How to Fix Your Cursor, v0, or Bolt App's UX

The Vibe Coding Problem

You shipped your app in a weekend using Cursor, v0, or Bolt. It works. The code is clean. But users are confused, conversions are low, and something feels off.

This isn't a bug—it's a predictable pattern. AI coding tools optimize for functional code, not user experience. Here's how to fix it.

Problem 1: The "Kitchen Sink" Interface

AI tools include everything you ask for. The result? Cluttered interfaces with every feature visible at once.

Symptoms:

• •Dashboard with 10+ widgets
• •Navigation with 8+ top-level items
• •Settings pages with endless toggles
• •Users saying "where do I start?"

The Fix:

1. Identify your single most important user action

2. Make that action visually dominant

3. Hide secondary features behind progressive disclosure

4. Use "Show more" or "Advanced" toggles for power-user features

Problem 2: Generic Component Soup

v0 and Bolt pull from component libraries. The result looks "designed" but feels generic—like every other SaaS app.

Symptoms:

• •Looks like a template
• •No visual hierarchy between elements
• •Everything has the same weight
• •Users can't find what matters

The Fix:

1. Pick ONE accent color and use it sparingly for primary actions only

2. Increase contrast between primary and secondary elements

3. Add whitespace to create visual breathing room

4. Remove decorative elements that don't serve a purpose

Problem 3: Forms That Feel Like Interrogation

AI-generated forms ask for everything upfront. Users bounce before they experience any value.

Symptoms:

• •Sign-up forms with 6+ fields
• •Required fields that aren't actually required
• •No inline validation
• •Generic error messages

The Fix:

1. Reduce sign-up to email + password (or just email with magic link)

2. Collect additional info after users experience value

3. Add inline validation that helps, not punishes

4. Write error messages that explain how to fix the issue

Problem 4: No Clear User Journey

Cursor and v0 build screens, not flows. Each page works independently, but the overall journey is confusing.

Symptoms:

• •Users don't know what to do after sign-up
• •High drop-off in onboarding
• •Features exist but nobody uses them
• •"Where did that setting go?"

The Fix:

1. Map your critical path: Sign up → First value → Habit

2. Count the steps—if it's more than 5, you're losing users

3. Add progress indicators for multi-step flows

4. Use empty states to guide next actions

Problem 5: Mobile Afterthought

AI tools generate responsive code, but responsiveness isn't the same as mobile-first design.

Symptoms:

• •Touch targets too small
• •Horizontal scrolling
• •Important actions below the fold
• •Forms unusable on phone

The Fix:

1. Test on a real phone, not just browser resize

2. Make touch targets at least 44x44px

3. Put primary actions within thumb reach

4. Simplify navigation for mobile (hamburger is fine)

The Quick Audit

Before you ship (or to audit what you've shipped):

1. 5-second test: Can a stranger understand what this does?

2. Critical path count: How many clicks to core value?

3. Squint test: Does anything stand out when you squint?

4. Error test: What happens when things go wrong?

5. Phone test: Does it actually work on mobile?

When to Get Help

You can fix many of these issues yourself. But consider expert help when:

• •You've fixed the obvious issues but metrics aren't improving
• •You're too close to see what's confusing users
• •You need to move faster than trial-and-error allows
• •You want validation before rebuilding

Built with Cursor, v0, or Bolt? Book a free 30-minute UX audit. I specialize in fixing AI-generated interfaces and can identify the specific issues holding your app back.