The Dangers of Deceptive Design Patterns (And How to Avoid Them)

UX By Louise North Today As web designers, our role in crafting user-friendly digital landscapes is critical. We are tasked with creating user experiences that make visitors feel comfortable and respected. This, in turn, creates benefits for our clients by improving repeat visits and achieves the site’s ultimate aims, whether that is sales revenue or… Continue reading The Dangers of Deceptive Design Patterns (And How to Avoid Them)

Our desire for certainty can make us terrible planners

Memory, Image Theory, and the empty pursuit of certainty Midjourney Sometimes it feels like all we do is plan — and then plan for more planning. But what are the cognitive mechanisms we use to ‘plan’? and are they optimized for getting things ‘right’? If we were optimized to be right, we probably wouldn’t be so quick to… Continue reading Our desire for certainty can make us terrible planners

Almost Ready! WCAG 2.2 is one small step away from being officially done!

A new version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is almost ready. WCAG 2.2 should be finalized in August 2023. This is a minor version update. If you are already familiar with WCAG 2.0 and/or 2.1, you probably have a number of questions. And we’ve got up-to-date answers! Why isn’t WCAG 2.2 ready yet?… Continue reading Almost Ready! WCAG 2.2 is one small step away from being officially done!

Setting up performance reviews for Product Designers

Take a few shortcuts with my comprehensive guide on evaluating designers Why is evaluating designers so difficult? Evaluating the performance of a product designer within a startup or agency environment is challenging. It involves a mixture of objective and subjective data that is synthesized in an attempt to gauge if someone is to be rewarded,… Continue reading Setting up performance reviews for Product Designers

The purpose of a system is how we shape it

We are not masters of our information, but we can be if we build information systems shaped like human consciousness. Why are our information systems places where ideas go to die? Why are they clogged with shallow, soulless filler? Why can so few of us, and fewer organizations, gain any level of mastery over our… Continue reading The purpose of a system is how we shape it

Are we there yet? WCAG 2.2 is at the Candidate Recommendation v3

If you’re a regular reader of the Deque blog, you may be asking yourself, haven’t I read this already? Well my friend, you may have. In September 2022, WCAG 2.2 reached the Candidate Recommendation (CR) stage for the first time. Then on January 25, 2023, WCAG 2.2 entered a second round of CR. And, you… Continue reading Are we there yet? WCAG 2.2 is at the Candidate Recommendation v3

10 Key Principles of User-Centered Design

Many firms’ design and development decisions are increasingly oriented toward human-centered innovation. Instead of rushing goods to market, these firms are using a user-centered design approach. Design and development teams build high-performing digital products or websites that uniquely meet customers’ demands by concentrating on the user experience. After all, a good web design is helpful… Continue reading 10 Key Principles of User-Centered Design

How does your team measure UX quality?

This year on my team, we had a moment where we realized that our UX quality was slipping. It started with a few surprising feedback tickets, then we noticed some patterns in our dovetail user research sessions, then got some rather harsh NPS scores, until finally we realized we needed to quantify our UX quality… Continue reading How does your team measure UX quality?

Seven mental models for UX Writing

Mental models to help you mature your work and deliverables. This article is part of the UX Translations series. It was originally written in portuguese by Camila Gaidarji via UX Collective 🇧🇷 and was translated to english with the intention of helping more designers and reaching an even wider audience. You can check the original… Continue reading Seven mental models for UX Writing

Disruptive design patterns — an uncharted territory

Disruptive design patterns — an uncharted territory From Apple’s Dynamic Island to TikTok’s vertical video swipe: Are new design patterns going viral faster than ever? Interface design patterns are recurring proven solutions for solving digital experiences. They are a part of a product designer’s menu of possibilities. With the popularity of libraries and design systems, many visual conventions… Continue reading Disruptive design patterns — an uncharted territory

Design systems; the great connector

Like a backwards prism, design systems focus the energy of many teams into a single beam. They spread efficiency and consistency, but they also shape culture and hone brand expression. They’re about bringing it all together, across disciplines, to form alignment and a cohesive outcome. What’s the big deal about design systems, anyways? You might have heard… Continue reading Design systems; the great connector

Storytelling as a service in SaaS

Rather than solely focusing on product characteristics and features, an authentic and creative narrative can convey brand values and connect with the target audience in a more strategic way. We are all the heroes of our own stories, and building a narrative around our experiences courses in our veins. Binging on stories is one of… Continue reading Storytelling as a service in SaaS

How To Design A Website With Security In Mind

There are billions of websites today as companies, small and large, seek online presence. However, this surge in website design and development is confronted by a rise in cyber attacks, prompting a need for cybersecurity. The sophistication of the internet can be rewarding; however, it can also be weaponized by hackers for illegal benefits. Your… Continue reading How To Design A Website With Security In Mind

10 Smartphone & Tablet Mobile Apps for Prototyping

Digital prototyping is a popular activity for creating simple interface mockups. The UI design process starts with an idea, which is then fleshed out into a mockup. But, most of the time, the initial mockup(s) will be styled in low-fidelity wireframes, which are then improved through color and texture. The following mobile apps are perfect… Continue reading 10 Smartphone & Tablet Mobile Apps for Prototyping

Top Blogging Platforms Worth Considering in 2021

Want to know which of the top blogging platforms you should consider using this year? Blogging is still one of the best ways to draw attention to your brand, generate thought leadership, and build your credibility. Research suggests that US internet users spend 3x more of their browsing time on blogs than on email. Additionally,… Continue reading Top Blogging Platforms Worth Considering in 2021

9 Tips for Better Live Logo Design

Have you ever wondered why we’re so amazed by motion? A moving image is more likely to grab your attention than a static one. Motion is exciting and attention-grabbing – plus, it allows us to access more information in a short space of time.  For a while now, companies have been experimenting with all kinds… Continue reading 9 Tips for Better Live Logo Design

Figma for education: Design for learning experiences

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Why would a teacher be interested in Figma? Why would a designer be interested in classroom prep? Join our little Figgy educators group. Currently, I work in the EdTech product design industry (K-12) as an experience designer. I am a former 7th-grade science teacher and am planning to return to… Continue reading Figma for education: Design for learning experiences

CSS Charts: How to Create a Horizontal Organizational Chart

In a previous tutorial, we learned how to create a CSS-only vertical organizational chart. Today, as some folks requested, we’ll go through the process of building its corresponding horizontal one.  CSS CSS Charts: How to Create an Organizational Chart George Martsoukos And here’s the twist; we’ll create this new chart without changing a single line… Continue reading CSS Charts: How to Create a Horizontal Organizational Chart

The role of the UX designer in an Agile product team

[unable to retrieve full-text content] 2020 was a hard year. It drove home something I’ve always known but had been taking for granted: good UX Design relies on an environment, process and team that support good UX Design. If the environment, process and team aren’t quite in place, I would argue that it’s the job… Continue reading The role of the UX designer in an Agile product team

Observed tensions in the user experience design field progression

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Observed tensions in the user experience career progression I’ve met user experience designers that are happy doing what they love with a strong sense of mission to change the world. I've also seen many of us going through an existential identity crisis with comparable intensity due to the vagueness of… Continue reading Observed tensions in the user experience design field progression

Why Cute Graphic Designs Always Trend on the Internet (With Examples)

December 16, 2020 by Sangalang Kristine Cute graphic designs have been popular in Asia for the past few decades. Incredibly, the influence and style of this Asian cuteness are already reaching the West much faster than we all think. Why do cute graphic designs always trend on the internet anyway? We all need some ‘awwww’… Continue reading Why Cute Graphic Designs Always Trend on the Internet (With Examples)

CSS Charts: How to Create an Organizational Chart

In previous tutorials we’ve learned how to create different types of charts including bar charts, thermometer charts, and donut charts. Today we’ll continue this journey by building a CSS-only organizational chart. Ready to test your CSS skills? The Organizational Chart We’re Building Here’s the CSS chart we’ll be creating: It consists of four levels and… Continue reading CSS Charts: How to Create an Organizational Chart

Best Lightroom Presets Of 2020

22 Shares Best professional Lightroom presets for photographers, photography retouch and designers. An amazing Lightroom presets are developed to enhance the beauty of your photos & speed up your photo editing workflow. These presets will help to edit your photos like a pro even out lighting, color correct white balance for lighting, brighten, and add… Continue reading Best Lightroom Presets Of 2020

3 Essential Design Trends, November 2020

As we turn the corner into the final part of the year, many of the new websites and redesigns that we see during much of the rest of the year tend to slow down. Many businesses are focusing on fourth quarter and holiday sales. With that being said, there are plenty of holiday flourishes already… Continue reading 3 Essential Design Trends, November 2020