userdirected

Userdirected is a term used to describe design and content that are guided primarily by user input, preferences, and actions rather than being fully predetermined by developers or the system. It emphasizes user agency and control over outcomes within a given medium or service.

In media and entertainment, userdirected experiences include choose-your-own-adventure narratives, branching storylines in video games, and open-world environments where player decisions influence plot and character relationships.

In software and user experience design, it appears as user-configurable interfaces, adaptive layouts, and workflows that respond to user behavior, as well as systems that present options and reveal content based on prior choices.

In education and health services, user-directed approaches let learners or clients choose goals, select learning paths, or control the allocation of resources and services, within policy and funding constraints.

Design considerations include balancing freedom with guidance, ensuring explainable options, maintaining accessibility, and managing state across branching paths or configurations.

Advantages include higher engagement, personalization, and alignment with user needs; drawbacks include increased design and testing complexity, potential decision fatigue, and the risk of suboptimal outcomes if options are poorly presented.

Examples include interactive fiction and narrative-driven games, adaptive or personalized learning platforms, and consumer- or user-directed care programs.

Related concepts include user experience, interactive fiction, branching narrative, adaptive systems, and self-directed learning.