UX factory, spatial thinkers, Figma color variables, no one wants simplicity

Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers.

“Considering the availability of modern tools and recent advancements in governance (design systems), one might think designers could relax and enjoy some leisure time. That’s not the case. In fact, it feels like designers have even less time than before. As we’re frantically pushing towards an auto-governed future, we ought to stop and think about our purpose as designers.”

We’re turning designers into factory workers →
By Matic Pelcl

Editor picks

• Visual vs. spatial thinkers →
  Why UX teams need both.
  By Raquel Piqueras
• Product in the age of AI →
  How I learned to stop worrying and love Machine Learning.
  By Maria Kovalevich
• Stop persuading →
  The negative impact of persuasive design (on users and the environment).
  By Anna Rátkai

The UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices and illuminates the path to design mastery and critical thinking. Here’s how we’re boosting stories through our partnership with Medium.

The secret formula for Apple’s rounded corners →

Make me think

• No one actually wants simplicity →
  “A lot of developers want simplicity in the same way that a lot of clients claim they want a fast website. You respond ‘OK, so we can remove some of these 17 Javascript trackers and other bloat that’s making your website horribly slow?’ — no, apparently those are all critical business functionality.”
• Optimizing for taste →
  “A/B Testing fosters a culture of decision making without having an opinion, without having to put a stake in the ground. It fosters a culture where making a quick buck trumps a great product experience.”
• Why the internet isn’t fun anymore →
  “Instagram’s feed pushes months-old posts and product ads instead of photos from friends. Google search is cluttered with junky results, and S.E.O. hackers have ruined the trick of adding “Reddit” to searches to find human-generated answers.”

Little gems this week

Will 2077 UX look like Cyberpunk 2077? →
By Daley Wilhelm

The engaging UX of silent discos →
By Maria Alyssa

Writing to inspire an audience of creative thinkers →
By Suchithra Sathiyamurthy

Tools and resources

• Button labels: is “OK” ok? →
  Label guidance for designers and writers.
  By Tiina Golub
• Figma color variables →
  Simplified Figma color variables based on HSB interpolation.
  By Deniz Can Demir
• AR for everyone →
  How to build accessible augmented reality UX.
  By Luis Talamantes

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UX factory, spatial thinkers, Figma color variables, no one wants simplicity was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.