A weekly roundup of UX nuggets to stay up to date in the design industry. Want updates? Sign up for the UX newsletter here.
Glassmorphism in user interfaces
[ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS]
I’ve been mindlessly scrolling on Dribbble and Instagram lately to scope out what the predicted UI trends for 2021 will be and without a doubt, Glassmorphism has been a consistent leading contender. Perhaps it is because Apple introduced this style into the recent Big Sur update…
Glassmorphism is a frosted-glass effect achieved using a background blur that applies a subtle transparency. This visual addition has made its way into designs paired with vibrant gradient backgrounds to spotlight and highlight certain objects. When used “correctly” it creates awe, but like Neumorphism, a predicted trend for 2020, it poses accessibility issues.
What are your thoughts on this trend? Will you be incorporating trying Glassmorphism in your designs?
“CRAP” Design
[INSTAGRAM POST]
No, your design isn’t bad, it’s just CRAP — has consistency, repetition, alignment, and proximity! Learn how these techniques can help you elevate your work.
Window Resizer
[DESIGN TOOL]
This Chrome extension is any awesome tool to help resize your browser to emulate various screen resolutions. I love using this tool to test for responsiveness of web pages.
UXPA
[UX GROUP ONLINE]
The User Experience Professionals Association supports people who research, design, and evaluate the user experience of products and services. Visit their website to find a chapter near you!
YDays
[DESIGN TOOL]
You’ll have to create an account to be able to view this design tool but YDays is a simple way to challenge your friends to a 5-day drawing activity to spark some inspiration and potential collaboration.
Six Steps To Running A Design Business From Home
[DESIGN PODCAST]
The Resourceful Designer is a podcast, blog, and community run by Mark Des Cotes, a graphic and web designer. In this podcast episode, he describes 6 steps to running a design business from home, specifically during this pandemic. Mark also gives a pro-tip to organize tabs with a desktop shortcut!
How to set up an LLC as a freelancer (and why it’s a no-brainer)
[ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS]
An LLC is a limited liability company which is a layer of protection for a personal business. It allows you to not be held personally liable for any debts or legal liabilities incurred by the business. But what got me was the tax advantages — I’m all ears for saving money.
The initial steps are pretty simple:
- Fill out a basic form about you and your business.
- File a document called “articles of Organization”.
- Get an EIN or Employer Identification Number.
So you might be freelancing and forming an LLC seems daunting but LLCs were actually made for short-term projects! Say you’re starting your small design business, you’ll be able to customize the operating agreements to suit your needs.
“Beauty & brains, pleasure & usability: these should go hand in hand ”
- Don Norman, University professor, industry executive, consultant, keynote speaker, and author.
[UX QUOTE]
How to Deal with People Who Don’t “Get” Design
[WATCH THIS]
Morgane Peng says, “To make sure Design is used strategically, you need a strategy.” She shares 3 strategies that have worked for her when collaborating with various personas that could also work for you. Her main point that she stresses is that you are more than just a designer.
How Artifacts Afford: The Power and Politics of Everyday Things
[BOOK RECO]
Affordances are the ways design features enable and constrain user engagement and social interaction. This concept has long been looked at by Don Norman but what Davis does is she conceptualizes these same frameworks in a comprehensive and easy-to-read fashion.
Why Everyone Always Hates Redesigns, Even When They’re Good
[ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS]
This article made me chuckle a bit because I’ve been bickering about Instagram’s recent redesign where they assume that I want Reels and Shopping in my bottom nav. I’m not entirely sure that I’ll get over my disgust for the time-sucks and money-traps that they just added but I digress.
Contrary to my dislike for Instagram’s change, people generally have a negative reaction to redesign because of the psychological dislike for change and uncertainty. A new layout requires time and effort in relearning the tool and an interruption in the acquainted workflow.
💼 REMOTE UX JOBS 💻
User Researcher
Arc & Codementor is a resource that connects companies to developers.
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human Factors, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field or equivalent practical experience; 5+ years of experience within user research including usability testing, contextual inquiry, user interviews, survey and others; in-depth understanding of each research methodology, not only how to conduct but why and when to apply the right methodology
#fstartup #friendlycoworkers #smallteam
Mentor — UI/UX Design Course
Springboard offers part-time bootcamps that help learners launch their new tech careers.
Requirements: proficiency in topics covered in UI/UX Career Track; 3+ years of relevant work experience and portfolio to demonstrate; available for weekly, 30-minute video check-ins with students
#flexible #part-time #mentorshipopportunity
UI/UX Designer
Krit helps startups plan, build, and ship web and mobile apps.
Requirements: produce wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes for new products and features; conducting user interviews and analyzing analytics data to guide clients on design direction; basic experience with HTML & CSS
#highpaying #greatperks #flexible
Visual Designer
Deel’s goal is to offer every company that hires remote talents with a one-stop-shop that makes onboarding, global compliance, and payments easy.
Requirements: have experience building websites; experienced in illustrations and infographics; can work independently (self-starting) and within a team; have lead brand redesigns from scratch
#international #greatperks #flexible
Junior Product Designer
Contra is a community that connects freelancers to independent work.
Requirements: keen interest in product (UX/UI) but also enjoy marking and brand design; experience working in a remote-first environment; excellent communication skills
#flexible #startup
Product Designer
Shogun supports various e-commerce brands.
Requirements: portfolio to showcase product design work in a similar industry; comfortable exploring data and interpreting results’ experience designing on a remote team
#startup #flexible #unicornpotential
Product Designer
Gubagoo is a fast-growing messenger and commerce solution for automotive dealers.
Requirements: experience in designing software products (mobile, desktop, tablet); understanding the whole product life cycle; ability to create beautiful interface experiences using Figma and other tools for animations
#bigcompany #friendlycoworkers #unicornpotential
🎓 Remote Senior UX Positions
Senior UX Designer
Mango Languages is an online language learning resource.
Requirements: 5+ years working as a UX designer, interaction designer or similar role, preferably skewed towards website design; portfolio of work that demonstrates your UX process and customer-centric design work; experience designing in Figma, Sketch, InVision Studio, or Adobe XD
#freelance #part-time #international
Senior Visual Designer
Bitovi simplifies JavaScript development and UX design.
Requirements: 5+ years of professional experience implementing and designing user interfaces for web applications; expertise in standard design tools like SKetch or other wireframing tools’ comfortable participating in sales and marketing initiatives to showcase aesthetic capabilities
#smallteam #greatperks
Senior Product Designer
GoDaddy is the world’s largest web services platform, and most outspoken champion, for everyday entrepreneurs around the globe.
Requirements: competent with HTML/CSS; ability to lead design discussions and brainstorming that encourages peer and stakeholder contributions; high degree of independence and autonomy, requiring little data-to-day instruction; experience working in Figma, including libraries, prototypes, components, and auto-layout
#greatperks #friendlycoworkers #bigcompany
Senior UX Designer
CloudBees’ mission is “to enable our customers to deliver software at the speed of ideas”.
Requirements: 6+ years of experience as a UX designer, interaction designer, product designer or similar; proven experience designing technical SaaS products with large feature sets or complex dashboard; basic understanding of HTML & CSS
#unicornpotential #friendlycoworkers #bigcompany
Senior Product Designer
Kustomer is the omnichannel SaaS platform reimagining enterprise customer service to deliver standout experiences.
Requirements: 4+ years of hands-on UX/UI/Product design experience solving complex user problems backed with research; ability to create elegant, functional designs that live up to “pixel-perfect” standards; solid communication skills
#friendlycoworkers #bigcompany
Senior Web Designer, eCommerce
Toast, Inc. is a cloud-based restaurant software company.
Requirements: proficiency with Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and InVision; advanced experience in digital design, with examples of eCommerce design; ability to turn wireframes into a functional design, working knowledge of HTML and CSS
#greatperks #friendlycoworkers #bigcompany
Senior UX Designer
Khoros is a provider of community management, social media marketing software.
Requirements: 6–10 years experience in three of more of the following areas of practice: interaction design, visual design, inclusivity (accessibility/A11y) design, prototyping, UX research; solid command of Sketch and InVision; grasp of HTML and CSS
#greatperks #bigcompany #startup
Lead Product Designer
PingCAP is An open-source, cloud-native, distributed SQL database for elastic scale and real-time analytics.
Requirements: 5+ years of design experience with an in-depth understanding of SaaS platform products; a portfolio that demonstrates ability to create effective user-centered design solutions; working knowledge of industry standard design software (i.e Sketch, Figma, Adobe CS, Invision, or other UX related tools).
#greatperks #bigcompany #friendlycoworkers
Principal Product Designer
Elastic is an open source search company that powers enterprise search, observability, and security solutions built on one technology stack that can be deployed anywhere.
Requirements: well developed product design skills using Figma; React, JavaScript/TypeScript, and Ruby/Rail; extensive experience owning product design for a well-designed, at-scale software product
#greatperks #bigcompany #unicornpotential
