralen Denkprinzipien der UX, die auf gesundem Menschenverstand basieren
medium.com

The myth of common sense and intuitive design (UX Collective)
Kritische Auseinandersetzung mit der Annahme, dass „intuitiv“ = gesundes Menschenverstand ist
blog.prototypr.io

User Experience And Common Sense (Usability Geek)
Betont, dass gute UX oft einfach gesunden Menschenverstand widerspiegelt
medium.com

UX, It's Just Common Sense Right? (Interaction Design Foundation)
Historical overview of why UX principles are “common sense” today – but professional knowledge remains necessary.
interaction-design.org

The Role of Common Sense in UX Design (LinkedIn)
Shows how common sense connects UX and innovation:
workshopper.com

Lean UX for Remote Teams – Practical Guide
Compact explanation of how lean teams can create real added value with “Think-Make-Check.”
shopify.com/partners/blog/lean-ux

The difference between Agile UX and Lean UX – clearly outlined
Agile UX deals with testing in sprints, while Lean UX focuses on hypothesis validation before building.
geeksforgeeks.org/agile-ux-vs-lean-ux

AI loses its value without a clear purpose
Chelsey Fleming, UX Research Lead at Google Labs, emphasizes: “AI should support humans, not supplant them” – AI must complement humans, not replace them.
businessinsider.com/experiment-with-ai-tools-to-upskill-employees-says-google-researcher-2025-5

Explainable AI (XAI)
Transparent AI whose decisions are comprehensible – crucial for a trustworthy HMI.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explainable_artificial_intelligence

Human–AI Collaboration in UX
Studies show that AI must be explainable (“Better with explanations”) and that synchronous interaction increases effectiveness.
arxiv.org/abs/2112.12387

AI in B2B UX processes
Automatic component recognition, role-based UI, prototype generation—AI improves scaling without replacing human control.
fullstack.com/labs/resources/blog/ai-tools-for-ux-ui-design-a-b2b-perspective

This article is part of the series:

Future-proof HMIs – Success factors for industrial user interfaces with vision

1. User-centered approach
Those who focus on people rather than products not only get more satisfied users, but also better products.
Read More

2. Technological future-proofing
Web technology is leading the way because it offers a huge user base, established standards, and open interfaces.
Read More

3. Process and resource efficiency
Efficient HMIs don't happen by chance—they happen through clear processes, the right tools, and good role distribution.
Read More

4. Independence & scalability
When creating industrial HMIs, you should not tie yourself to suppliers or hardware. Independence is key, and here's why:
Read More

5. There is only one team
Successful HMIs are not created by tools or technology alone—they are created through genuine collaboration.
Read more

6. Practical sense
This is our ultimate ingredient for building future-proof HMIs. The best part is that it is usually already built in at the factory.