TLDR DesignSeptember 4, 2024

TLDR DESIGN 2024-09-04

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01NEWS & TRENDS

NIKE AND MOMA DESIGN STORE LAUNCH FIRST OFFICIAL COLLABORATION

Nike and MoMA Design Store have launched their first official collaboration series of limited-edition and co-branded products, emphasizing fitness and style. The series starts with the MoMA Nike Everyday Sock, which features the iconic Swoosh and MoMA branding. This partnership marks the first time official Nike x MoMA products have been released, despite a long-standing relationship highlighted by exhibits and exclusive releases. The collaboration will see more product drops.

links.tldrnewsletter.com1 min read

MICROSOFT DECIDES IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR BAD UI TO DIE

Microsoft is phasing out the Windows Control Panel, a 40-year-old interface linked to DOS that has been criticized for its complexity. Despite affection from some long-time users, it has always been a flawed and dangerous tool that gave too much power to the hands of the untrained. Its retirement signifies a move towards centralizing functions into the more modern but imperfect Settings. This shift highlights a broader industry issue: the lack of a shared, structured way to manage device settings, leading to user frustration and inefficiency.

theregister.com4 min read

CANVA SAYS ITS AI FEATURES ARE WORTH THE 300 PERCENT PRICE INCREASE

Canva's aggressive rollout of generative AI features will significantly hike its subscription costs next year. Canva Teams users globally will see a price increase of over 300%, with US rates jumping from $120 to $500 per year for up to five users, discounted to $300 for the first year. Canva justified this by citing its new AI tools' enhanced "product experience" and value. Some users have criticized the steep price hike and are considering switching to alternatives like Adobe.

theverge.com2 min read

02OPINIONS & TUTORIALS

WHY A.I. ISN'T GOING TO MAKE ART

Art involves numerous choices, often unconscious. AI-generated works lack these choices, leading to bland or derivative results. While impressive, AI-generated art lacks the depth and breadth of decisions found in human-made creations.

newyorker.com12 min read

ASPECTS OF THE EARLY WEB I'D LIKE TO SEE COME BACK

The early web (1995-2005) was defined by its simplicity, lack of big data, and opportunities for originality, allowing creators to build niche communities and unique online cultures. This era's openness and focus on user privacy offer valuable lessons for shaping the future of the web.

speckyboy.com6 min read

SANDING UI

"Sanding UI" involves iteratively testing and refining a user interface by repeatedly interacting with it, like smoothing wood with sandpaper. This method identifies issues, such as non-clickable gaps caused by CSS styling, and resolves them to enhance usability. The process focuses on continuous adjustments to create a seamless user experience.

blog.jim-nielsen.com3 min read

03LAUNCHES & TOOLS

PINES UI

Pines is a UI library designed for Alpine and Tailwind projects. It provides a collection of ready-to-use animations and components, such as sliders, tooltips, accordions, modals, and more.

devdojo.comTool

STYLES & VARIABLES ORGANIZER (FIGMA PLUGIN)

This plugin for Figma streamlines design system management by linking styles and variables, merging values, and enhancing design token implementation.

links.tldrnewsletter.com

VISUALIZE YOUR COLORS AND FONTS ON A REAL SITE

Realtime Colors lets you instantly visualize and test color and typography choices on a website, saving time and simplifying design decisions.

realtimecolors.comTool

04MISCELLANEOUS

REDUCING UX DEBT (OR DIE TRYING)

UX debt refers to unresolved user experience issues, often caused by poor communication and compromises in design quality, that can hurt business and team motivation. Regular collaboration between designers and developers, modular design systems, and proper documentation can help manage and reduce UX debt.

links.tldrnewsletter.com8 min read

HOW TO GET HIRED AS A JUNIOR DESIGNER IN 2024

The design industry has faced instability due to the pandemic and AI, making it essential for junior designers to master UX basics and design tools like Figma. Continuous learning, seeking mentor feedback, and leveraging prior skills and networks can help you stand out to employers.

raffdimeo.com8 min read

THE LOST SENSE

The digital revolution, especially smartphones, has diminished tactile experiences, impacting brain development, emotional growth, and well-being. Reconnecting with the physical world and redesigning devices to enhance touch could help counter these adverse effects.

workingtheorys.com6 min read