3 DESIGN ARTICLES
WHAT’S UP WITH THOSE PINS, GOOGLE MAPS?
- Google Maps may hold 80% of the market share, but according to writer Michael Grothaus, its obsessive treatment of location pins often comes at the cost of basic usability.
- From choosing obscure photos to insistently displaying sponsored pins, the cluttered interface of Google Maps, the article argues, makes it difficult to complete simple tasks…like knowing what street you’re currently standing on.
- "Google knows I’m middle-aged and get up early to work. When I’m just browsing the map, can it really think I might care about the nearest club where patrons normally don’t leave until well past midnight?"
SLACK’S NEW, REDESIGNED INTERFACE
- Slack’s new design update is slowly rolling out over the next few months, and offers a thoughtful take at simplifying an often cluttered and overwhelming experience.
- Tired of feeling disorganized or overwhelmed with notifications? The new interface offers solutions for these problems, and more.
- Get distracted much? “At the heart of Slack’s new design are dedicated views to help you focus your attention and maintain momentum on your work.”
SMALL IS THE NEW BIG IN SOCIAL
- Threads might have made headlines with its explosive launch, but there are marked trends towards users preferring to hang out in smaller, more intimate communities.
- Two key reasons why these communities tend to house a positive, friendlier vibe than other social channels: smaller size and privacy.
- What’s the ideal size for a thriving mini online community? Discord data shows that 90% of its servers have less than 15 people.
PORTFOLIO INSPIRATION 💜
Emine Cavuslar, a UX Academy graduate, adds helpful summaries beneath each of the case study thumbnails on the homepage, and makes a point of highlighting the often-neglected soft skills. Overall, the effect is an extremely well-thought-out, intentional, and very personable portfolio.
INTERESTING STUFF ...
- Why we’re obsessed with the letter ‘X’
- …but why is Musk also obsessed with the letter ‘X’?
- Japan’s user-centric food packaging
- Nature-based design strategies
Quote of the day:
Good design is honest. - Dieter Rams
FROM THE LAB
NEXT COHORT (OCTOBER 1) OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
After a strong first cohort in May, we're launching our second cohort of Data-Driven Design for advanced UX and product designers. Become a master of this in-demand skill for UX and product designers with 6 mentor-led sessions, async lessons, and real life data projects.
"The peer groups were great to work through any obstacles and gain clarity about projects, but even more so for deep conversations about our jobs and the challenges we face in using data or advocating for it to create a more data-driven workplace.” - Adrienne, Data-Driven Design student
