Yumeng Li explains:
Cute is not just an aesthetic; it’s an evolved behavioral design strategy and psychological mechanism that influences decision-making, builds trust, and fosters emotional bonds between users and products. From Kawaii UX to AI robots, the world’s leading brands are embedding cute as a behavioral design strategy—often without explicitly calling it "cute." Cute design lowers cognitive friction, enhances perceived safety, and can even increase retention and conversion rates by leveraging dopamine-driven engagement loops. In an era of digital saturation, cuteness is a visual antidote to anxiety, shaping the way we interact with AI, social media, and next-gen interfaces.