The importance of taste, and other lies we tell ourselves
It’s not taste that will set designers apart from AI. It’s judgment. Composite AI-created image by author There’s that word again. Taste. Listen to a few podcasts…
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Stop Writing REST APIs From Scratch in 2025
If you’ve been a backend or full-stack developer for any length of time, you know the ritual. A new feature requires a new API endpoint,…
Good DX isn’t enough: Why your component library still fails your team
Last quarter, my team decided to move from Mantine to Shadcn. At first, I was excited because the developer’s experience felt amazing. There was solid…
Building trust into UX: What I learned from Airbnb, PayPal, and more
Trust signals are the visible and invisible cues that reassure users when buying a digital product or service. They range from security icons to customer…
The real cost of overpromising on AI and what to do instead
Most people don’t become product managers for the technical parts of the role; people become PMs because they love creating new products and delivering valuable…
How to keep design strategic when you’re suddenly in a startup environment
When your company shrinks back to startup size, how can you adapt? Continue reading on UX Collective » This post first appeared on Read…
How to keep design strategic when you’re suddenly in a startup environment
When your company shrinks back to startup size, how can you adapt? Continue reading on UX Collective » This post first appeared on Read…
It’s not you, it’s hierarchy
How I demoted my tree diagrams. Image AI Generated (Midjourney) It’s 9:03 a.m. I join a Zoom meeting titled “Team Structure Alignment — Attendance Required,” the type…
The Psychology of Hot Streak Game Design: How to Keep Players Coming Back Every Day Without Shame
A comprehensive guide to ethical engagement mechanics that build habits, not addictions. Introduction: the $500 million question Before we dive deep: This article isn’t for…
React 19.2 is here: Activity API, useEffectEvent and more
Just in time for React Conf, the React team rolled out their third major update of the year, React 19.2, which features long-awaited features like…
Butterfly effect, nostalgia in UX, a framework for emotions, privacy with smart glasses
Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers. “As designers, we constantly make decisions. Whether we design objects, devices, websites, apps, or policies, we choose one option…
Visual design’s future is the scenic route
How design will evolve from solving functional problems to creating depth, connection, and significance in the age of AI. Image source: dreamstime.com I recently stumbled across…
The Grayscale Problem
Last year, a study found that cars are steadily getting less colourful. In the US, around 80% of cars are now black, white, gray, or…
Breaking into UX: Career switch success stories
Successful graduates in 2025 Many of our graduates are having success starting new careers in UX this year. Despite a competitive job market, our alumni…
AI interfaces and the role of good writing
Why clear, strategic writing is more critical than ever. If you’ve used an AI product recently, you probably know that the technology is incredible. The UX?…