Designing for Nowness: Bringing Real-Time Energy
In UX design, one of the most powerful levers for engagement is nowness, that feeling of immediacy and momentum that makes users want to act right now. Platforms like Netflix have mastered this through smart use of real-time patterns, notably their “Top 10” list, which highlights what’s trending at this very moment. It’s not just a list; it’s a living signal that says you’re part of what’s happening right now.
At Weedmaps, this idea opens a fascinating design opportunity: how might we adapt similar “top” and “trending” mechanics to create urgency, discovery, and relevance in our ecosystem of dispensaries, brands, and products?
The Netflix “Top 10” as a UX Signal
Netflix’s Top 10 is deceptively simple. It combines real-time data, social proof, and temporal freshness into a single interaction pattern. The value to users is clear: it removes decision fatigue while tapping into our innate curiosity about what others are watching. The design makes “right now” the most important filter.
Three key principles stand out:
It updates frequently, so there’s always something new to check.
It signals popularity in the moment, leveraging social momentum as a discovery tool.
It uses visual hierarchy and ranking, giving structure and urgency to choice.
These ideas can translate beautifully into the Weedmaps experience.
Adapting the Pattern: “Top 10 in Your Area”
Imagine opening the Weedmaps app and seeing:
🔥 Top 10 Brands in Your Area This Week
🌿 Top 10 Products Right Now Near You
Like Netflix, these rankings would change dynamically based on local engagement such as purchases, saves, or browsing trends, giving users a live pulse of their local cannabis market. The pattern could extend across multiple contexts:
Top 10 Brands: which brands are trending nearby based on real-time orders or check-ins.
Top 10 Products: which specific items are selling out, earning top ratings, or getting the most attention.
Top 10 Deals: highlighting time-sensitive offers with built-in urgency such as “Selling fast today.”
Each list would carry its own design language with motion, badges, and lightweight animations that make the data feel alive. The goal isn’t just to show information; it’s to make the platform feel like it’s happening right now.
Designing for Urgency and Personalization
Urgency doesn’t have to mean pressure. In this case, it means relevance. Real-time patterns like “Top 10” serve as micro signals that guide users toward content that others find valuable in this moment.
A few design strategies to bring this to life:
Localized freshness: tie rankings to the user’s city or region to make discovery feel hyper-relevant.
Dynamic visuals: use subtle motion to signal change. Items moving up or down the list can create emotional momentum.
Time markers: phrases like “Updated hourly” or “As of this morning” reinforce real-time credibility.
Social validation: small contextual cues such as “Most ordered in Denver today” add a layer of trust and connection.
Combined, these features transform static browsing into an active experience that rewards repeat visits and gives the product a heartbeat.
Reframing the Weedmaps Experience
Weedmaps already thrives as a marketplace connecting people, products, and places. Introducing real-time, data-driven rankings reframes that ecosystem into something more living, a digital reflection of cannabis culture as it evolves city by city and hour by hour.
Just as Netflix’s Top 10 turns content discovery into cultural participation, a “Top 10 Near You” pattern could turn cannabis shopping into a shared experience, connecting local communities, amplifying top-performing brands, and inspiring exploration.
This isn’t just about lists. It’s about reintroducing momentum into the UX, giving people a reason to check back often to see what’s new, what’s next, and what’s hot right now.
In the End: Designing for Motion, Not Just Navigation
The future of UX at Weedmaps isn’t just about simplifying navigation. It’s about designing for motion and nowness. By bringing in real-time interaction patterns inspired by platforms like Netflix, we can transform Weedmaps from a static browsing experience into a dynamic cultural pulse that evolves as fast as the community it serves.
