Hi @Bryan
What we found in our work is that design signals (as you frame them) work if they are based on research / knowledge that gives them context where they become meaningful.
e.g. we found measuring ‘time-on-site’ on it’s own and using it to assume any kind of value can be misleading.
But, when our research told us that physicians wanted two things from our experiences:
- To learn
- To learn it as fast as possible
The we could use time-on-site as a measure and assume that if #1 had happened (they learned something) then reducing #2 would mean increasing value to our customers.
So I would agree, if the design signals are given meaning first through underlying research.