📰 3 THINGS TO CHECK OUT
- UX pioneer Jakob Nielsen identifies ten specific, recurrent design flaws—like intrusive pop‑ups, misaligned navigation, and annoying auto‑play—that consistently frustrate users and accumulate into a worse experience.
- Nielsen argues that these everyday annoyances aren’t just trivial irritants but measurable usability failures—and because they create avoidable friction, should be addressed to optimize user satisfaction and retention.
- “Each individual exposure to a usability annoyance may be just that: a fleeting annoyance. But since the annoyances don’t go away, their impact compounds, leading to low adoption, wasted development cycles, and long-term damage to brand trust.”
Figma Stock Soars in Market Debut
- Figma’s IPO marks one of the biggest software debuts in years, with shares jumping more than 250%. CEO Dylan Field emphasizes long‑term vision, not short‑term profits, and recommits to innovation for designers, not just enterprise buyers.
- While some feel the design field is facing market headwinds, Figma’s explosive growth is a reminder that the demand for great tools—and the impact of design itself—is still rising fast.
- “Our primary goal is not efficiency. Our goal is to achieve long‑term growth by supporting the rapidly evolving needs of designers.” — Dylan Field
Vanilla Moments & Designing for the Real World
- Designer Kelly Smith introduces the idea of "vanilla moments"—unexpected, imperfect real‑world interactions that expose hidden design gaps and unmet user needs.
- Smith argues that to build truly user‑centered experiences, designers must actively observe real usage and build systems that tolerate imperfection and evolve over time.
- “People are tired, distracted, curious, skeptical, impatient, brilliant and fallible. That’s why observation, in my personal opinion, is the gold standard of design.”
💜 PORTFOLIO INSPIRATION
Chanelle Lester, a UX Academy graduate, infuses her design work with a sense of fun and approachability—qualities that shine through in her project for Munchy, an app designed to help foodies share their culinary experiences and foster a stronger sense of community around food. The app’s inviting UI and emphasis on personalization and trust-building result in a user experience that feels both seamless and welcoming. In her SkinCircle project, a skincare app, Chanelle takes a research-driven approach to identify common pain points users face with similar apps. Her goal: to create a more accessible, friendly, and trustworthy skin care product selection experience. Once again, her visual style—bright, engaging, and user-centric—brings the interface to life.
Got a portfolio you love that you’d like to share with our audience? Email your suggestions to hello@designlab.com.
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There are three responses to a piece of design — yes, no and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for. — Milton Glaser, Designer
🧪 FROM THE LAB
🚨UX Academy Foundations Starts Soon
Our next cohort of UX Academy Foundations launches this coming Monday, August 4th. Learn foundational design skills through hands-on projects, work 1:1 with an industry expert mentor, and join our supportive community. Gain proficiency with Figma, begin to integrate AI into your workflow, and understand how to start thinking like a designer. Reserve your spot today and jumpstart your UX journey this summer.
🚀 Learn More About Our Upcoming Courses
We have a slate of live informational webinars next week. Join one (or more!) to learn about upcoming course launches:
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