Issue #718: True design is better
Japanese letterforms, UX strategy, The fundamentals problem, Slots in design systems, AI prototyping, Inclusive design, and more.
Highlights of the week
- True design is better than new design - David Reinfurt discusses how individual perspective is the real driver of a design practice. - David Reinfurt, Liam Spradlin, Google Design
- Japanese letterforms - What makes Japanese letterforms so irresistible to designers? - Tobias van Schneider
Read all week, picked once. The best design links — every Tuesday.
Product design, UX/UI and PM
- The fundamentals problem - Anyone can make something that looks designed, but that doesn’t mean that design has happened. - Christopher Butler
- Six key components of UX strategy - UX strategy isn’t a goal; it’s a journey towards that goal. - Vitaly Friedman
Design engineering
- Slots in design systems - Improving flexibility through custom composition within components. - Nathan Curtis
- The next ascent for design systems - Beyond the plateau of sameness. - Yesenia Perez-Cruz
Artificial intelligence
- Bridging product design and AI thinking - The shift in product design with the advent of AI and a potential generative experiential future. - Bradly Zavakos
- AI prototyping in real design contexts - AI prototyping tools follow general directions but lack the judgment and nuance of an experienced designer. - Huei-Hsin Wang, Megan Brown
Tools and resources
- Figma’s inclusive design updates - Is Figma in its accessibility era? - Allie Paschal
Inspiration and creativity
- Designing Perplexity - Insights on designing AI products and the evolving role of designers. - Luke Wroblewski, Henry Modisett
Last but not least
- Why are we in this mess? - AI didn't devalue technological service work. - Dragan Babic