🧠Maslow’s Hierarchy — Human needs, stacked into shape
A pyramid that suggests we climb our way to becoming ourselves.
🧠UX Interpretation: Complexity organised into levels
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs arranges human motivation into a layered structure. Basic needs sit at the bottom. Safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation rise above.
The idea is simple. Lower needs must be met before higher ones can fully matter.
This turns the messy reality of human life into a sequence. Progress feels directional. Growth feels structured.
The pyramid shape reinforces the message. We start at the base and move upward.
🎯 Theme: Order imposed on human experience
The model is compelling because it feels intuitive. It mirrors how we like to think about progress.
Yet real lives do not follow neat layers. People pursue meaning in the middle of hardship. Creativity appears without security. Belonging and survival often overlap.
The pyramid suggests stability and hierarchy. Reality is more fluid.
Still, the model persists. It is easy to remember. Easy to teach. Easy to apply.
It works not because it is complete, but because it is clear.
💡 UX Takeaways
- Layered models make complex systems easier to grasp.
- Visual hierarchy reinforces perceived importance.
- Simplicity can outweigh accuracy in adoption.
- Models often reflect how we want the world to work.
- Clarity can turn an idea into a lasting framework.
📎 Footnote
Abraham Maslow introduced his hierarchy in 1943. Although often shown as a pyramid, he did not originally present it in that form. The visual structure emerged later and helped popularise the model.