Selecting a possessive pronoun is harder than it may first seem. This presentation will give you some tips on making the best choice.

1. MY
vs
YOUR
The possessive pronoun smackdown!

2. Selecting a the right possessive pronoun is
important and deceptively complex.
There is also very little useful information out
there to help you…

3. "It doesn't matter which one you use, just be
consistent"

4. Even if you go with “My”, the interaction will
eventually become a dialog...
Confirm my password
**********
The password I typed is too weak, please include
a special character and 2 fibonacci numbers
This is not a find and replace!

5. And the winner is...
(No possessive pronoun)
MY YOUR
1
2 2
(tie) (tie)

7. Exhibit A

8. Choosing a possessive pronoun
1. Do you REALLY need to use a possessive
pronoun?

9. 2. What is the metaphor for the interaction?
I’m not talking about an overarching navigation
or behavoural methaphor here, I’m talking
about a metaphor for the basic nature of the
interaction.

10. Consider an iPhone

11. It's like a car. You
drive it, you don't
have a conversation
with it.

12. On the web it's not so clear cut.
Consider an online
banking site...
ATM?
Private space?
Interaction with a
teller/assistant?

13. What about the nature of the interaction of
users with each other?

14. 'My' reinforces a solipsistic state of mind
A "cybernetic extension of your personal
infospace"
"It is as if the user has printed out labels and
stuck them to various objects: My Lunch, My
Desk, My Red Stapler. Except the user hasn't
done this; you (the site) did it for them"

15. 'Your' reinforces a social state of mind
"in a social site we want to avoid the call of
introversion and instead encourage our
participants to open themselves up to the
possibility of conversation, both with their co-
denizens and with the site (or rather people
behind the site) itself"

16. And don't forget the 3rd alternative
The person's name:

17. Facebook uses almost no possessive pronouns

18. LinkedIn uses almost no possessive pronouns

19. So?
A well selected possessive pronoun is a subtle
but crucial element in creating the right context
for the experience you are trying to deliver.
If you really need one, consider:
1. The nature of the interaction between the
user and the site
2. The nature of the interaction between users
with each other

20. Thanks!
@AndrewUX
designthinkage.com