Design friction appears when an interface or process forces users through avoidable steps, unclear choices, inconsistent behavior, or poor feedback. Some deliberate friction can protect consequential actions, so the goal is not to remove every pause.
Rebuilding a familiar feature can expose friction because the developer must explain each interaction and state. Observed frustration becomes a product opportunity only when the proposed change improves the workflow without introducing worse tradeoffs elsewhere.
ELI5
Design friction is the extra effort a product makes people spend without a good reason. It can be a confusing label, too many clicks, a hidden action, or an interface that does not explain what happened.
For example, adding a colleague to a comment should not require visiting several unrelated screens. A simpler invitation step can remove friction while still keeping a confirmation before access is granted.
