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Getting UX ahead of AI
What's inside: AI + UX, research prioritization, fresh typeface picks, UX frameworks roundup, UI component inspiration, simplify speaking, content-first design, proximity principle, and more.
Newsletter • July 28, 2023 • 5 min read
Hey folks,
This is Gerren, and I wanted to share something exciting with you all. After an extended break since 2019, I'm back with my UX newsletter, now rebranded as "Unleash UX!" I'm really looking forward to regularly connecting with you again.
Now, as we're experiencing the scorching heat of summer in the US and surrounded by a myriad of AI tools, it feels like we've been stuck in this vibe for a while. That fall feeling is so far away.
So, amidst these challenges, let's remember what truly matters for UX – our users' outcomes. Despite the pressure happening to UX from AI, we can stay focused on creating experiences that make a real impact on the needs of the people we design for.
UX tip of the week
AI in UX tools is booming, with implications beyond generative visual and written content.
Focus on guiding principles and responsibility training. Dedicate time to read through these resources:
IBM - Design for AI, Everyday Ethics
Google - People+AI Guidebook, Responsible AI Practices
Apple - Machine Learning Design
Salesforce - AI Research
Microsoft - Guidelines for Human-AI Interaction, Responsible AI Practices
Top 10 things worth sharing this week
Revisiting some of my favorite recent user research prioritization frameworks: Design Research Framework (Erika Hall), Building a framework for prioritizing user research (Jeanette Fuccella), Usability Heuristic Frameworks (Michael Kirsch), and Measuring UXR Impact (Karin den Bouwmeester).
Three easy rules to simplify how you express your thoughts: limit points to 3, explain difficult ideas in 3 different ways, and make important points 3 times.
Struggling with a specific product design solution problem? Get unstuck with Call to Inspiration for UI patterns and Stare for product case studies.
If you’re looking to deep dive on a comprehensive list of UX methods and ways to practice improving them, may I recommend this combo: product design methods list and method challenges.
Linda Heidvogel offers helpful insights into content-first design including this gem: People aren’t coming to a site in search of the best page layout. They’re looking for information.
The proximity principle states that we perceive objects which are close to one another as a group with implications to UI. How could this apply to a customer’s jobs-to-be-done (refer to Jim Kalbach’s JTBD playbook for context)?
If you’re fresh out of ideas on how to bring a remote team together to collaborate and make decisions, I suggest looking through these remote UX workshop ideas or simply picking and running an Untool method.
Fresh type: The Collletttivo foundry offers free open-source, high-quality typefaces. The Fontshare seems valuable. Drice shared 4 free fonts (Mhtirogla, Start, Ruins, Neopixel). Nimbus is my new favorite font from TanType.
Deciding on which UX framework to choose is challenging. Get some expert advice: difference b/t design frameworks, UX strategy blueprint, and usability heuristic frameworks.
Last month, I launched a branded design good shop called Nosmal. Check out the initial collection of graphic tees, embroidered tees, phone cases, and more for sale.
Thanks for reading!
This newsletter is a free hand-crafted resource for the UX community and beyond. If you like it, subscribe here and consider forwarding it to a friend.
Sincerely,
Gerren