UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
March//8//2024
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
Why Bad Design is Good. Interesting reflection and article from Print Magazine and author Elliot Vredenburg. The article comes across as both an interesting point of reflection on the value of good design, but also as “get out of jail card” for Mr. Vredenburg and the company he’s associated with, Mother Design”, as he also showcases their take on a branding exercise they crafted for one of their clients. As Professor Don Norman has famously written “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible, serving us without drawing attention to itself. Bad design, on the other hand, screams out its inadequacies, making itself very noticeable.” Which is to say, the biggest challenge is not the gratuitously try to devise a solution for the sake of eliciting a response, but to solve problems, which is ultimately where the value of Design lies. But the point of bad Design solutions does come across in this article, and is one worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“Bad design is not something to avoid; it’s a critical component not just of the creative process but of living. Like Mari taught, it’s about learning rather than following. It’s about entering a building and walking into a “purposeful guess.” It’s about watching a bad movie. It’s about wearing a funny hat. It’s about being weird. In embracing the ‘bad,’ we uncover the potential for transformation — both in design and in ourselves.”
2.
Image Formats in 2024. Hailing from The WebDesignerDepot and author Robert Reeve, this article is a pertinent refresher on the image formats for the web in 2024. At a time when some of these have been solidified for decades (JPGs, PNGs, GIFs), it’s worth reading some additional formats the author showcases such as HEIF, HDR, AVIF, and of course the vector driven formats that are also included (SVGs for instance). Highlight of the article includes:
“From PNGs and JPEGs to AIs and SVGs, each variation serves a specific purpose and has its own unique characteristics. Some, such as JPEGs, prioritize compression to reduce file sizes. Others, like TIFFs, focus on preserving clear, high-quality images. Understanding how each format differs ensures we always pick the right variation for the job at hand. Whether it’s designing a banner, creating a website, or entering an image into a photography competition, the file types we choose matter. Get it wrong, and we risk creating an image that’s either too low-quality or too hard to load. Get it right, however, and we have the power to design functional, aesthetic graphics that enhance the user experience.”
3.
https://www.inc.com/david-finkel/effective-strategies-for-building-a-high-performing-team.html
Effective Strategies for Building a High Performing Team. Very relevant article from Inc. Magazine and author David Finkel, with some highlights of what can further potentiate high performing teams. The author showcases aspects such as hiring the right talent, cultivating a collaborative culture, providing opportunities for growth, embracing diversity and inclusion, setting up regular feedback loops, leading by example, to name but a few. At a time when the uncertainty in the job market, particularly in the tech domain, is still quite pronounced, this article reinforces the notion that teams that work more effectively, are the ones where there’s an authentic approach to curating its well being and supporting professionals in their career paths, in meaningful ways. Highlight of the article includes:
“Open and transparent communication is essential for team cohesion. Encourage regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and open forums for sharing ideas and feedback. Effective communication ensures that everyone is on the same page and can contribute to problem-solving.”
