The Feed & The Thread

We challenge the assumption that lovable products or smart AI are the end goals, asking instead how we keep humans in control while Ian Batterbee argues that learning matters more than emotional connection. As Jeff Sauro and Jim Lewis propose data-driven frameworks to separate AI efficacy from speculation, we also confront the harsh reality of a tight job market where resilience is the only skill...

We confront the tension between static screens and dynamic, agentic workflows as Tony Phillips argues that conversational systems thrive when user goals remain fuzzy. While Nick Babich warns that messy code structures break an AI's context, we also navigate the community's urgent debates on burnout and a terrifying ethical trap where a Head of Design requested live Figma files from a current emplo...

We question whether formal credentials still matter when the community is shifting toward proven portfolios and deep, hands-on experience over expired certificates. In The Feed, we explore how algorithms predict behavior without eavesdropping, why simplifying games boosts immersion, and why Jeff Gothelf argues that human storytelling remains our only defense against AI automation. Join us as we un...

We tackle the sharp tension of whether rapid AI adoption is compressing our thinking into "AI brain fry," as Pablo Stanley warns, or simply internalizing our process into fluid workflows, as Sarah Gibbons and Huei-Hsin Wang argue. We also cut through the noise of performative thought leadership and "vibe coding" to ask if we are sacrificing deep user understanding for the sake...

We confront a shifting landscape where Michael Buckley argues that reliability has replaced raw skill as the true currency of opportunity, while Maria Rosala warns that our AI-integrated tools might be hiding dangerous methodological flaws. As we navigate the messy tension of "vibe coding" and a community grappling with burnout, we ask whether our workflows are finally stabilizing or jus...

We tackle the uncomfortable tension between AI-driven speed and the risk of cognitive atrophy, asking if our rush for efficiency is quietly eroding our ability to wrestle with messy problems. While Andy Bhattacharyya warns that outsourcing deep work creates an aesthetic monoculture, Darragh Curran argues that safe human handoffs often outweigh the false promise of full automation. We then pivot to...

As AI takes over execution, we ask where humans actually fit in the workflow, exploring Luke Wroblewski's argument that we must find our leverage without losing control. We also confront a growing sense of unease in the community, from debates on whether data science degrees truly build research skills to blunt warnings that UX may no longer be a sustainable career. Today, we move beyond button co...

We confront the hard truth that our design standards often fail the people they claim to serve, from Daley Wilhelm's expose on how "neutral" car safety ignored female physiology to Brad Frost's warning about the reckless rush to weaponize AI. As we navigate these ethical failures, we also face the internal tension of shifting from making screens to running research while wondering if AI...

We tackle the hard truth that if AI can build features instantly, your product's functionality is no longer your shield, leaving only deep user relationships as your real defense. Jeff Gothelf argues that accumulated trust is now the only defensible advantage, while we also explore why designers are increasingly preferring to iterate directly in code rather than staying in Figma. From the burnout...

If AI makes working a commodity, what is left for human designers to do? Today we tackle the sharp tension between design ambition and design accountability: from the argument that blueprints matter more than ever, to the case that design must create strategic value or become irrelevant. Then Apple drops Liquid Glass and the community asks whether the most influential design team just failed basic...

In today's episode, we explore Nick DiLallo's argument that removing UX writers harms product quality, Rachel Banawa's distinction between statistical and practical significance, and MeasuringU's innovative banner table demo for complex data. We also dive into community debates ranging from the validity of UX as a discipline and the rise of AI-free development to practical advice on managing freel...

Today, we explore how the UX landscape is shifting from legacy architectures to AI-driven paradigms, examining how designers are evolving from output creators to strategic directors of intent. We also dive into community discussions where practitioners grapple with the challenges of being handed solutions instead of problems, navigating isolation in government roles, and seeking feedback on balanc...

Today, we explore how to effectively communicate product value and navigate the ethical complexities of AI while admiring a portfolio that blends Swiss design with WebGL innovation. Our community joins the conversation to address the harsh realities of the current job market, and the devaluation of professional expertise. We also dive into practical strategies for avoiding generic design tools and...

Today, we explore the critical tension between AI-driven efficiency and genuine human engagement, while also examining why automated tools fall short in delivering true accessibility and how new technologies are democratizing complex graphics for designers. Our community joins the conversation to debate the ethics of AI adoption, share humbling insights from user testing, and navigate the realitie...

So designers are paying a hidden tax just to get their work approved. And apparently the fix is... proving you belong by speaking someone else's language? Right... Yeah, and meanwhile, hiring managers say they're tired of polished portfolios that hide the mess. Well, that's gonna upset some people. Let's get into it. The Tease Feed: So designers are paying a hidden tax just to get their work appro...

Today we're exploring how shifting from being someone who executes to being a strategic advisor can help designers finally overcome organizational neglect. And later, the community shares fresh UI animations while weighing in on the big choice between CMU MHCI and Berkeley MIMS. In This Episode Today's Feed tackles a shift in how designers earn trust, build prototypes, and choose the right code fo...

Today we're exploring why waiting for a perfect product might actually be a liability in the age of AI. And we'll hear how true UX maturity feels less like adding new skills and more like unlearning the assumptions we've held for years. In This Episode Today's Feed tackles a tension between perfection and speed, while asking what wisdom looks like when tools vanish Waiting for a perfect product is...

Today we're looking at a growing disconnect: companies want senior talent but keep automating the work where juniors learn. In The Feed, we dig into the talent pipeline collapse, the case for better postmortems, and why genuine understanding takes more humility than we like to admit. Then in The Thread, the community is fired up about execs flattening design roles with AI and what it actually mean...

Today we'll hear how Tony Beltramelli says metrics like DAU won't matter as AI agents start using software products. He's highlighted that releases from Anthropic and Google have changed how agents interact with software. And we're also diving into a community thread about using AI tools like Cursor to build out design systems. In This Episode Three very different corners of the industry lit up to...

This episode explores designing for trust in an age of deepfakes, live coding at SmashingConf Amsterdam, and vanilla JS page transitions. Community discussions cover whether UX is really just managing trade-offs, the frustration of vibe coding overriding intentional design, and the gap between stakeholder intuition and actual user needs. In This Episode Designing for trust when deepfakes can mimic...

This episode covers Dora Czerna's argument against sycophantic chatbots in UX Design.cc and Chris Dalley’s exploration of Fin's enhanced capabilities at Intercom Blog. It also delves into community debates on design leadership tools, evolving portfolio review expectations, and a growing disillusionment with product design. Additionally, it announces the free online UX Camp Summer event on May 30th...

This episode covers how complexity accumulates in systems through locally rational choices, introducing Bayesian thinking for updating beliefs in UX research based on data, and highlights recent publications from Codrops, CSS-Tricks, and UX Planet. It also delves into community discussions about honesty in portfolios and when design skills become automatic. Additionally, it announces the free onli...

This episode covers expert insights on how AI tools impact designers' connection to their work and the benefits of using SVGs over raster images for web loaders. It also delves into community discussions about Apple’s controversial UI designs and the search for an all-encompassing wireframing tool. Lastly, it announces UX Camp Summer, an upcoming online event open for speaker submissions on May 30...

This episode covers Catherine Chu's argument against VR for cognitive empathy, Carrie Webster’s guide to eco-friendly web designs, and highlights from Nielsen Norman Group, CSS-Tricks, and more. It also features practitioners discussing honesty in portfolios and preparing for high-stakes interviews. Lastly, it announces the free UX Camp Summer event on May 30th with an open call for speakers. Show...

This episode covers Arin Bhowmick's analysis on AI project failures due to hype over real problem-solving and introduces Cisco’s RAS metric for tracking research adoption from Nielsen Norman Group. It also touches on discussions about design clarity versus aesthetics and designer burnout in the UX Design subreddit, along with an announcement for the free UX Camp Summer event on May 30. Show Notes...