TLDR Index
TLDR Design

TLDR DESIGN 2025-07-16

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02OPINIONS & TUTORIALS

'BELIEF IS CONTAGIOUS': GOOGLE'S ANDREW THOMAS ON NURTURING CREATIVE IDEAS

Andrew Thomas, Head of Retail Design at Google EMEA, shared his creative journey and philosophy with members of Creative Boom's private network, The Studio, emphasizing the transformative power of belief, collaboration, and resilience in creative work. Drawing on personal experiences—from designing for Kylie to leading campaigns for global brands—he encouraged creatives to respect ideas, seek diverse perspectives, and embrace feedback as a tool for growth and innovation.

creativeboom.com5 min read

SOMEBODY FINALLY SAID IT: APPLE IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

Apple is facing growing criticism over a string of underwhelming product launches and its sluggish entry into the AI space, with research firm LightShed suggesting the company may need a new, more product-focused CEO to remain competitive. As rivals surge ahead in AI innovation, commentators argue that under Tim Cook's leadership, Apple has lost its edge in design and breakthrough hardware, raising doubts about its future growth trajectory.

creativebloq.com3 min read

DID AI KILL THE SYSTEM'S THINKING SKILLS IN UX?

AI is transforming product design by enabling rapid prototyping, automating tasks, and streamlining collaboration, but its speed and convenience risk overshadowing critical thinking and systems-level understanding. While AI can be a powerful accelerator, designers must avoid over-reliance on tools and maintain a strong foundation in strategic thinking, user insight, and holistic problem-solving to ensure quality, purpose-driven outcomes.

uxdesign.cc9 min read

03LAUNCHES & TOOLS

KIGEN COLOR GENERATOR (FIGMA PLUGIN)

A plugin for Figma that helps designers create design variables and styles quickly. The word Kigen is Japanese for 'origin', 'source', or 'starting point'.

kigen.design

04MISCELLANEOUS

STATE OF DESIGN RECRUITING IN 2025

Design recruiting has shifted dramatically, with portfolios now completely overtaking resumes as recruiters skip straight to evaluating craft quality and business impact metrics. Companies prioritize collaboration skills and strong design opinions that AI cannot replicate, making designer conviction a make-or-break factor in startup hiring. Most design hires still happen through word-of-mouth referrals rather than cold applications, with active community participation becoming crucial for early-career designers.

designbuddies.substack.com3 min read

HOW NEURODESIGN IS RESHAPING USER EXPERIENCE

Neurodesign combines neuroscience, psychology, and design to create digital experiences that align with the brain's natural processing of information. The approach applies principles like Hick's Law, Miller's Law, and Fitts's Law to reduce cognitive load and make interfaces more intuitive by respecting visual scanning patterns and memory limitations. Designers now use eye-tracking technology, heat maps, and AI-powered attention prediction tools to measure and optimize brain-friendly user experiences.

links.tldrnewsletter.com5 min read

INCLUSIVE SANS EXPANDS UPON PENGUIN'S HISTORY WITH PLAYFULNESS AND CURIOSITY

Designer Olivia King created “Penguin Inclusive Sans,” a custom, accessible typeface for Penguin Books, rooted in the publisher's rich typographic history and designed to balance historical authenticity with contemporary readability. Inspired by archives and humanist design principles, the open-source font features friendly, inclusive details and supports over 600 languages, advancing Penguin's mission of making books accessible to all.

itsnicethat.com2 min read