TLDR DESIGN 2024-06-20

Keep your device clean. Free up space. Make your memories bloom.

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SNAP PREVIEWS ITS REAL-TIME IMAGE MODEL THAT CAN GENERATE AR EXPERIENCES

Snap unveiled a real-time, on-device image diffusion model for creating vivid AR experiences and introduced new generative AI tools for AR creators at the Augmented World Expo. These enhancements, which include a new Lens Studio 5.0 with an AI assistant, aim to make AR content creation faster and more efficient with features like realistic ML face effects, 3D asset generation, and character creation using text prompts.

WEBFLOW'S NEXT CHAPTER – CELEBRATING LINDA TONG AS OUR NEW CEO

Linda Tong has stepped up as Webflow's new CEO, bringing her extensive experience and infectious energy to lead the company into its next chapter. Vlad Magdalin, Webflow's co-founder, has transitioned to Chief Innovation Officer and will focus on product innovation and customer engagement. This leadership change aims to enhance the company's growth, collaboration, and execution at a pivotal moment, ensuring the company reaches new heights.

ACTIVIST STARBOARD AMASSES AUTODESK STAKE, WEIGHS SUIT OVER DELAYED PROBE DISCLOSURE

Activist fund Starboard Value has acquired a $500 million stake in Autodesk. The company has raised concerns about the timing of Autodesk's disclosure of an internal investigation that led to the ouster of its CFO. The activist fund is considering legal action to reopen the nominating window for directors. It suspects that Autodesk's board delayed the disclosure to limit shareholder influence.

THE GOVERNMENT'S LAWSUIT AGAINST ADOBE SHOWS DECEPTIVE DESIGN IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS—UNTIL IT'S NOT

The US Justice Department sued Adobe for violating the ROSCA act, alleging deceptive sign-up and cancellation practices where the "annual, paid monthly" subscription terms were obscured in fine print and only clearly disclosed during cancellation attempts. The lawsuit highlights Adobe's use of "dark patterns" to manipulate users into costly, hard-to-cancel subscriptions and reflects the government's growing interest in addressing deceptive design practices.

AI + DESIGN: NAVIGATING THE PROMISE AND PITFALLS OF AI

Figma's AI report: Eighty-five percent of designers say AI has enhanced their productivity, mainly through text and image generation or as a thought partner, with a threefold increase in significant workflow transformations reported. However, only a third are proud of their launched AI products, though this rises to 82% among those for whom AI is crucial to the product, indicating a need for teams to focus on collaborative AI solutions for broader impact.

EMOTIONAL DESIGN: WHY IT MATTERS IN UX

More than usability, Emotional Design is about creating products that people love. Don Norman's three levels of emotional processing, visceral, behavioral, and reflective, guide this approach. Visceral design evokes immediate and positive reactions, behavioral design ensures intuitive use, and reflective design aligns with personal identity. Understanding these can help designers craft experiences that resonate deeply with users, fostering lasting connections.

WHO CAN USE THIS COLOR COMBINATION?

Discover how color contrast affects people with visual impairments using plugins and simulations to determine accessibility grades for color combinations.

MAXON STUDIO

Maxon Studio offers an intuitive After Effects template engine and interface for quickly creating stunning videos. It has customizable capsules for backgrounds, text, motion graphics, transitions, and effects.

AI-POWERED MIND MAPS

Mapify uses AI to transform content into clear mind maps, summarizing documents, images, audio, and more.

WILKINSON SWORD REBRAND CELEBRATES ITS SWORD-MAKING ORIGINS

Wilkinson Sword, a 250-year-old brand, has rebranded with a modernized logo, simplified brand architecture, and a new tagline, "Since 1772", to celebrate its heritage and differentiate itself in the market. The new logo features a modernized cross-swords design and logotype, while the brand architecture has been simplified for more explicit product naming and iconography.

T-SHAPED VS. V-SHAPED DESIGNERS

Many UX job openings seek T-shaped designers with deep expertise in one area and broad knowledge in adjacent fields. However, V-shaped designers who combine deep expertise with curiosity in multiple regions can bridge gaps in UX design. Companies benefit from allowing employees to shape their roles and demonstrate their unique value when applying for jobs.

DESIGNED FOR DELIGHT, BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE

This case study is about how Atlassian designed and built the Pragmatic drag-and-drop feature — a flexible, efficient solution for web applications that leverages low-level browser primitives to minimize code and ensure a consistent user experience across devices. It offers modular customization and prioritizes accessibility. Its modular nature posed challenges for Figma outputs, which were addressed with practical solutions.

THE ORIGINAL STYLE GUIDE FOR DC COMICS CHARACTERS SURFACES FOR THE PUBLIC

The original DC Comics style guide has been republished with 165 artwork scans and an introduction by Paul Levitz.

THE SUPERB TULLE SCULPTURES BY BENJAMIN SHINE

British artist Benjamin Shine creates mesmerizing sculptures and installations using tulle, exploring themes like energy and impermanence.

CANON'S QUIRKY NEW LENSES HELP YOU CREATE CONTENT FOR APPLE VISION PRO AND VR

Canon's innovative design allows stereoscopic 3D photos and videos to be taken using existing cameras like the EOS R7 and offers a cost-effective way for professional content creators to explore mixed reality without needing new equipment.