Font Deep-Dive and Creating Design Culture

📰 3 Design Articles

A Deep Dive into Aptos: A New Look for Microsoft 

• Author Si Daniels provides in-depth insider insight into Aptos, Microsoft’s new default font for Microsoft 365, breaking down the creation of the font and why it was chosen to represent the brand above four other competitors.  
• A font is more than just a font: Daniels paints an illustrative picture of the process, delving into the psychological and creative motivations behind font design, and the user engagement process Microsoft chose to crown the winner. 
• “The challenge of designing a new original sans serif typeface for Microsoft 365 was to create a font that was not only legible, versatile, and adaptable, but that also balanced the influences of the past with the expectations of the present and future.”

A Solo Designer’s Journey in a Growing Start-Up

• Designer Lisa Demchenko describes her experience moving from a company with a full design team to being the only UX Designer at a start-up—and how having to build a design culture largely on her own was both a challenging and illuminating experience. 
• Demchenko stresses the importance of communication: working openly with other teams helps to promote understanding and trust, and building a shared language makes cross-functional work more dynamic and ultimately successful. 
• “The skills developed during this time go beyond the traditional scope of design, encompassing effective communication, cross-functional collaboration, and an innate ability to embrace change. As the startup continues its rapid evolution, my role as a solo designer remains dynamic, continually evolving to meet the demands of innovation and growth.”

The Wax and Wane of the Web

• There’s really only one thing that’s certain about working in tech: change. Author Ste Grainer examines the ebb and flow of web-based trends informed by nearly 30 years of working in the space, from building his first site in the ‘90s to low and no code options. 
• Grainer recognizes the ever-evolving landscape of the web, with work becoming progressively more streamlined with hacks, shortcuts, and new developments intended to allow for efficiency and speed; however, he encourages creators to continue to prioritize a human perspective, emphasizing the enduring importance of a user-centric approach.
• “Let’s imbue our values into the things that we create, and let’s make the web a better place for everyone. Create that thing that only you are uniquely qualified to make. Then share it, make it better, make it again, or make something new.”

💜 Portfolio Inspiration

Celia Hazard, a UX Academy graduate, brings a unique vision to her work. Calling herself a "design scientist", Celia’s designs are heavily rooted in strong research. Bold visual choices coupled with clearly architected case studies make Celia’s projects comprehensive but still scannable. This is an exciting portfolio showcasing a fresh perspective on UX design.

Got a portfolio you love that you’d like to share with our audience? Email your suggestions to hello@designlab.com.

💡 Interesting Stuff...

• Jobs of the Future Will Need Creatives
• “Limited” Language Models: A Discussion
• Artistic Fonts for Inventive Designs
• AI Chat Isn’t (Always) the Answer

If you are to create something powerful and important, you must at the very least be driven by an equally powerful inner force. — Ryan Holiday (author and PR strategist)

🧪 From the Lab

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Advanced Figma: In this 4-week course, you’ll master the strategies and workflows used by the best, most experienced product designers – bringing your efficiency with Figma to the next level. Next cohort launches April 15th.

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Both courses feature a combination of self-paced lessons, hands-on projects, and weekly peer group sessions led by one of our expert mentors. 

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• Mar. 12: Closing the Gap Between Designers and Developers
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