Patterns are good

Why should you care about them? Apple Magic Mouse Versus Logitech MX Master. Source: Tidbits A design pattern is a document that describes a common solution to a recurring design problem. According to Tibor Kunert (2009), using design patterns allows designers to quickly find solutions to problems using proven designs, rather than starting from scratch each time.… Continue reading Patterns are good

What if AI tools paid artists?

Exploring solutions and challenges for the controversial debate about AI art Salvador DALL•E (Source: Year 2049) It’s been less than a year since DALLE•2 was released and blew our minds away with the variety of art it could generate from a simple yet descriptive prompt. Other tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion quickly followed. The initial stages… Continue reading What if AI tools paid artists?

Can technology generate serendipity?

Serendipity by design Ideas for applying serendipity principles in the digital world (I) An (un)expected discovery I love flea markets. Whenever I go there, I usually don’t look for anything specifically; I am just opening myself to chance, to discovery by luck. I suppose most of the people coming to this place do the same: they expect… Continue reading Can technology generate serendipity?

Software accessibility for users with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

When discussing accessibility, the first person that pops into the minds of people is probably a person in a wheelchair. Thinking about software accessibility, the next two types of disabilities might come into mind are blindness and deafness. These are three types of disabilities most people commonly think of when talking about accessibility: blindness, deaf… Continue reading Software accessibility for users with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

Will nationalism end the golden age of global AI collaboration?

As nationalism divides nations and limits international collaboration, is the future of AI in danger? Artificial intelligence has made tremendous progress in recent years, and much of this progress can be attributed to the open-source software movement. By fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge and resources among developers worldwide, the open-source movement has helped bring together AI… Continue reading Will nationalism end the golden age of global AI collaboration?

Re-opening my weekly design mentorship sessions in 2023

After a brief pause, I decided to re-open my free mentorship slots for 2023. Every Friday I’ll be dedicating time to meet with folks and chat about any of the topics below: Portfolio review and feedback Interview tips, advice, mock interviews Design, hard- and soft-skill building, career growth Working abroad, cultural adjustments, language learning Writing and publishing design-related content… Continue reading Re-opening my weekly design mentorship sessions in 2023

21 Best CRM Software

The best CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software solutions help sales teams streamline critical processes to improve productivity, track customer interactions and gain actionable insights to deliver a personalized experience to sell smarter, shorten the sales cycle and drive better retention rates. This article reviews the 21 best CRM software to help you streamline your searches.… Continue reading 21 Best CRM Software

How playing improvised music can train the ability to synthesize in design

Improv form #1. Drawing by Alexander Pryshyvalka (Instagram) My experience with Minsk Improvisers Orchestra I was always certain that only those who are trained in understanding musical notation and playing music instrument, are allowed to create music — only these special kinds of people are eligible to be called musicians. I’m not one of this special kind… Continue reading How playing improvised music can train the ability to synthesize in design

Research vs Vision: the origin story of Sony Walkman, Mini Cooper, and the iPhone

It’s always interesting to watch how companies approach the building of their new products. During the market research phase, companies are trying to future-proof every detail to ensure it will be popular among users and bring more money to the company. Research methodologies and strategies have been improving since the beginning of the 20th century. Some… Continue reading Research vs Vision: the origin story of Sony Walkman, Mini Cooper, and the iPhone

Handling cross-team feedback loops on design work

Escape the siloing trap when you are both part of a design team and a product team, involve people early and often, and foster the right conversation at the right time If you are a designer working in a product organization you are maybe also part of two teams at the same time: a design team… Continue reading Handling cross-team feedback loops on design work

Remote friendly or unfriendly?

Some easy steps to elevate remote working amongst colleagues and teams. I’ve been a product designer for a few years now, working in different countries and environments, with clients in completely different time zones, colleagues in different offices geographically, working remotely due to coronavirus, and of course, worked full time in the office with colleagues. Over… Continue reading Remote friendly or unfriendly?

7 Basic Rules for Using Icons in UI Design

Icons are tiny pictograms that you’ll find in almost any app. They help us save screen space, communicate efficiently, and make interaction with a product more fun. But despite their size, creating and using icons in UI design isn’t easy. Since icons directly impact feature discoverability and the number of errors users make when they… Continue reading 7 Basic Rules for Using Icons in UI Design

Wordle is a masterclass in product design simplicity

Some of the most fun I’ve had this year is playing Wordle with my friends and family. But I’m a product designer and a programmer, so as I played, I couldn’t help but notice some strange things about how it was constructed. I was right in the middle of making my own product School Morning Routine,… Continue reading Wordle is a masterclass in product design simplicity

5 Best Comment Plugins for WordPress

An active comments area underneath each of your posts is a great way to increase the interaction on your website. Comments offer value to your content, show that your readers care about your site, and give visitors a reason to return. However, you must first make a space where your readers want to hang around… Continue reading 5 Best Comment Plugins for WordPress

The 5 types of Questions

The kick-ass framework for every Product Manager In my previous post, I had shared my story of how my manager taught me the greatest ‘a-ha’ lesson of my professional life. 👇🏻 My first ‘aha’ learning of my career TL;DR — The stakeholders are mostly clueless about their own needs, and they are totally allowed to be so. As a… Continue reading The 5 types of Questions

Exciting New Tools For Designers, Holidays 2021

The year’s winding down as everyone segues into a much-needed holiday R&R. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some awesome new tools and resources for website design projects. Check them out, and hit the ground running in January. Here’s what’s new for designers this holiday period. Enjoy!   Fancy Border Radius Generator Fancy Border Radius… Continue reading Exciting New Tools For Designers, Holidays 2021

6 Tips for Collecting Customer Feedback (The Right Way)

Feedback is one of the most valuable resources for any business. Informative messages from your customers can tell you a lot about your company. They’re a way to check that your service strategies are paying off and a chance to learn which parts of your product need an upgrade. Reviews and testimonials can also help you… Continue reading 6 Tips for Collecting Customer Feedback (The Right Way)

What is React Native?

React Native is a cross-platform mobile application development framework that Facebook created in 2015.  React Natives uses JavaScript as the underlying programming language, and it aims to help developers can build native mobile apps for both Android and IOS devices with a single codebase. In this post, I’ll introduce some of the key concepts and… Continue reading What is React Native?

Cultivating Customer Confidence with UX

Businesses rely on designers to help them build the perfect relationship with visitors. After all, as much as companies may wish it wasn’t true, many consumers still judge a book by its cover. A website that fails to prioritize concepts like trust and transparency could instantly lose the confidence of its target audience.  As a… Continue reading Cultivating Customer Confidence with UX

How to Identify a Font

Trying to figure out how to identify a font? Whether you’re working on how to identify a font on a website, how to identify a font in a logo, or how to identify a font by image, we’ll help you get started. Learn about font basics and common font traits so you can narrow down your… Continue reading How to Identify a Font

Exciting New Tools for Designers, July 2021

The dog days of summer are here. From vacations to pool time, you might not be thinking about work that much. But there are still plenty of new tools and resources popping up to help you become a better or more efficient designer. Here’s what new for designers this month. Haikei Haikei is a web… Continue reading Exciting New Tools for Designers, July 2021

How to Write a Press Release: The Complete Guide for 2021

A press release is one of the most valuable tools in a marketing team’s arsenal. Though press releases have been around for decades, they remain one of the best ways to reach new customers, improve your brand reputation, and generate awareness.  Press releases are also wonderfully cost-effective. Unless you’re using paid distribution channels, all you… Continue reading How to Write a Press Release: The Complete Guide for 2021

How to Start Your Own Online Store (Beginner Guide)

Setting up an online store years ago used to be mind-numbingly complex. Simply creating products, product pages and a checkout sequence was bad enough. But then you had to worry about payment gateways to accept payment. Shipping. And don’t forget about taxes! Is it time to start your own online store? Image source: GraphicRiver Thankfully… Continue reading How to Start Your Own Online Store (Beginner Guide)

7 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms Reviewed for 2021

Are you looking to start a podcast? If so, choosing the right podcast host is one of the first steps you’ll need to take. There are a lot of options out there, but we’ve narrowed it down to just the best of the best. It’s impossible to recommend one as the best for every podcaster,… Continue reading 7 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms Reviewed for 2021