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April 22, 2024 Edition

Designing Our Relationship with AI

Conscious Experience Design

Designing for the evolving human+machine relationship

A column by Ken Olewiler
April 22, 2024

As the leader of a design agency that is working at the forefront of design and innovation, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of technology in driving new growth and experiences. Our mission as UX designers is to apply human-centered approaches in helping technology companies to deliver better user experiences. Over the years, my team has been privileged to guide many leading companies through significant technology and paradigm shifts, spanning digital, mobile; connected, or the Internet of Things (IoT); and natural interfaces. As futurists and humanists, we are passionate about embracing new technologies in ways that enhance human experiences and deliver more value.

In every engagement that helps companies transform for the future, we too are transformed, both as individuals and as an organization. Plus, we are adopting new methods and growing new technical capabilities. We live the spirit of innovation by constantly evolving to meet the pace of change and progress. Now, in what we call the Conscious Era, with the exponential growth of generative artificial intelligence, UX designers are coming face to face with the most powerful, yet disruptive technology to date—not only for products, but for the UX design profession itself. Business and career reinvention is now an imperative as UX designers embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a new creative partner and collaborator. Read More

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Embracing Neurodiversity in UX Design: Crafting Inclusive Digital Environments

April 22, 2024

For many neurodiverse individuals, navigating digital spaces can be a challenging or even an overwhelming experience.

Therefore, UX designers must prioritize creating inclusive digital environments that cater to the diverse cognitive needs of all users. Embracing neurodiversity in UX design can help us unlock a world of possibilities, in which everyone can access and engage with digital products seamlessly, regardless of their neurological differences.

In this article, we’ll explore the significance of neurodiversity in UX design and take a look at practical strategies for UX designers to create digital products that accommodate a wide range of cognitive experiences. Read More


Creating a UX Playbook for Onboarding Users to Your Product

The Onboarding Experience

Mastering the art of user onboarding

A column by Himanshu Sharma
April 22, 2024

We are living in an era of product-led growth (PLG). This popular growth strategy relies on the actual product experience in driving acquisition, activation, conversion, and retention. What this means is less reliance on people booking demos, downloading whitepapers, and speaking with sales representatives. Today, most products strive to provide value to their customers or users in self-service mode.

The rise of software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications has made it easier for customers to switch to a different product. Therefore, if customers don’t immediately see the value of your product, they’re likely to abandon it and move on to something else. Read More


The Crucial Dance: Enhancing Designer-Developer Collaboration for Exceptional Products

April 22, 2024

Within the world of digital-product development, the collaboration that exists between UX designers and developers is a dance. When this dance flows smoothly and harmoniously, the result is a masterpiece—an exceptional product that delights users and drives business success. However, when this vital collaboration falters, this dance becomes disjointed, leading to missed steps, frustrations, and ultimately, a product that fails to meet expectations.

The Business Imperative for Designer-Developer Collaboration

Smooth collaboration between UX designers and developers is a must-have for business success. Designers focus on the user experience, workflows, aesthetics, usability, and accessibility, crafting products that not only look great but also work flawlessly. Engineers, on the other hand, focus on what is possible and where they can push the limits of technology, ensuring design solutions that are both feasible and efficient. Read More


15 Essential UX Design Principles and Practices for Developers

April 22, 2024

User experience design concerns the creation of products, services, and systems that deliver meaningful, relevant stories to users. This requires the thoughtful design of user interfaces, interactions, and workflows that are not only easy and enjoyable to use but captivating as well.

Recognizing and following UX design principles, standards, and practices is of paramount importance for front-end developers, who have a huge impact on the user experience through their implementation of UX designs and can make or break a product. Their commitment lies not only in the most skillful provision of below-the-surface capabilities but also to eliciting favorable user feedback. Developers must shift their consciousness—not only taking responsibility for technical feasibility but also thinking about human needs and focusing on fashioning interactions that feel natural to people. Read More

April 08, 2024 Edition

Misinformation and Disinformation Online: What Design Can Do to Remedy This Problem

Envisioning New Horizons

A critical look at UX design practice

A column by Silvia Podesta
April 8, 2024

We refer to narratives that unintentionally “contradict or distort common understandings of verifiable facts,” [1] as misinformation. In contrast, disinformation is a form of propaganda—the deliberate spread of false information to intentionally mislead people, effect changes in their thinking, and ultimately, manipulate society as a whole. Both are rampant on social media and on other less visible parts of the Web.

The multifarious, potential threats that misinformation and disinformation pose to society and public welfare justify our worrying about their spread. In addition to causing polarization in our societies and social conflict, the spread of conspiracy theories and other forms of disinformation often undermine people’s perceptions of the validity of objective or scientific truths, potentially making them prey to liars and con artists or encouraging harmful behaviors. Read More


The Psychology Behind Successful User Onboarding: Leveraging Cognitive Biases

April 8, 2024

Have you ever wondered why some apps and Web sites captivate users from the moment they sign up, while users quickly forget others? The reason is effective user onboarding. You can use your understanding of the human mind to improve user retention and product adoption.

The magic behind compelling user-onboarding experiences is no accident; it’s the result of meticulous design strategies that tap into the underlying principles of human behavior. By understanding and harnessing people’s cognitive biases—those inherent quirks in our decision-making processes—developers and designers can craft experiences that resonate deeply with users.

In this article, I’ll delve into the science of user engagement, revealing how the astute application of psychological insights can elevate a digital product from being routinely functional to becoming an essential part of users’ daily lives. We’ll discover the secrets of creating user-onboarding processes that not only captivate but also foster a connection that users find hard to let go, which marks the transition from casual browsing to committed usage. Read More


3 Crucial Steps in Designing Conversational AI

April 8, 2024

Chatting with a bot to resolve a personal issue can be incredibly frustrating. These conversations often loop endlessly or hit dead ends after a few wasted attempts at communicating. Most product owners are aware of these issues with chatbots and understand how detrimental they can be to customer relations. This realization has prompted a significant shift toward the adoption of conversational artificial intelligence (AI), which can humanize the process of engaging with customers.

Conversational AI, at its core, is the art and science of empowering machines with the ability to understand and seamlessly respond to human language. Natural language processing (NLP) makes this possible and enables computers to imitate human interactions, learn from speech and text inputs, and translate their meaning. Read More


Inclusive Digital Experiences: Redesign Strategies for Addressing Diverse Abilities and Accessibility Challenges, Part 1

April 8, 2024

Designing for accessibility means designing for people with diverse abilities to ensure that they have equal access to opportunities, services, and user experiences. In today’s digital era, the design of inclusive experiences has become a focal point of innovation. It is essential that our digital spaces are welcoming and accessible to people with diverse abilities.

In this article, we’ll explore effective redesign strategies that acknowledge accessibility challenges and ensure the design inclusive digital experiences for everyone. We’ll consider how best to understand the varied needs and capabilities of users and how to leverage technological advancements that facilitate accessibility and the reimagining of user interfaces for diverse populations of users. Read More


User Experience in the Era of AI: Enhancing Human-Machine Interactions

April 8, 2024

Wе livе in a world whеrе human-machinе intеractions havе bеcomе intеgral to our day-to-day lifеstylеs, and thе need to deliver advancеd usеr еxpеriеncеs has bеcome vital.

Imaginе a scеnario in which еach virtual intеraction fееls tailor-madе to meet your needs, fulfill your dreams, and pursue new possibilitiеs. This is whеrе gеnеrativе artificial intelligence (AI) and Microsoft Dynamics 365 sеrvicеs comе into play, rеvolutionizing thе way dеsignеrs approach UX dеsign.

According to a currеnt rеport by Statista, thе worldwidе AI markеtplacе is projеctеd to attain $733.7 billion by 2027, with UX optimization driving this growth. By lеvеraging artificial intelligence, dеsignеrs can crеatе dynamic, customizеd user intеrfacеs that catеr to thе uniquе needs of еvеry user. Read More