TLDR DesignJuly 28, 2025

TLDR DESIGN 2025-07-28

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01NEWS & TRENDS

YOUTUBE SHORTS IS ADDING AN IMAGE-TO-VIDEO AI TOOL, NEW AI EFFECTS

YouTube is launching new generative AI features for Shorts creators, including an image-to-video tool that transforms static photos into six-second videos, as well as new AI effects for artistic transformations. The image-to-video feature, powered by Google's Veo 2 model, is rolling out this week in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with broader availability planned for later. YouTube also introduced AI Playground as a central hub for generative AI creation tools, accessible through the Create button for users in the same initial markets.

techcrunch.com2 min read

PROMPT, PROTOTYPE, PERFECT: FIGMA MAKE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL USERS

Figma Make has moved out of beta and is now available to all users alongside other Figma AI features. The tool enables designers, product managers, and engineers to rapidly create high-fidelity prototypes, regardless of their technical background, thereby democratizing prototyping and improving cross-functional collaboration. Teams at Figma report that Make helps them explore ideas faster, align on product decisions more effectively, and reduce iteration cycles between design and development.

figma.com8 min read

IOS 26 PUBLIC BETA NOW AVAILABLE WITH NEW DESIGN AND MORE

iOS 26 marks a major shift in Apple's software naming strategy, aligning version numbers across platforms with the calendar year, and introduces a sweeping visual overhaul called Liquid Glass, which features dynamic, glass-like UI elements and fluid animations. Alongside this redesign, iOS 26 revamps the Phone app with a unified layout, Call Screening to filter unknown calls, and Hold Assist to detect when someone returns to the line—enhancing both aesthetics and usability.

9to5mac.com17 min read

02OPINIONS & TUTORIALS

AI NEEDS UI

AI makes good UI more critical than ever. Visual interfaces often outperform text-only interactions in efficiency, accessibility, and user comprehension across various contexts. The most successful AI implementations integrate into existing UIs rather than replacing them with conversational interfaces, creating AI-augmented experiences.

links.tldrnewsletter.com6 min read

UNDERSTANDING HOW TO TALK WITH EXECUTIVES IS A REQUIRED DESIGN SKILL

Designers frequently struggle to communicate effectively with executives, often losing their attention during meetings and failing to demonstrate business impact. Key strategies include keeping presentations concise, translating UX metrics into business terms that are scalable, and leveraging data visualization to enhance clarity. Effective executive communication has become a required design skill for career advancement and gaining approval for design ideas.

dataanddesign.substack.com6 min read

VANILLA MOMENTS

A quirky story about a car failing to start after buying vanilla ice cream illustrates a deeper truth: small, real-world behaviours—“vanilla moments”—can expose hidden flaws in even the best-designed systems. These moments highlight the value of observation over theory. Designers should approach their work with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to learning from how people actually interact with products in everyday life.

uxdesign.cc5 min read

03LAUNCHES & TOOLS

LO-FI EFFECTS

Apply lo-fi effects to your images and videos: dithering, halftone, gradients, patterns, and more.

tooooools.appTool

SOCIAL MEDIA AND AD SPECS CHEAT SHEET

Instantly find the latest social media and ad specs in this searchable directory. Download ready-to-use templates with safe zones for any size.

mediacheatsheet.comTool

IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCT IMAGE WORKFLOW WITH AI

All-in-one AI platform for bulk image editing: background removal, white background generation, compression, and SEO alt text.

graficai.coTool

04MISCELLANEOUS

THE HIDDEN COST OF POOR NAVIGATION: HOW INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE DIRECTLY IMPACTS BUSINESS METRICS

Poor website information architecture creates hidden business costs through lost revenue, increased support tickets, and users abandoning tasks when navigation fails. Companies like Wayfair increased category page views by 23% and conversions by 15% simply by restructuring navigation to match user expectations. Effective information architecture requires aligning the website structure with users' mental models through card sorting and user journey mapping, rather than relying on internal organization.

uxmatters.com11 min read

TINY SCREENS, BIG IMPACT: THE FORGOTTEN ART OF DEVELOPING WEB APPS FOR FEATURE PHONES

Despite common assumptions, flip phones, which can now feature 4G, WiFi, and app capabilities, remain significant, with over 200 million non-smartphones sold annually. Developers can tap into this underserved market through organic growth opportunities while adapting designs for small screens and keyboard navigation. Modern remote browser technologies, such as Cloud Phone and KaiOS, make building web apps for these devices easier than ever before.

smashingmagazine.com13 min read

05QUICK LINKS

ADOBE CLAIMS ITS AI TOOLS ARE 'COMMERCIALLY SAFE', BUT DOES THAT STACK UP?

Adobe markets its Firefly AI models as "commercially safe" because they're trained exclusively on licensed content.

creativebloq.com5 min read

BIG TECH'S AI PUSH IS GOING TO DEVOUR AD AGENCIES. OR IS IT?

AI technology is increasingly being used to create advertisements across social media and television, generating mixed reactions from critics who call them either genius or soulless.

sherwood.news9 min read