You’ve pressed it.

Probably more than once.

And almost nothing happened.

In this episode of Curious by Design, we explore why elevator “close door” buttons often don’t do anything, and why they still exist anyway.

Elevators are among the most carefully engineered systems in modern life, designed around safety, predictability, and shared use. But as elevators became automated, designers ran into a new problem that had nothing to do with mechanics and everything to do with psychology: people hate waiting, especially when they feel powerless.

For years, the “close door” button actually worked. Then accessibility laws standardized how long elevator doors must remain open to ensure safe entry for everyone. Shortening that delay was no longer allowed. Removing the button entirely would have confused users and required costly redesigns. So manufacturers left it in place, familiar, lit, and reassuring, but often inactive.

This episode unpacks how perceived control reduces frustration, why shared systems prioritize predictability over individual speed, and how design sometimes favors comfort over clarity. The button isn’t there to speed things up. It’s there to make waiting feel easier.

The next time you press “close door” and nothing happens, remember: you’re not being impatient. You’re responding exactly as the system was designed for you to respond.

That’s Curious by Design.

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