Picture this: you open a Power App. It works? Sure. But youโre not sure where to click, the colors are clashing, and you feelโฆ a bit lost. Sound familiar? This is exactly why UX in low-code apps is not just a โnice to have,โ but crucial for adoption.
๐ฎ Mario Kart as a UX teacher
Take Mario Kart. Yes, that cheerful racing game. Without realizing it, it teaches you a UX lesson: visuals guide behavior.
After a race, you see arrows and colors indicating the ranking.
The place in the rankings is preceded by an icon:
- โฒOrange arrow up: if the contestant moved up one place
- โ Green line โ if the contestant stayed at the same position
- โผ Blue arrow down โ if the contestant dropped
What happens in your brain? It stutters. You need to look twice. The UX signals donโt add up.
If you ask me, I would use:
- โฒGreen arrow up
- โ Orange line
- โผ Red arrow down
Now translate that to Power Apps: if icons, colors, or flows arenโt intuitive, users disengage. Even if the app is technically flawless.
Real-world โbefore & afterโ examples
Before
After
Before
After
During redesigning topics like consistency, navigation, accessibility and usability were discussed. The redesign itself is done by my colleagues at Blis Digital.
- The menu was styled like an action button
- Colors used: white text on a dark background
- Identical icons were used for different actions
After:
- Clear and logical user flows
- An intuitive and consistent color palette
- The active menu item is clearly highlighted
Following the redesign, users were able to navigate effortlessly, and the improved look-and-feel delivered a much smoother overall experience.
๐จ Why UX goes beyond branding
The biggest trap? Wrapping everything in corporate colors and calling it a day.
UX goes further: itโs about recognition, predictability, and subtle signals that users instantly understand.
Think of an airport where you can find the restroom without reading a word, thanks to the pictograms.
Quick tips to improve UX today
- Test with real users: not just IT. Watch them click, see where they get stuck.
- Use universal signals: green for success, red for error, a clear icon set.
- Create visual rhythm: give users calm through structure and consistency.
- Dare to deviate: if corporate orange doesnโt feel like โsuccess,โ pick what works.
Final thoughts
Mario shows us: even a game can confuse your brain when signals donโt align. The same goes for Power Apps.
By taking UX seriously, you create the difference between an app people โhave toโ use and one theyโre happy to use.
About The Author
Power Platform Consultant
Burgers, E (04/02/2026) What Mario Kart teaches us about user experience. What Mario Kart teaches us about user experience – Burgers & Bytes
