After the TikTok ban deadline on June 9th, many Western “TikTok refugees” found themselves using the Chinese app RedNote (小红书).
Last month, the temporary TikTok ban in the US sent thousands of users searching for alternatives. Some turned to Instagram Reels, while others opted for YouTube Shorts. However, a surprising number ended up on a completely different platform: RedNote, which is a hybrid of Instagram and TikTok developed in China.
Initially, it seemed like this switch would be temporary. RedNote has a busier and denser interface that presents more information upfront, contrasting sharply with Instagram’s clean, photo-based simplicity. By Western user experience (UX) standards, it should have felt overwhelming.
However, something surprising happened: Western users adapted well.
Despite cultural differences in design and some poor translations, many users managed to navigate the app, engage with its content, and even appreciate some of its design choices. This challenges the common assumption that Western users inherently need minimalism to function efficiently in digital spaces. It turns out they are more adaptable than expected, suggesting that our understanding of what constitutes “good UX” may be more flexible than we previously thought.
Western vs. Asian Product Design: Two Worlds, One Future
If you’ve ever visited a website from China, Japan, or Korea and thought, “Why does this feel so cluttered?” you’re not alone. Many Western designers perceive these layouts as overwhelming or outdated. However, in many Asian markets, high information density is not considered poor user experience—it’s expected.
What Accounts for the Difference?
Western design (in the US and Europe) emphasizes minimalism, ample whitespace, clear hierarchy, and progressive disclosure. The goal is to guide users through a structured experience with fewer distractions.
In contrast, Asian design (in China, Japan, and Korea) embraces upfront information. It features denser layouts, vibrant colors, and multifunctional interfaces. Users in these markets expect to quickly scan a lot of details instead of clicking through multiple pages.
Neither approach is inherently better. The example of RedNote demonstrates that users can adapt to both styles.
Key Differences in UI & UX
📜 Text and Language Density: Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages do not use spaces between words, which makes the text appear more compact. Additionally, a single Chinese character can convey more meaning than an English word, resulting in interfaces that look busier even when they are not.
🔠 Typography and Hierarchy: Western design primarily relies on font size, whitespace, and structured grids for clarity. In contrast, Asian platforms often utilize color, contrast, and boxed sections rather than depending solely on typography.
⬜ Whitespace vs. Content First: Western design treats whitespace as a visual break to enhance readability. Conversely, many Asian interfaces prioritize maximizing screen space to ensure users receive all relevant information upfront.
📱 Navigation and Information Architecture: Chinese super-apps like WeChat and Alipay integrate multiple services into a single platform (such as messaging, payments, and shopping), while Western apps typically focus on a single function per product.
What Can Designers Learn from Asian UX?
Instead of viewing Western and Asian UX as opposing approaches, designers should move beyond their biases and explore how different methodologies can cater to various user needs.
- Reconsider Information Density: Rather than automatically adhering to the principle of “less is more,” consider situations where providing more information upfront can actually reduce user friction.
- Challenge Minimalism as a Rule: Over-simplification can lead to additional steps, making navigation less efficient.
- Trust Users to Adapt: The example of RedNote shows that Western users can successfully adjust to new UX patterns. This raises the question: which other design conventions could be effectively localized?
Multicultural UX: The Future of Design
RedNote has demonstrated that users are not confined to a single UX approach; they can adapt to, learn from, and engage with designs that challenge their norms. While RedNote is just one example, it highlights a significant shift in UX thinking—one that envisions a future where digital experiences are inspired by global influences rather than adhering to a single rigid philosophy.
Western design emphasizes clarity, hierarchy, accessibility, and user-friendly simplicity. In contrast, Asian design focuses on efficiency, multifunctionality, and content density.
The future of UX is multicultural, drawing on the strengths of both. As more products reach a global audience, we will see an increase in hybrid design approaches that balance hierarchy with efficiency, simplicity with depth, and whitespace with information density.
The best design transcends Western or Asian traditions; it is adaptable, inclusive, and shaped by the diverse needs of users around the world.
