Don't design for "engagement." Engagement is often just a polite word for wasting time. Design for velocity . Steal every unnecessary second back from the machine and return it to the human.
Users don’t love a GUI because it’s "pretty." They love it because it makes them feel like a faster, smarter version of themselves. When your interface allows a human to accomplish in three seconds what takes thirty seconds elsewhere, you haven't just built a tool—you’ve extended their lifespan.
Most software asks for permission to proceed. A superior GUI assumes intent.