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THIS ARTIST TURNS REAL PHOTOS INTO BEAUTIFUL ONE-LINE MINIMALIST DRAWINGS

Instagram artist @Lovetattoo__warszawa crafts captivating “One-Line” drawings, turning complex photos into minimalist art with a single continuous stroke.

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SPOTIFY NOW LETS YOU CREATE CUSTOM COVER ART FOR YOUR PLAYLISTS

Spotify is launching a feature that lets users design and customize playlist covers directly in the app. Users can start with a blank canvas or upload a photo, then modify it with text, colors, effects, gradients, and stickers. Each playlist can have one custom cover - the previous one is replaced unless saved separately. This feature enhances Spotify's personalization options, making it more competitive with Apple Music and YouTube Music.

CANVA HAS A SHINY NEW TEXT-TO-IMAGE GENERATOR

Canva has added new AI features, including enhanced text and video effects and a more robust text-to-image tool called “Dream Lab” based on the Phoenix model from its Leonardo.ai acquisition. The platform also improved its “Magic” AI tools for better text generation, AI-powered whiteboard summaries, and upgraded video editing with automatic captions and new effects.

KEVIN BACON, KATE MCKINNON, AND OTHER CREATIVES WARN OF ‘UNJUST' AI THREAT

Thousands of creatives, including celebrities like Kevin Bacon and Kate McKinnon, have signed a statement warning against the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials to train AI models, which could harm creators' livelihoods. Led by Fairly Trained, the movement criticizes AI companies for spending money on data and compute while expecting free access to creative works.

NOTE TO NEW DESIGN MANAGERS

Transitioning to design management requires mastering time management, decision-making, communication, and team leadership. Prioritize tasks, reject unnecessary meetings, and maintain clear, concise communication, preferably in writing. In-person discussions with stakeholders ensure better alignment.

A PERSONAL STORY ON DESIGNERS VS DECIDERS

Scott Berkun, who joined Microsoft in 1994 as a usability researcher for Internet Explorer 1.0, shares his experience at the company, highlighting the disconnect between design expectations and reality. Decisions at Microsoft are often made by leads and executives, not just designers. In this post, Berkun emphasizes the importance of influence in making good design decisions and offers insights from 30 years of experience to help designers reframe their frustrations.

IPHONE ROADMAP IS ‘MOST AMBITIOUS IN THE PRODUCT'S HISTORY,' PER JOHN TERNUS

Apple's hardware chief John Ternus called the upcoming iPhone models the "most ambitious" in the product's history in an internal memo. The iPhone 17 Air, expected next year, may feature a major redesign, while a foldable iPhone is planned for release in 2026 or beyond.

MOTIONITY

Create animated videos for free with Motionity, an open-source motion graphics editor with keyframing, masking, filters, text animations, and more.

REVIEW YOUR AD CREATIVES WITH AI

Get instant AI-powered ad feedback to improve your ad creatives and achieve peak campaign performance.

THE BEST FREE BOOKS FOR DESIGNERS

This free ebook collection covers icon design, design systems, prototyping, collaboration, and more.

THE ART OF DASHBOARD UI DESIGN: EMPOWERING ORGANISATIONS WITH ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS

Dashboards are powerful tools for visualizing complex data and transforming it into actionable insights. Effective dashboards require careful design tailored to user roles and needs. They use appropriate visualizations, prioritize clarity, and are refined through user feedback while ensuring data accuracy and ethical presentation to maintain trust.

HOW ALPHABET SHAPES BRANDS WITH TRUST, COLLABORATION, AND A 'SAUL BASS ETHOS'

Alphabet, a Manchester-based branding agency founded in 2016, follows an ideas-driven approach inspired by Saul Bass' ethos of "design is thinking made visual." The agency's culture emphasizes trust, open communication, and adaptability. It works across diverse industries while advising new creative agencies to prioritize minimal expenses, building a client base, and delivering quality work.

BRINGING BRANDS TO LIFE: HOW MOTION DESIGN TELLS A STORY

Studio Aya, founded by Ryūtarō Mihara in 2010, uses motion design to craft engaging brand experiences. Inspired by childhood curiosity, its unique approach blends creativity with technical expertise, capturing brand essence through movement. Its recent rebranding emphasizes energy and dynamism, underscoring its dedication to storytelling beyond static logos.

DEMYSTIFYING "CRAFT"

“Craft” in design is the careful attention to detail that creates intuitive, seamless products through collaboration and a balance of aesthetics and functionality.

SOME ADOBE MAX ATTENDEES ARE GETTING TIRED OF THE RELENTLESS FOCUS ON AI

Adobe Max 2024 focused heavily on generative AI, particularly Firefly, leaving some designers disappointed by the lack of creative inspiration.

INTERACTIVE POST ON OKLCH COLOR SPACE

The OKlch color space improves digital color representation by accounting for human perception of lightness, chroma, and hue.

THE KLEENEX REBRAND FEELS LIKE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE

Kleenex is celebrating its 100th anniversary by partnering with Turner Duckworth to reinvent its identity. The redesign aims to futureproof the brand and create cohesion amidst its different market variations. The new logo maintains soft curves to reflect the product's gentle nature, featuring a crown design that positions Kleenex as a leader in its category. This rebranding marks a significant update from previous iterations, including the iconic 1961 design by Saul Bass.

AMAZON ADS LAUNCHES NEW AI TOOLS FOR ADVERTISERS—HERE'S YOUR FIRST LOOK AT THE BETA

Amazon has recently introduced AI Creative Studio and Audio Generator, two AI tools that aim to help advertisers create engaging, dynamic content. These tools lower creative barriers by offering image, video, and audio generation capabilities, enabling advertisers to produce high-quality ads quickly. Both tools are currently available in beta for U.S. advertisers.

MIDJOURNEY PLANS TO LET ANYONE ON THE WEB EDIT IMAGES WITH AI

Midjourney is set to release an upgraded web tool early next week that allows users to edit and retexture uploaded images using its generative AI. Initially, access will be limited to a subset of the community, with increased human and AI moderation to address potential misuse risks such as copyright infringement and deepfake creation. Due to previous challenges regarding AI deployment, Midjourney is attempting to enhance responsibility by seeking community feedback and implementing political filters ahead of key events.

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T BE TOO EAGER TO SHARE YOUR WORK

YES, DESIGN CAN SAVE YOU MILLIONS

Poor design in critical systems can cause costly errors and is often undervalued in complex systems like FinTech. The "canvas-based node system" offers a more interactive approach to payment routing, simplifying decision-making and reducing errors compared to traditional static methods.

TIME FOR A MORE PROGRESSIVE DESIGN MODEL

The Agile methodology, which emphasizes outcomes and rapid innovation, has replaced the Waterfall model. Designer-developer handoffs need to be more efficient. The Progressive Design Model (PDM) streamlines the design process by integrating code-based deliverables and aligning with Agile principles, emphasizing iteration, precise planning, and AI tools.

APPLE DESIGN RESOURCES

Design apps on Apple platforms quickly and accurately using Figma, Sketch, Photoshop design kits, guides, and other resources.

COLOR THIEF

Grab the color palette from an image using just JavaScript.

A COMPREHENSIVE GRID SYSTEM ANCHORS FABLE&CO'S REBRAND OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS' SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Fable&Co has rebranded the University of Leeds' School of Design to attract diverse students, faculty, and industry partners with a visual identity blending creativity and precision. The new design features a grid system, an interlacing geometric emblem, a modern wordmark, and a restrained color palette, all reflecting the school's legacy and forward-thinking approach.

HOW I ORGANIZE VARIABLES IN FIGMA

Figma variables allow designers to create, store, and reuse values like color, number, boolean, and string types. This article explores how to organize variables through collections and groups, offering tips for creating semantic and component-specific variables. Strategies for managing variables in design systems include separating primitives from semantic values and restricting access to streamline workflows.

WHAT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM? HOW TO AVOID BAD ONES

SOFT AND PLAYFUL BRANDING AND VISUAL IDENTITY FOR PUFFYSOFT

PuffySoft's visual identity, designed by OLaF CW, features rounded typography, pastel colors, and AI-generated imagery for a playful, calming, and cohesive brand experience.

HILARIOUS TIKTOK TREND POKES FUN AT IPHONE DESIGNERS

The iPhone 16 launch has sparked criticism on TikTok, with users mocking Apple's repetitive design choices.

WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO WORK AS A CREATIVE: AGENCY, IN-HOUSE OR FREELANCE?

Choosing between agency, in-house, or freelance design depends on your goals, working style, and career stage.

ALLEGED IPHONE SE 4 DUMMY UNITS SHOW IPHONE 14 DESIGN, APPARENT ‘PLUS' SIZE OPTION

New images of alleged iPhone SE 4 dummy units reveal a design similar to the iPhone 14 with a single rear camera, Face ID, and the same dimensions. Expected to launch in the spring, the iPhone SE 4 may come with a 6.1-inch OLED display, an A18 chip, and a 48MP camera. It could be Apple's first iPhone with a 5G modem.

ADOBE INTRODUCES AI TOOLS THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO WORK WITH VECTOR OBJECTS AND SKETCHES

Adobe has introduced new AI tools in its "Sneaks" program, including "Project Turntable" for converting 2D vector graphics into 3D and "Project Remix A Lot" for digitalizing hand-drawn sketches. These tools enhance design efficiency by maintaining visual integrity and automating layout variations for different platforms.

APPLE'S MACOS SEQUOIA LETS YOU SNAP WINDOWS INTO POSITION

Mac users now have native window-tiling capabilities that allow them to arrange multiple app windows on their screens easily. Windows can be arranged by utilizing the green zoom button, clicking and dragging, using the Window menu, or via keyboard shortcuts. Third-party tools like Magnet and Rectangle offer expanded options for customizing window arrangements beyond Sequoia's built-in features, providing users with greater flexibility and control.

PRIORITIZING DESIGN SYSTEMS

Agoda's design system has evolved since 2018, becoming a crucial tool that supports over 60 product teams and 1,600+ engineers and designers. As demand surged, prioritization and communication challenges arose. To deal with this, the team introduced a new request management process using Jira that fostered better coordination, transparency, and prioritization based on specific criteria.

THE BIGGEST FONT TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2025

A resurgence of serif typefaces is expected in 2025 as designers push back against the dominance of sans serif fonts and embrace custom, expressive letterforms to avoid homogenization. The trend will include a growing interest in nostalgic and variable fonts that focuses on pairing versatile workhorse types with more expressive fonts for contrast and character.

UX IS A JOKE, AND IT'S INEXCUSABLE

Poor user experiences, from CAPTCHA frustrations to awkward video calls, have become punchlines to jokes that highlight widespread design failures. The persistence of these issues is frustrating and embarrassing for UX professionals as there are known solutions.

OPEN-SOURCE FORM BUILDER

HeyForm is an open-source form builder that allows anyone to create engaging conversational forms for surveys, questionnaires, quizzes, and polls.

AI-MODERATED INTERVIEWS AND INSTANT SYNTHESIS

Strella is a customer research platform that uses AI-moderated interviews and real-time synthesis to deliver human insights in hours, not weeks.

TAILWIND GRADIENT GENERATOR

Effortlessly generate and customize gradients in Tailwind with user-friendly tools. Just select, copy, and paste the code.

A QUICK PRIMER ON DESIGNING WITH AI

While LLMs are language-based predictive models, they should be viewed as black boxes for practical purposes. Fundamental design principles include handling LLM hallucinations, ensuring undo functionality, enhancing existing features, and providing feedback loops. The focus should remain on delivering value, not just leveraging AI hype.

ACCELERATORS MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY IN USER INTERFACES

Designing for expert users requires balancing learnability with efficiency. While new users need an intuitive interface to start quickly, expert users demand features that improve speed and productivity over time. Any system that will be repeatedly used should cater to both new users and expert users by including accelerators to allow people to complete specific routine tasks quickly and easily.

NEURODIVERSITY AND UX: ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR COGNITIVE ACCESSIBILITY

Neurodiversity is vital to accessibility in UX design, addressing conditions like dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, and ADHD through inclusive frameworks like WCAG. Real-world expertise from advocates and specific resources helps create digital experiences that accommodate neurodivergent users and promote inclusive workplaces and educational systems.

PATENT SHOWS A MAD SMART RING WITH A DESIGN LIKE NO OTHER

Oppo's smart ring patent reveals a modular design with detachable electronics that offers a light and comfortable fit.

WHAT DESIGNERS CAN LEARN FROM A MISUNDERSTOOD MODERNIST

The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition is showcasing Paul Rudolph's architectural career, which was marked by brutalist designs.

HOW ERNST & YOUNG'S AI PLATFORM IS ‘RADICALLY' RESHAPING OPERATIONS

Ernst & Young's EY.ai platform boosts efficiency and allows users to focus on high-value tasks.

PRADA AND AXIOM SPACE REVEAL SPACESUITS FOR NEXT LUNAR LANDING

Prada and Axiom Space developed the Artemis III spacesuit, the AxEMU, for NASA's lunar mission. The suit is designed for flexibility and safety and is adaptable to a wide range of body sizes. It features advanced cooling, diagnostic, and vision-enhancing technology and combines Prada's design expertise with Axiom's engineering for optimal lunar exploration performance.

FORMER APPLE DESIGN EXEC DEBUTS NUIO – A NEW TAKE ON ERGONOMIC ACCESSORIES

The NUIO Flow Keyboard, created by Tom and Greg Wilson, pioneers a revolutionary design shift from traditional keyboards that have remained unchanged for over a century. Key features include a radial key layout, 3-D wave, and split design that support ergonomic hand positioning and posture, providing a more natural typing experience. The Flow Keyboard also features wireless connectivity and backlit keys and is part of a broader NUIO ecosystem with complementary products like trackpads and wrist pads.

HI-CHEW'S NEW MASCOT, CHEWBIE, IS A PUFFY, LOVABLE LESSON IN BRANDING

Hi-Chew has introduced a new mascot, Chewbie, a genderless, quirky, blob-like character designed to elevate the brand amid its rising popularity in the US. Chewbie, with its lovable and distinctive appearance, embodies the Hi-Chew candy's playful spirit. Hi-Chew aims to use Chewbie to resonate with Gen Z and engage them across various platforms like TikTok and social media. This introduction aligns with a broader trend where brands like Duolingo and Pop-Tarts are leveraging mascots to boost brand presence and recognition in unconventional, vibrant ways.