📰 3 THINGS TO CHECK OUT
Vibe Coding Camp: Now Powered by Claude Code
- In case you missed it, this week we announced updates to Vibe Coding Camp. Built to reflect how products are actually built today, the course is now centered around Claude Code (Desktop & CLI) and a modern AI-native development workflow that connects design, code, and deployment.
- In this dynamic, hands-on program, you’ll go beyond prototypes: turn Figma designs into working code, build real features with APIs and databases, and ship a fully functional app, moving from prompt to product using today’s most relevant tools.
- If you want to build and ship at the speed of AI, the next cohort starts May 9. To ensure a high-quality, hands-on experience, the number of seats in the cohort is limited. Enroll now to secure your spot.
Is Gamification Good or Bad? Understanding the Ethics
- UX leader Tushar Deshmukh explores the fine line between engagement and manipulation, unpacking how common design patterns—streaks, badges, leaderboards, etc.—tap into psychology to drive behavior. But this can come at the cost of user well-being.
- Deshmukh thinks of gamification as a neutral tool—it can be good or bad, depending on the intent. When aligned with user goals like learning, fitness, or focus, these mechanics can motivate and empower. When driven purely by metrics like time-on-app, they risk creating anxiety, compulsion, and disengagement over time.
- "As designers, our ethical compass matters more than ever. We must design experiences that elevate people—not extract from them."
Anthropic Introduces Claude Design
- Last week, Anthropic introduced Claude Design, a new AI tool that lets users easily generate mockups, prototypes, and presentations from simple prompts. By automatically applying design systems and enabling rapid iteration, it aims to compress the path from idea to polished output.
- The bigger shift isn’t just speed—it’s who gets to design. Marketers, operators, founders, and others can now create deliverables without deep design expertise, expanding access while reshaping how teams collaborate and validate ideas.
- Experienced designers are already pressure-testing the reality. Eric Smejkal, product designer for Notable, argues that while it's conversational and low friction, Claude Design does not yet move the needle on design systems. "This is another tool that takes 'I had an idea' from napkin sketch to clickable prototype. The tools will keep getting better. The question is whether you are the one who knows what 'better' looks like."
💜 PORTFOLIO INSPIRATION
With a background in graphic design, Eri Sofia Taira brings a strong foundation in visual storytelling into her UX work. In her UX Academy projects, that balance is clear. For a mental health therapist’s website, she focused on building trust through clarity—streamlining navigation, reinforcing credibility, and designing a frictionless booking flow. In LumaSafe, an AI-powered safety app for women, she tackled a more complex challenge: translating safety concerns into thoughtful product features like smart route planning and emergency support, grounded in user research. What stands out in Eri’s work is her ability to move fluidly between brand, UX, and user needs, creating experiences that don’t just look polished but feel intuitive, supportive, and purpose-driven.
Got a portfolio you love that you’d like to share with our audience? Email your suggestions to hello@designlab.com.
💡 INTERESTING STUFF...
- Design Isn't Dying. It's Shifting Left.
- Highlights from Milan Design Week
- Bridging the Education Gap with Street Art
- How Claude is Outperforming ChatGPT (Opinion)
If you're not embarrassed by the first version, you launched too late. — Reid Hoffman, co-founder, LinkedIn
🧪 FROM THE LAB
Learn More About AI Prototyping Camp + Our AI Camp Bundle
AI Prototyping Camp launches next week. In this 4-week, hands-on program, you’ll learn to rapidly generate and refine prototypes using leading prototyping tools Figma Make and Lovable.
To learn more, join us for a live webinar and Q&A on Monday, 4/27, at 12pm ET—featuring course instructor Jacques Debeuneure.
Ready to grab a spot in the cohort? Enroll here, or save $500 when you bundle AI Prototyping Camp and Vibe Coding Camp. Click here for the discounted bundle.
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