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SVGHUB

A library of over 70 custom-color elements ready to paste into your project.

AI WIREFRAME GENERATOR

SiteForge harnesses AI to generate custom sitemaps, wireframes, and branded content.

A DESIGNER'S GUIDE TO SAN FRANCISCO

This curated guide is perfect for designers exploring San Francisco. It features must-visit places like cafes, museums, and galleries.

PENGUIN BOOKS REVEALS THE WINNERS OF ITS 2024 COVER DESIGN AWARD

Penguin Books has announced the winners of its 2024 Cover Design Award: Charlotte Jennings for children's (City of Stolen Magic), Cadi Rhind for adult fiction (Daisy Jones and the Six), and George Griffiths for adult nonfiction (Atomic Habits). Winners, selected from over 1,800 submissions, receive mentorship, Wacom tablets, and Penguin Random House design books. Second and third places are also awarded in each category.

WANT TO DESIGN A GREAT PRODUCT? GO ON A FIELD TRIP

Observing real-world consumer behavior can spark innovation and new ideas. Designers can break free from theoretical loops by going on "analog research" field trips. These trips help designers create human-centered digital products and solutions.

THE EASE TYPE SYSTEM CAN BE AS ROUNDED AS YOU PLEASE

Studio Feixen's Ease type system offers designers endless possibilities by allowing inner and outer corners to be rounded in any conceivable way. This versatile, detailed variable typeface took one and a half years to develop. It provides a perfect example of how variable typefaces can expand creative boundaries.

COLIN'S VISUAL IDENTITY: A STUDY IN BRANDING EXCELLENCE

Colin's branding strategy emphasizes sophistication and confidence, appealing to men in business attire through its premium service and high-quality fabric.

TAKU INOMATA REIMAGINES EVERYDAY OBJECTS WITH CLEVER PAPER CRAFTS

Taku Inomata, a Tokyo-based packaging designer, creates humorous and imaginative artworks, heavily inspired by the playful touch of Masayoshi Nakajo and his natural surroundings in Bunkyo Ward, using simple techniques and everyday materials.

REPLICATING A BRAND'S SUCCESS INTERNATIONALLY

Replicating a brand's success internationally hinges on adapting to local cultures while maintaining consistent brand positioning, which can be efficiently managed through a central-local collaboration model.

FIGMA ANNOUNCES BIG REDESIGN WITH AI

Figma introduced a significant UI redesign, generative AI tools, and slide creation functionalities at its Config conference. The redesign includes a new toolbar, rounded corners, and 200 new icons. It aims to make the platform more approachable for new users and useful for experienced ones. The new AI tools can help users quickly create project drafts, while Figma Slides enables users to build and share presentations within the app.

GOOGLE IMPROVES SEARCH EXPERIENCE IN THE CHROME MOBILE APP

Google has announced new mobile Chrome features to enhance search, including local search shortcuts, a refreshed address bar, personalized recommendations, and live sports cards. These upgrades, aimed at improving user experience on Android and iOS, also include Chrome Actions for quicker access to tasks and enhanced tablet browsing. The rollout ensures users can see trending searches on iOS and custom shortcut suggestions based on browsing history.

VERIZON'S NEW V LOGO ARRIVES AS THE LINES BLUR BETWEEN 5G, FIOS, AND STREAMING

Verizon has refreshed its branding with a vibrant new "V" logo and released a commercial highlighting its updated tagline, "Can you hear me now?" The company also introduced new myHome internet plans, which bundle services like Disney Plus, Netflix, cloud storage, and an optional Walmart Plus subscription.

FINDING THE ESSENCE OF YOUR THINKING

Concepts in design transform abstract ideas into concrete strategies that guide everything from branding to product development. They bridge imagination and execution, helping users understand systems and enhancing clarity. Strong conceptual models and simplicity lead to innovative, bold designs that maintain coherence and purpose as they evolve.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE AI PIN'S DESIGN IS ALSO ITS BIGGEST FLAW

The Humane Ai Pin, which offers a screen-free voice-assisted experience that feels personal and convenient, has intriguing potential. However, its design presents challenges - especially its magnetic Battery Booster, which makes it uncomfortable and bulky.

GOOGLE DITCHES CONTINUOUS SCROLL IN SEARCH RESULTS, BRINGS BACK GOOD OLD PAGES

Google reverted from continuous scrolling to pagination for Search on desktop on June 25. Mobile will also change in the coming months. This change, which aims to improve user experience, will result in faster search results. However, it might negatively impact the visibility and click-through rates of results on later pages.

REFERO 3.0

Refero 3.0 helps you find inspiration faster by accessing over 66,000 web and iOS designs.

DUALITE - FIGMA TO CODE (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Quickly convert Figma designs into React, Tailwind, HTML, and CSS code.

THE CANVA-IFICATION OF EVERYTHING

Canva transformed design by making it accessible to everyone, but this led to a uniform "Canva aesthetic" dominating visual content. While it's a boon for those needing quick, easy designs, the reliance on templates results in a lack of originality. This raises questions about the impact on creativity and unique visual identities in the long run.

LINEAR HOMEPAGE RENDERS

Linear recently launched a new homepage to highlight its product. The process involved extensive iteration, feedback, and adjustment of visual elements like materials, lighting, and depth to achieve a cohesive and polished look that fits with the overall aesthetic of the page.

VIDEO EDITING APP CAPTIONS RELEASES AI EDIT FEATURE THAT AUTOMATICALLY ADDS EFFECTS TO YOUR VIDEO

Video editing app Captions has launched an AI-powered feature that adds custom graphics, zooms, music, and more to vertical videos with one person in the frame, aiming to simplify video creation. The app offers 12 AI characters and plans to add more weekly. There is concern that mass content production could impact creators' discoverability.

SPACE, COLOUR, FORM

Connor Daly's "Courts" series captures the surreal interiors of UK tennis courts, transforming them into abstract, otherworldly spaces.

ILLUSTRATOR SAM TAYLOR ON HIS PSYCHEDELIC KIDS' BOOK INSPIRED BY THE BAND PHISH

"All My Friends Reprise: Looking For Owls" is a psychedelic children's book inspired by Phish that blends vibrant illustrations with detailed band lore for a unique reading experience.

THE GERMAN AIRFORCE ORCHESTRA LOGO IS SIMPLY GENIUS

The German Airforce Orchestra logo combines a treble clef with jet contrails, blending music and aviation.

Applying costs $0. Start here

_SNHU is currently only accepting US-based learners._

YELP UNVEILS NEW ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CONNECT WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES

Yelp has introduced new searchable accessibility attributes, including mobility, hearing, and vision, that business owners can add for free via their Yelp for Business account. It has also launched an Accessibility Resource Hub, implemented AI-powered alternative text descriptions for photos, and created an "Accessibility" section on business pages to help users find specific accessibility features.

NOTION SITES TAKES NOTION SITES UP A LEVEL

Notion has launched Notion Sites, enhancing its website publishing tools with new features like custom favicons, navigation bars, SEO capabilities, and Google Analytics integration, aiming to make page publishing more streamlined and visually appealing. Despite these updates, the customization remains minimal, sticking to Notion's signature sleek and simple style. Notion plans to integrate more visual theming and potential AI functionalities in the future.

THE NEW FINAL CUT PRO HOOKED ME ON IPAD VIDEO EDITING

The latest update to Final Cut Pro for iPad brings notable improvements, including a new Final Cut Camera app for advanced shooting and live multicam sessions. However, many essential features, like compound clips and 360 video support, are still missing. Despite these frustrations, the touch-first experience is charming and immersive, offering a unique editing approach that grows on users over time.

HOW SIRI COULD ACTUALLY WIN THE AI ASSISTANT WARS

HOW TO BECOME MORE CONFIDENT AS A CREATIVE

Focus on building confidence in your unique voice and process, understanding that this journey is gradual and ongoing for new and experienced creatives. Avoid comparing yourself to others, push into new challenges, and remember that feelings of self-doubt are common and can be overcome with time and effort.

THE RISE AND FALL OF DESIGN PLATFORMS

From the legendary rise of Photoshop to the fall of Sketch and InVision, the design world has seen many giants come and go. Tools like Figma lead today, signaling that adaptability and innovation may determine survival. Studying the evolving landscape of design platforms can provide insights into how some have stood the test of time while others have faded away.

SF SYMBOLS 6

SF Symbols 6 offers a library of over 6,000 symbols designed for seamless integration with Apple's system font. It includes new animations, enhanced annotation tools, and 800+ new symbols.

DESIGN SYSTEM STRATEGY MAP (FIGMA FILE)

This one-page summary of design system activities and best practices includes steps for planning, stakeholder engagement, and aligning design system goals with product goals.

FREE PLACEHOLDER LOGOS

These abstract and flexible enough placeholder SVG logos will do the trick for any graphic, UI, or layout.

DESIGNING PROFILE, ACCOUNT, AND SETTING PAGES FOR BETTER UX

No standard structure exists for account, settings, and profile pages across different apps. It is crucial to clearly distinguish between "Account" (configuration and settings) and "Profile" (user-specific information) pages. Recommended practices include using "You" and "Your" in naming conventions and a gear icon or "Settings" menu for high-level navigation. Some apps combine these functions into a single screen upon login.

FOOD DELIVERY & TAKEOUT: NEW UX BENCHMARK WITH 3,000+ PERFORMANCE SCORES AND 2,000+ BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES

Baymard Institute has released a new UX benchmark for food delivery and takeout mobile sites and apps based on extensive user testing research. It assessed 8 mobile sites and apps across 400+ UX parameters, resulting in over 3,000 weighted UX performance scores and 2,000+ best practice examples.

UX APPROACH TO MARKETING DESIGN: LESSONS FROM IKEA

Brands must go beyond superficial engagement and create meaningful connections with their audience in today's saturated digital landscape. Marketers can cut through the noise and deliver experiences that truly resonate with their customers by adopting a user-centric approach and prioritizing simplicity, consistency, and usability.

DC DROPS ARTIST FRANCESCO MATTINA'S VARIANT COVERS AFTER ALLEGED AI USE

DC Comics recently pulled several variant covers by artist Francesco Mattina after allegations surfaced that he used generative AI to create them, sparking backlash from the artist community.

POKÉMON ISSUES STATEMENT ON AI-GENERATED ENTRIES SELECTED FOR ITS ILLUSTRATION CONTEST

AI-generated entries in the Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest 2024 caused controversy, leading to disqualifications and new finalists.

HOW THE EUROPEAN ACCESSIBILITY ACT (EAA) WILL IMPACT PRODUCT ACCESSIBILITY

The European Accessibility Act mandates accessibility standards for EU products and services by 2025, impacting hardware, software, and media.

OPENAI UPGRADES DALL-E 3 INSTEAD OF ROLLING OUT GPT-4O'S (MUCH BETTER) IMAGING CAPABILITIES

Despite GPT-4o's advanced imaging capabilities, OpenAI is still actively enhancing DALL-E 3, focusing on refining text rendering and visual accuracy. Facing stiff competition from Midjourney and Ideogram, OpenAI's strategy underscores the continuous evolution and challenges in AI-driven visual technologies.

ADOBE'S NEW TERMS OF SERVICE SAY IT WON'T USE YOUR WORK TO TRAIN AI

Adobe has updated its terms of service in response to intense backlash to clarify that user content stored locally or in the cloud, except for contributions to Adobe Stock, will not be used to train its generative AI. This revision aims to eliminate confusion and address concerns about content privacy and legality checks for cloud-stored data.

HEYGEN RAISES $60M SERIES A TO SCALE VISUAL STORYTELLING FOR BUSINESSES

AI video generation platform HeyGen has secured $60M in Series A funding to simplify business communication through video production. HeyGen allows businesses to create localized, studio-quality videos in minutes by typing a script, significantly reducing the traditional time and costs associated with video creation and expanding accessibility to compelling visual storytelling.

AI DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HORRIBLE

While some may be skeptical about AI, there is potential in specific use cases like Google's NotebookLM for querying past thoughts and AI's ability to aggregate and organize company information. Despite concerns about AI's current direction, it is believed to have true utility in smaller applications and for fixing internet issues, though there are worries about repeating past mistakes.

DESIGN AS THOUGHT: AI AND THE FUTURE OF DESIGN

Professor Orlando Budelacci, the author of 'Human, Machine, Identity, Ethics of Artificial Intelligence', and Oliver Reichenstein, the founder of iA Inc., discuss the future of AI in design, emphasizing simplicity and purpose in tools like iA Writer and iA Presenter. Effective design involves questioning fundamentals and focusing on essentials, requiring significant mental effort and keen observation, akin to the impressionists' study of atmosphere, space, light, and color.

THE FUTURE IS BUILT ON SOLID FOUNDATIONS

Organizations with well-established infrastructures are better poised to embrace emerging technologies. Design systems are crucial for integrating new technologies like AI and maintaining consistency and efficiency. These systems streamline design and development and ensure that innovations like AI are implemented seamlessly and effectively, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.

GENERISTA (FIGMA PLUGIN)

Generista helps create generative artwork with a simple, easy-to-use interface.

AI-POWERED LOGO ANIMATIONS

Upload your logo in PNG format and use AI to create stunning logo animations.

BROWSER-POWERED MOCKUP EDITOR

Maneken's browser-powered editor makes creating mockups easy and efficient. You can drag and drop media, apply photo effects, and export web-ready assets.

THE INTERFACES WITH WHICH WE THINK

Modern operating system concepts like apps and windows are human-made abstractions that, while valid, may limit progress and innovation in personal computing. Current abstractions may be hindering advancements. Designers should consider new perspectives on personal computing interfaces and systems.