📰 3 ARTICLES
The National Parks Service Goes from Paper to Pixels
- Jenny Xie, editor at Figma, takes an in-depth look at how design studio GuideOne designed the new app for the official National Park Service (NPS) app, which consolidates information for 431 diverse parks and monuments into a single digital platform.
- Using a design template that was originally produced to create park brochures, the app offers interactive maps, self-guided tours, and real-time alerts, while addressing accessibility and durability requirements for government software—all while maintaining a cohesive design identity.
- “It’s complex to manage because there are so many parks in control of their data and that write their own narrative. To bring that all into one system that works for everyone is a big challenge.”
Choice is Not the Enemy
- Ivan Sipilov, a UX designer with a specialty in finance, argues against the "don't make me think" design philosophy, emphasizing that users often prefer deeper engagement for significant decisions, such as real estate or financial choices, advocating for design to provide more meaningful options that will help to build trust.
- Using the example of renting or buying a home, offering features like dynamic map searches or 3D apartment customization can create experiences that better align with user needs and trust-building, creating transparency and offering customization to support thoughtful decision-making.
- “While the fear of overwhelming users with too many options is valid in some contexts, it has led to overly minimalistic designs, especially for long-term decisions, where simplicity can backfire and result in distrust.”
Headspace: A Masterclass in User Activation
- Peter Ramsey, UX consultant and analyst, explores app Headspace's sign-up flow in this case study, dissecting their effectiveness in user activation by focusing on setting goals, managing user expectations, and fostering a sense of achievement.
- Through effective data collection, Headspace has found ways to deeply understand its users, while longer-format and flexible pricing structures offer a larger value prop—both of which help to build retention and reduce churn.
- “Their sign-up flow is a masterclass in how to set a goal, control the narrative, and create the perception of success.”
💜 PORTFOLIO INSPIRATION
Joanne Son, a UX Academy graduate, brings her multifaceted background in design, programming, and education to the table in her portfolio. With Hallpass, she creates an end-to-end, AI-enhanced app that empowers autonomy for students while also creating a less disruptive classroom environment. She also brings a strong sense of empathy and a focus on research to her redesign for Houm, an OB-GYN site, where her goal is to make the website easier to use and more accessible, particularly for women who may be traveling in a foreign country.
Got a portfolio you love that you’d like to share with our audience? Email your suggestions to hello@designlab.com.
💡 INTERESTING STUFF...
- Podcast: Digital Natives Are Now AI Immigrants
- Are Meeting Manners at an All-Time Low?
- Infinite Accumulation
- The Design Routine of Super Apps
"Technology over technique produces emotionless design." — Daniel Mall, designer
🧪 FROM THE LAB
🚀 UX Academy Foundations Launching Soon
Our next cohort of UX Academy Foundations launches in just over a week, on Monday, November 4th. Foundations. If you’re looking to make a big career move in 2025, the November cohort of our beginner-friendly, online course is a great first step that will have you ready for UX Academy come the New Year.
Gain visual and UI design skills and build proficiency in Figma through hands-on lessons and dynamic project work – all while being supported by an expert, 1:1 mentor, and our welcoming student community.
Spaces are limited, so enroll today.
⭐ New Partnership with Optimal Workshop
We’re excited to announce our partnership with Optimal Workshop, a collaboration that brings industry-leading UX research tools to the UX practitioners in our community.
As part of this partnership, Designlab students and alumni can receive a 90%+ discount off Optimal Workshop’s powerful user research tools.
Claim your discount by logging into the course platform and navigating to Course Links > Community Perks, or check out our recent blog article about the collaboration to learn more.
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