Ethical Design Principles
A framework for building products that respect user autonomy, minimize harm, and prioritize transparency over dark patterns. https://ethical.design/ (Ethical Design Network)
How to Structure a Successful Design Critique
Effective critiques should be objective, focused on goals, and provide actionable feedback, moving beyond personal preferences. https://www.invisionapp.com/inside-design/design-critique/ (InVision)
The Future of Design Systems
Design systems are evolving into integrated product platforms that handle code, content, and design tokens, driving efficiency and brand consistency. https://www.framer.com/blog/design-system-future/ (Framer)
Heuristic Evaluation for UX
Using Jakob Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics (e.g., Visibility of System Status, Match Between System and the Real World) to quickly find and fix design flaws. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/ (NN/g)
The Psychology of Design: Gestalt Principles
Understanding how the human brain perceives visual information (e.g., proximity, similarity, closure) is fundamental to creating intuitive interfaces. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/gestalt-principles (IxD Foundation)
User Journey Mapping Explained
A structured visualization of the entire experience a user has with a product or service, highlighting pain points and opportunities. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/journey-mapping-101/ (NN/g)
The Power of Microinteractions
Small, subtle design elements (like button transitions or loading animations) significantly enhance user engagement and provide crucial feedback. https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/10/the-power-of-microinteractions/ (Smashing Magazine)
Designing for Accessibility
A guide to WCAG 2.1 standards, ensuring products are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, including those with disabilities. https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/accessibility-principles/ (W3C)
Principles of Visual Hierarchy
Using size, color, contrast, and spacing to guide the user’s eye and communicate the importance of information effectively. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/visual-hierarchy-in-user-interface-design (IxD Foundation)
Customer Interviewing Mistakes
Avoid leading questions and focus on past behavior (what they did), not future promises (what they would do), to gather actionable insights. https://themomtest.com/ (The Mom Test)