Determine the priority of needs

When designing interfaces that need to meet conflicting user needs like autonomy, relatedness, and competence, finding the right balance is crucial. For example, consider a tax filing software with a guided setup. This wizard helps users input complex data correctly, enhancing their competence and confidence. However, this structured guidance also limits their freedom to navigate the tool independently, reducing autonomy.

In such scenarios, it's important to test the design with real users to see what they value more. If users prefer the ease and accuracy that comes with guided steps, focusing on competence may be the right choice. On the other hand, if they value the freedom to explore and make choices, even at the cost of facing more complex interactions, then autonomy should be prioritized.