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MANAGING DESIGN SYSTEMS WITH MANY CORE LIBRARIES

KISKISTUDIO'S IDENTITY FOR CCT IS POISED TO MOVE IN PERFECT RHYTHM WITH THE CENTRE AS IT EVOLVES

The Centre for Creative Technologies (CCT) at the University of Bristol is a hub for creative technology professionals. KiskiStudio developed a flexible brand identity for CCT that features a custom brandmark symbolizing its core pillars - Digital, Analogue, and Data - and a dynamic color palette inspired by showcased work.

I WENT TO AUTODESK UNIVERSITY FOR THE FIRST TIME, HERE ARE THE FIVE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME MOST

Autodesk University 2024 in San Diego showcased groundbreaking tech demos and innovative products. Top experiences included Studio Tim Fu's real-time generative AI for architecture, Lenovo's ThinkReality VRX headset, Prusa's advanced 3D printers, and Wonder Studio's AI-driven animation.

BAGGI DEVELOPS CAMPAIGN IN AID OF FOOD SECURITY

The “Mmmake Your Mark” campaign by BAGGI aims to attract STEM graduates to the food and drink industry and address labor shortages, climate change, and food security through a playful design featuring a short film and animated logos.

12 ICONIC VISUAL MOMENTS THAT DEFINED THE 2024 ELECTION

The 2024 election campaign has been marked by historic moments: Trump assassination attempt, Harris-Walz's camo hats, viral memes, and bold visual symbols that have shaped public perception in surprising ways.

COSTA RICA: FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE ITS NATION BRAND STRATEGY

Costa Rica's Nation Brand, essential COSTA RICA, created a 2035 strategy with AI that focuses on climate change and sustainability.

APPLE REPORTEDLY RELEASING ‘TOTAL REDESIGN' FOR MACBOOK PRO IN 2026

Apple is expected to launch a completely redesigned MacBook Pro in 2026 featuring OLED displays, a thinner form, and an M6 chip built on the 2nm process for major performance gains. The 2025 models will only receive M5-series chip upgrades without any design changes.

YOU CAN NOW TRY MICROSOFT'S MORE MODERN WINDOWS HELLO UI

Microsoft is testing a revamped Windows Hello authentication experience in Windows 11, adding visual updates, new iconography, and enhanced passkey functionality. The redesign streamlines authentication on login screens and apps, offering an intuitive interface for switching authentication methods. A new API enables third-party apps to integrate password/passkey management.

WONDER DYNAMICS NOW LETS YOU GO STRAIGHT FROM MULTI-CAMERA VIDEO TO FULLY ANIMATED 3D SCENE

Now part of Autodesk, Wonder Dynamics has introduced a tool that automates animation by transforming any video into an editable 3D scene with characters and backgrounds. This feature enables creators to replace actors with 3D characters and simulate complex scenes for previsualization, making early production stages more efficient with fully adjustable 3D assets.

DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2025: CREATIVE LEADERS SHARE THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE

2025 will see a shift towards AI-driven outputs, potentially impacting design jobs. A countertrend of handcrafted, human-centered approaches will appear as a response to rapid technological growth. There will be a resurgence in craftsmanship fueled by personalization, sustainability, and the fusion of traditional techniques with modern technology.

THE FUTURE OF DESIGN: HOW AI IS SHIFTING DESIGNERS FROM MAKERS TO CURATORS

Advanced design systems and LLMs democratize design by enabling those with limited craft skills to create quality outputs, potentially shifting designers' roles toward curating AI-generated options. However, this democratization raises quality control concerns, as non-designers may lack the expertise to assess the effectiveness of their designs.

HOW DID A COMPANY ACQUISITION FEEL LIKE FOR A PRODUCT DESIGNER

It is important to adapt to new structures, recognize potential biases toward the acquiring company's solutions, and balance workloads during transitions. Fostering cross-departmental collaboration and understanding evolving company values can be essential for assessing personal alignment and well-being during organizational changes.

BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED ANIMATED ICONS

An open-source collection of smooth animated icons for your projects.

ANALYTICS FOR FIGMA PROTOTYPES

Track Figma prototype views over time and record user session info, such as duration or location. View the recording of an individual session to see how people interact with the prototype.

REMOVE OBJECTS (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Paint any object or person in an image in Figma to remove it altogether.

‘IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT ART, IT'S MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS': TIM BURTON AT THE DESIGN MUSEUM

The World of Tim Burton at the Design Museum celebrates Burton's unique craft, showcasing over 600 items from his five-decade career. Curator Maria McLintock highlights his collaborative work with designers like Colleen Atwood, revealing Burton's handmade elements and iterative processes. The exhibit features the costumes, drawings, and memorabilia that underscore Burton's storytelling and creative influence.

RETHINKING REBRANDING

Mekari Shrine's 1,800-year-old lineage transformed through gradual rebranding led by Kazunobu Takase, who expanded annual revenue from $35,000 to $1 million. His strategy focused on rearticulating the company's mission, simplifying product offerings, and "productizing" services. Takase's work demonstrates that internal change, not just visual rebranding, fosters sustainable growth for long-standing brands.

DESIGN SYSTEMS: WHAT TO WORK ON

In a conversation, design system teams confronted the challenges of prioritization and autonomy, navigating the delicate balance between creating components and fostering cultural impact. Participants debated the focus between common patterns and product-specific needs, highlighting a strategic, culture-driven approach to design systems that promotes cohesion and impact across broader organizational goals.

IF YOU CAN KEEP IT: POINTERS FOR EFFECTIVE WEBSITE IA GOVERNANCE

Effective information architecture (IA) needs ongoing governance to remain relevant, ensuring clarity, adaptability, and coherence.

THIS IMPRESSIVE AI ART TOOL GIVES CONTROL BACK TO ARTISTS AND "RETHINKS HOW AI ART SHOULD WORK"

Blendbox is a new AI art tool designed to give artists control over their creations without relying on complex prompts.

PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS

Prophecy's Product Design Cheatsheet outlines a six-stage workflow for product development that focuses on user insights, testing, and iterative refinement.

APPLE REACHES DEAL TO ACQUIRE PIXELMATOR

Apple has agreed to acquire Pixelmator, a photo editing company known for its AI-driven apps in the Apple ecosystem, pending regulatory approval. Founded 17 years ago, Pixelmator aims to reach more creative users. The rare acquisition reflects Apple's interest in enhancing creative tools on its platforms.

GENERATIVE AI IS COMING TO GOOGLE MAPS, GOOGLE EARTH, AND WAZE

Google's new AI model, Gemini, will soon enhance Google Maps, Google Earth, and Waze. Maps will feature conversational searches, curated suggestions, and contextual directions. Waze will add voice-activated hazard reporting. Google Earth will support complex queries for urban planning. Some features will be initially limited to trusted testers in select regions.

META'S NEW OS UPDATE FOR QUEST INCLUDES A REDESIGN AND TRAIN MODE

Meta's latest Quest update features a refreshed Horizon OS with improved dark and light themes, enhanced UI elements, and a revamped settings menu for better usability. The update also introduces a new calendar app that syncs with Google and Outlook, allowing users to manage events and meetings in VR. Travel Mode now supports use on trains, providing a convenient way to watch media while in transit.

WOAH, OPACITY! A FULL GUIDE TO THIS BADASS HERO OF EFFICIENT UI DESIGN

Transparent colors streamline design by adapting to different backgrounds, reducing the need for multiple styles and states. This approach simplifies buttons, borders, and theme adaptability, benefiting startups and fast-paced teams. Although transparency improves efficiency, accessibility and performance considerations are essential for optimal user experience across devices and backgrounds.

WHAT BUDGETING APPS, PELOTON, AND DUOLINGO HAVE IN COMMON

Many apps, like Mint, Peloton, and Duolingo, use the Hook Model — a psychological approach involving cue, action, reward, and investment — to build user habits. Features like streaks, badges, and progress tracking encourage engagement and long-term commitment, making these apps more enjoyable and addictive.

MAINTAINING A GROWTH MINDSET

For designers, maintaining a growth mindset and embracing self-teaching is essential for overcoming industry challenges and opening job opportunities. Consistent passion and practice can lead to senior roles or transitions into product management, where design skills offer a strong foundation.

COMPONENT LIBRARY FOR TAILWIND CSS

daisyUI adds component class names to Tailwind CSS so you can make beautiful websites faster than ever.

FONT REPLACER (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Batch replace fonts across multiple layers, see font sizes and total changes, run before/after comparisons, and count with smart font weight matching.

PSYCHOLOGY IN UX DESIGN: EIGHT WAYS TO TARGET AUDIENCES WITH YOUR WEB DESIGNS

UX design greatly benefits from psychology, enhancing interactions through color theory, Gestalt principles, and anchoring bias. These concepts influence decision-making, reduce cognitive load, and boost engagement. Integrating psychology helps designers create intuitive, conversion-focused websites.

WOOLMARK CAMPAIGN UNEARTHS HORRORS OF FAST FASHION

Woolmark's "Wear Wool, Not Waste" campaign uses a zombie apocalypse metaphor to highlight the environmental impact of synthetic fibers and promote wool as a sustainable choice. Created by 20(SOMETHING) and Studio Birthplace, the campaign has led to a 13% increase in wool consideration in the UK. Woolmark plans to expand the campaign in 2025 to drive further change in fashion habits.

FOUR POPULAR CANVASES FOR PRODUCT DESIGN

The Business Model Canvas (BMC), Value Proposition Canvas (VPC), Lean UX Canvas, and UX Research Canvas each streamline product design and problem-solving. BMC visualizes business elements on one page, VPC aligns customer needs and value, Lean UX Canvas emphasizes iterative learning, and UX Research Canvas structures user research. Together, these tools enable efficient, customer-focused design processes and decision-making.

THE BEST TYPOGRAPHY OF THE 1990S, ACCORDING TO TYPE EXPERTS

The 1990s redefined typography, as desktop publishing sparked creativity.

EVOCATIVE NEW BOOK SURVEYS THE COLOR PALETTES USED BY RENOWNED ARTISTS

Alexandra Loske's 'The Artist's Palette' explores the color palettes of 50 renowned artists, revealing their techniques and influences through palette organization, brushstrokes, and pigment choices across art history.

THE NEW SLIPKNOT LOGO IS A REAL DISASTERPIECE

Slipknot fans were disappointed and critical of a new T-shirt design that featured a modified version of Joey Jordison's original ‘S' logo, seeing it as a poor alteration that undermines the iconic symbol.

A FIRST LOOK AT APPLE'S REDESIGNED MAC MINI AND ITS OTHER NEW MACS

Apple has introduced M4-equipped Mac Mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro models alongside other updates on accessories and tech deals. Notable design updates include a smaller Mac Mini and vibrant iMac colors. The new Macs are available for preorder and will launch next week.

THE VATICAN'S NEW 'POP CULTURE' ANIME MASCOT RAISES EYEBROWS

The Vatican unveiled "Luce," an anime-inspired mascot for the 2025 Jubilee designed by Simone Legno, to resonate with youth culture. With electric blue hair and a pilgrim's attire, Luce embodies the theme "Pilgrims of Hope." Reactions have been mixed. The Vatican aims to engage younger generations.

NOTHING IS MAKING A GLOW-IN-THE-DARK PHONE

Nothing's Phone 2A Plus Community Edition will launch on November 12 for $399. Co-created with community input, it features green phosphorescent accents, custom packaging by Ian Henry Simmonds, and a glow-in-the-dark design. Nothing received and implemented over 900 community entries, including six exclusive wallpapers and a unique marketing campaign. The device is limited to 1,000 units.

PROTOTYPING THE PATH TO DESIGN ENGINEERING

Slack's Design Engineering Champions program blends design and engineering skills, immersing frontend engineers in design-centric work and driving impactful projects. The program's success led to the formalization of design engineering roles. Design Engineers enhance product quality, user experience, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

WHO WILL TRAIN TOMORROW'S DESIGNERS?

As AI advances and junior design roles diminish, the industry faces a mentorship crisis. Junior positions, essential for skill-building, are vanishing due to hiring freezes and remote work challenges. AI-driven tasks risk sidelining newcomers, whose fresh perspectives are invaluable.

HOW TO ESCAPE PIXEL PUSHING

While aesthetics matter, reframing pushback as problem-solving fosters collaboration. To gain respect for UX, it's necessary to understand project goals, build alliances, and ensure timing is right before seeking more responsibility.

DRAW WITH AI

You can control AI, teach it your drawing style, and use it as a tool to push the boundaries of your creative process.

BLOQ: CREATE, EDIT, AND RENEW NEW/EXISTING DESIGN SYSTEMS (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Bloq is a Figma plugin that lets you generate entire design systems from scratch, fix existing files or frames, and create and enhance components.

A FIRST LOOK AT LEGO'S NEW INNOVATION CAMPUS, DESIGNED TO BE A COLORFUL WONDERLAND OF CREATIVITY

Lego's new Innovation Campus in Billund, Denmark, opening in 2027, will feature six sustainable timber buildings designed for collaboration and housing for 1,700 employees. Focused on sustainability and creativity, the campus is aiming for LEED Platinum certification. It incorporates employee input through Lego brick modeling.

A GOOD DESIGN IS A GOOD ESSAY

Like a persuasive essay, good design seeks to change minds by articulating compelling arguments. A core role of UX is addressing complex problems. Designers must craft arguments thoughtfully to shift corporate systems, a skill that AI tools cannot fully replicate.

THE OBSESSION OVER CRAFT

In design, "craft" represents quality, consistency, and cultural pride. It builds trust and makes work more impactful. Strong craft foundations are essential, elevating teamwork, design artifacts, and cross-functional respect. Prioritizing craft strengthens a designer's influence, cultivates respect, and upholds standards. It is a critical element of success.

DUTCHSCOT'S MINIMALIST WEB DESIGN: A STUDY IN CLARITY AND CREATIVITY

DutchScot's minimalist website masterfully showcases five years of projects through engaging case studies, combining clarity and storytelling to highlight how simplicity, minimal visuals, and thoughtful typography create an immersive brand experience.

MEET TÜPOKOMPANII, THE TYPE FOUNDRY REDEFINING LETTERFORMS THROUGH 'MISTAKES' AND TRADITION

Tüpokompanii, founded in 2022 by Andree Paat and Aimur Takk, creates unique typefaces blending Estonian heritage with experimental design.

FOUNDATIONS: FORM VALIDATION AND ERROR MESSAGES

Accessible forms enhance user experience through effective validation and error messages.

AMAZON JUST TWEAKED ITS CONTROVERSIAL APP ICON AGAIN

In 2021, when Amazon updated its app icon from a trolley design to resemble a cardboard box with tape, users compared it to Hitler's mustache. Recently, Amazon further modified the icon by adding stripes to the tape. This tweak surprised some users, briefly making the app harder to recognize.