Designer’s Toolkit #2 - Blocking

Not just for actors. Not just for stages.

When you watch a great play, you always know where to look.
That’s because someone — usually the director — blocked the scene. That means they told actors where to stand, when to move, and how to shape the moment.

Good blocking isn’t about controlling movement. It’s about directing focus. And that’s exactly what great design does, too.

Whether you’re staging a scene or designing an interface, blocking teaches us how to guide attention, create rhythm, and make stories unfold naturally.

What Is Blocking?

In theater, blocking is the precise choreography of movement and position on stage. It shapes how a story is visually told — who stands in the spotlight, when someone enters, where the audience looks next.

The concept dates back to ancient Greek theater and lives on in film, choreography, and video game cutscenes.

But it’s just as useful when designing a homepage, an app walkthrough, or a retail display.

5 Key Concepts Designers Can Steal from blocking:

1. Design Is Choreography
   Movement is never random. Every step should serve a purpose — to guide, to reveal, or to build tension.
   

   Ask: What do I want the user to notice first, second, third?

2. Focus Is the Hero
   A stage with too many actors doing too many things is chaos. Same with design. Good blocking simplifies the moment.

   
   Ask: Where do I want the user's eyes to land right now?

3. Exits Matter, Too
   Not just entrances. A graceful way to leave a page, exit a flow, or close a popup is often overlooked.

   
   Ask: How does this moment end? Does it fade out or slam shut?

4. Movement Tells Story
   On stage, a single step forward can say “I’m taking charge.”
   In design, animation or micro-interactions can do the same.

   
   Ask: What is this motion saying emotionally or narratively?

5. Stillness Can Speak
   Sometimes the best moment is the one where nothing moves — but everything feels alive.

   
   Ask: Does silence or visual rest have a role here?

Monkey Brain Takeaway:

Great design, like great theater, knows where to put the spotlight. Blocking reminds us that movement, timing, and stillness are tools — not just for actors, but for designers trying to tell a story with space.

Next time you design a page, don’t just lay things out — stage it.

Tags:

UX/UI • Theater • Product Design • Motion Design • Storytelling • Experience Design