An urban planner’s guide to designing software

Urban planners have been designing for human experiences for nearly 200 years, UI/UX designers can learn from this It’s July of 2016. The augmented reality game Pokémon GO was just released. Within days, millions of teens and Millennials are suddenly spending hour upon hour outside in search of rare Pokémon, battling one another, and living in… Continue reading An urban planner’s guide to designing software

AI is about to kill creativity

AI has a massive disruptive quality on the creative sector. Is AI going to benefit us, or will it create a new dark age for innovation? The Aeolipile (left) and the Steam engine (right) on a section of Bosch’s masterpiece The Last Judgment (Wikimedia) In the early first century, the first steam engine was invented… Continue reading AI is about to kill creativity

Starting design work in a spreadsheet

In the early phases of a project a spreadsheet can be a more useful design tool than Figma. If you’re redesigning an existing website there are huge benefits in getting to know the content you’ll be working with. The earlier in the project the better. A little upfront investigation will help you make informed design decisions.… Continue reading Starting design work in a spreadsheet

Choosing humanity over automation

Navigating the role of AI in design discipleship. Designers can learn AI skills and practice similar techniques as UX researchers. Pain is a part of the design process, and designers should choose which pain they are willing to endure to achieve their desired outcomes. And they can learn intangible values from their masters to become… Continue reading Choosing humanity over automation

How a chef with no customers built one of the world’s top restaurants

The answer? Serve soup made out of soil. A brilliant lesson in brand strategy. Soup of the Soil | Photo: Narisawa As a professional in the creative industry, I find the world of chefs and cuisines directly relevant to what I do—brand strategy and creative direction. Being a chef, especially a gastronomy chef, is a… Continue reading How a chef with no customers built one of the world’s top restaurants

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Character creation UX

A guide to CCIs in game design. Walking dressed cyberpunk in a cyberpunk city by Paola Ascanio via MidJourney Character creation is an essential aspect of most video games, allowing players to customize their avatars and immerse themselves in the game world. As a user experience (UX) designer, your role in game design is to create… Continue reading Character creation UX

Turning users into AI, UX personality test, modeling components in Figma

Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers. Modern products often have a large amount of user research data from different sources: user research interviews, intercom conversations, customer e-mails, surveys, customer reviews on various platforms, and whatnot. Making sense of all that data is a challenging task. A traditional way to do that is to maintain a… Continue reading Turning users into AI, UX personality test, modeling components in Figma

The UX of Sweetgreen

Sweetgreen seems to have its mind in the right place when it comes to embracing present and future technologies to offer an amazing UX. Image by Sweetgreen. Sweetgreen has come a long way since opening its first Washington, D.C. salad bar in 2007. 15 years have passed, and they are now on track to reach over 200… Continue reading The UX of Sweetgreen

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)

The role of grid systems in graphic design

Grid System: Vertical and horizontal lines grid. What is a grid system? The vertical and horizontal axes are divided in proportion to the coordinate system. In graphic design, the grid is used to control the font and image position layout design matrix, which has an important role in Mesh design, in different periods and geographical, people have… Continue reading The role of grid systems in graphic design

What did Victor Papanek leave for UX designers in “Design for Real Word”?

In the “Back to basics” series, I would like to rediscover the content of the textbooks I read at the beginning of my industrial design studies. I am a supporter of wise (prudent) use of the achievements of the predecessors, which is why I re-read these valuable, twentieth-century books on design and try to extract… Continue reading What did Victor Papanek leave for UX designers in “Design for Real Word”?

BeReal: the social network that wants to change the world

Self-made picture of my BeReal account. Lately, one app has been steadily occupying the first position by downloads in both IOS and Android, making headlines virtually in every newspaper and being the latest buzzword. Can you recall? It is called BeReal. BeReal, which promotes itself as a spontaneous and low-fuss social media platform that offers… Continue reading BeReal: the social network that wants to change the world

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What a robbery taught me about validating assumptions in UX

A reminder to test assumptions when building or designing. At 2am, on Thursday, 10th November 2022, armed men broke down the door to my apartment and then the door to my bathroom where I was hiding. They carted away with my laptop, iPhone, and half my sanity. I wouldn’t say I saw the robbery coming, but… Continue reading What a robbery taught me about validating assumptions in UX

Twitter layoffs, meeting fatigue, Taylor Swift’s AI, Apple accessibility

Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers. “Any of us could face what our colleagues at Twitter faced yesterday. Some of us already have, and some of us will in the future, especially if you stick around the profession long enough. It’s a good reminder that, whether we realize it or not, we’re in this together. We… Continue reading Twitter layoffs, meeting fatigue, Taylor Swift’s AI, Apple accessibility

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

AI is going to change UX research forever

The rise of AI will impact everyone. But in what way can UX designers use AI to their benefit? And how do we design AI systems? AI will revolutionize every sector, but unexpectedly UX research might suffer a huge impact. Photo by me. The rise of AI is creating a lot of buzz in almost every modern… Continue reading AI is going to change UX research forever

Shhh: don’t tell anyone, Figma’s latest feature, Design in uncertain times

Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers. You say you won’t detach instances. You will detach instances. Shhh: don’t tell the new designers →By Michael McWatters The UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices, reaching over 500k+ designers every week. Editor picks Design in uncertain times →How design can shape our… Continue reading Shhh: don’t tell anyone, Figma’s latest feature, Design in uncertain times

Digital humans are here. They sound and look just like us.

Now digital humans are here. They sound and look just like us. Digital humans, AI-powered digital counterparts, are going to change how we interact with the world around us. https://medium.com/media/5d057cb8920f355e7fa126d3cedcac2c/href In 2016 Miquela Sousa, or @lilmiquela, quickly grew to be one of Instagram's top influencers. At a first glance, there is little wrong with the 19-year-old Brazilian-American… Continue reading Digital humans are here. They sound and look just like us.

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

Ask a UXR #2: introducing user research to an organization

On asking the existential questions about a UXR’s purpose, being a thought partner, and bringing questions, not just answers This is the second post in a bi-weekly UXR Q+A series. Submit your questions in the comments, or in this Google form, and it they may be answered in future posts. Follow “Ask a UXR” by subscribing… Continue reading Ask a UXR #2: introducing user research to an organization

20 Best New Websites, July 2022

Welcome to our guide to the best new websites this month. If subtle, minimal sites are your thing, either look away now or prepare to have your preconceptions challenged because this month, we are going maximalist. Lots of elements fill up the screen, lots of color, lots of big fonts, lots of illustration, and plenty… Continue reading 20 Best New Websites, July 2022

How IBM revolutionized corporate America with design

For more than 100 years, IBM has been one of the prominent names among computing giants, dominating the early global market with technical and service superiority. They forged a path of innovation leading to Nobel Prizes, lucrative defense contracts, and they even helped to put a man on the moon. IBM CEO, Thomas J. Watson Jr.… Continue reading How IBM revolutionized corporate America with design

I’m not a robot (but, are you?)

The case for authenticating humans, reclaiming our identities, and defending against the coming swarm of bots. It’s 2022 and we are living in the opening scene of a dystopian Black Mirror episode. The line between what is real and what is fake has already blurred. The line between who is real and who is fake is now… Continue reading I’m not a robot (but, are you?)

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