dieUX cartoons by Pat Godfrey
Welcome!
Pat's dieUX cartoons observe the lighter side of user experience (UX) and allied design.
“Although the dieUX characters don't represent anyone, they often do…”
What's dieUX about?
This site began in 2019 as the final project of Pat's MSc UX design. The aim is to demonstrate how we can encode digital cartoon content for inclusion. Most often, it's not. Read all About this project.
New to the 2026 cartoon collection
Human concepts
This cartoon strip is awarded 3-stars of 5.
The client enters holding a portfolio and says, "I generated the concept in AI. You just need to humanize it."
Our senior designer looks scornfully at the portfolio and mutters, "There's a six-fingered woman holding a melting latte in a neon-drenched void".
A moment later they say aloud, "Humanizing needs a crushing sense of inadequacy. I'll charge double."
AI prompting masterpieces
This cartoon strip is awarded 4-stars of 5.
Our senior designer is mid-chat with a junior and retorts, "It's not AI theft that bugs me".
The junior asks, "So why the grumble-tudes, dude?"
Our senior answers, "It's that people can't tell the difference between a prompting masterpiece and a lucky guess."
Inspiration on a photocopier
This cartoon strip is awarded 3-stars of 5.
Our senior designer's petulent colleague protests, "AI models are built on the sweat of uncompensated artists! It's a digital graveyard!"
Our senior answers in a nostagic tone, "You won't recall the inspiration borrowed from the design school's photocopier?".
A moment later he adds, "AI just has a memory and more easily forgives hangovers."
Predictable humanity
This cartoon strip is awarded 2-stars of 5.
Our senior designer's content designer colleague is typing away at their computer when they announce, "I don't use LLMs to save the sanctity of original human spirit and thought."
They look up to the ceiling for inspiration and continue to type, their words trailing off with their thoughts saying, "Now, it was a dark and stormy night when..."
Our senior designer snorts, "Yeah. There's nothing like unpredictable human spirit."
Prompt engineering
This cartoon strip is awarded 3-stars of 5.
Our senior designer's nemesis, the director's son-in-law is looking busy and and bragging as they work, "I'm not just a designer now, I'm a prompt engineer..."
"Next I type: make it pop but also make it sad".
Our senior designer scowls for a moment, "So it's like an intern with a limited vocabulary?"
Regulars
Wisdom
This cartoon strip is awarded 3-stars of 5.
Our senior designer's mournful looking young colleague is hunched in despair. "Why didn't I listen to your wisdom?" They ask.
Our senior answers offers a sage reply, "We are wise to ignore others' wisdom. Wisdom comes from our own learning. It's what mistakes are for".
A moment later he adds, "Now fix this mess quickly before the Director shares his wisdom with me!"
Minimal viable product (MVP)
This cartoon strip is awarded 3-stars of 5.
Our senior designer's is stood in the Dorector's office. He asks, "Do you want a quality and more expensive design?" He pauses. "Or a cheaper and less valuable one?".
The Director's face is inscrutable as he slowly responds with darkly toned malice, "Whichever is the most cost effective?"
Shocking
This cartoon strip is awarded 4-stars of 5.
Our senior designer is at his wit's end with his intern. "Your interaction design is shocking…" The intern cuts him off abruptly, "You know my Dad's on the Board, right?" Our senior designer doesn't drop a beat, "…leee good for an intern."
Schedules
This cartoon strip is awarded 4-stars of 5.
Our senior designer's project manager smiles past and glibly asks, "About the scheduled schedule meeting?"
Our senior designer sighs while thinking, "And the punch line…"
The project manager doesn't disappoint, "We need to reschedule it". Our senior designer snorts back, "Bingo".
Dress down Friday
This cartoon strip is awarded 4-stars of 5.
Our senior designer's heart pounds as the girl from engineering comes near. "Hi, Charlene!" A pause as our senior takes in Charlene's casual-fitting dungarees. "Oh, is it Dress Down Friday?" He asks to start a conversation.
Charlene walks swiftly away. Slowly, our senior realises it isn't Friday. The well-connected intern slides in. "Smooth", he says annoyingly.
What does the UX designer do, exactly?
This cartoon strip is awarded 5-stars of 5.
The stern Program Manager invites our senior designer into his office. "So, what does my new UX Designer do, exactly?" He asks.
Our designer replies with all that's good about user experience design to achieve our users' goals and to achieve a sense of delight.
The Personal Assistant slides in and whispers in the Program Manager's ear, "Ask if it makes the coffee?"
Accessible app
This cartoon strip is awarded 4-stars of 5.
Our senior designer approaches the product designer and asks accusingly, "Your accessible app design?" The product designer responds abruptly with, "Yes?"
Without pause, our senior designer spits wryly, "I couldn't access it".
Color choice
This cartoon strip is awarded 3-stars of 5.
The gruff Program Manager asks our senior designer, "red, or green?".
Our designer thinks how to answer. "Blue", he replies.
Despatch
This cartoon strip is awarded 3-stars of 5.
Our senior designer has been busy and reports back to the slightly psychopathic UX Director. "I sent the client proposal by email, private message, bullitin board, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, surface mail, and motorcycle. Did I forget anything, Sir?"
The Director stares back menacingly, his clawed hand stroking the throat of a carrier pigeon like a super-villain petting his cat.