Interactivity
Shifting within: creating change inside a corrupt system without losing ourselves
This post explores living in the contradiction: working to change harmful systems while knowing that those same systems help pay our bills.I dream of a future where everyone has what they need and where design supports human and planetary flourishing. This vision fills me with hope while also making me acutely aware of the reality many designers face today. Our work is done within the dominant capitalist framework that prioritizes financial growth above all else, often at the expense of true flo
RITE testing: how to test AI-driven products in a meaningful way
One of the best ways to go back to scrappy user testing in the AI eraContinue reading on UX Collective »
How To Leverage Component Variants In Penpot
This article is a sponsored by PenpotSince Brad Frost popularized the use of design systems in digital design way back in 2013, they’ve become an invaluable resource for organizations — and even individuals — that want to craft reusable design patterns that look and feel consistent.But Brad didn’t just popularize design systems; he also gave us a framework for structuring them, and while we don’t have to follow that framework exactly (most people adapt it to their needs), a particularly importan
“Great Insights!” Isn’t a Metric
Hi, I’m Nikki. I run Drop In Research, where I help teams stop launching “meh” and start shipping what customers fight for. I write about the conversations that change a roadmap, the questions that shake loose real insight, and the moves that get leadership leaning in. Bring me to your team.Paid subscribers get the power tools: the UXR Tools Bundle with a full year of four top platforms free, plus all my Substack content, and a bangin’ Slack community where you can ask qu
How AI writing tools fail to speak to writers
Seven design insights from taking Grammarly ads (too) seriously.Writing your way or moving writing out of the way? Image by the author.Three weeks ago, YouTube finally decided that I must be interested in writing. Fair enough: I’m a Human-Computer Interaction professor researching writing tools and the impact of AI. Soon, my feed filled with Grammarly ads — and I started reflecing on their curious messages.What if we took AI writing tool ads seriously?Ads may seem an odd source for design reflec
A Hippocratic Oath for tech… with teeth
From Frankenstein’s dilemma to the Greek agora, history offers blueprints for building tech industry legitimacy.Endpaper illustration for the 1983 Marvel Comics adaptation of Frankenstein, by Bernie Wrightson.I was reading Frankenstein to my son last week (as one does in the days leading up to Halloween). As he fell asleep, I was struck by a thought. The “move fast and break things” ethos of the last two decades in tech is remarkably similar to the core themes of the 200+ y/o Shelley classic. Th
Micro-Interactions: The Joyful Touches That Enhance Your Software Experience!
Never forget that software is about humans
Micro-interactions in UX and why they exist
Have you ever scrolled through an endless list of years just to find your birth year?
Dark Mode Is the New Comic Sans (And You Know It)
Dark mode is the Comic Sans of our time—born useful, hijacked by aesthetics, and now forced on users. It’s not kinder to your eyes, often wrecks accessibility, and turns UX into a design monoculture. Looking “premium” on Dribbble doesn’t make it good design.
AI gardens, Sora icon, Claude Code & Figma MCP, error handling UX
Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers.“The 1930s were ripe for innovation, during the thick of the Second Industrial Revolution. Designers were captivated by the new technology of plywood bending, which allowed previously impossible forms to emerge.”How Estonia, AI gardens, and plywood make designers prolific →By Darren YeoNew report: How AI will transform the research tech stack in 2026 →[Sponsored] AI is transforming research — but automation alone isn’t enough. Learn ho
How grocery store layouts manipulate your shopping behavior
If you overspend, you’re shopping exactly as designedContinue reading on UX Collective »
The 5 Pixar Storytelling Principles That Will Redefine How You Present and Fast-Track Your Career
Ever sat through a presentation that felt like watching paint dry? You’re not alone. Most presentations miss one vital ingredient: Storytelling. And when it comes to telling stories that make people laugh, cry, or rethink their entire worldview… no one does it like Pixar. They’ve mastered the art of turning simple ideas into unforgettable emotional experiences, and that’s exactly what your presentations need.We often think storytelling is something that belongs in the world of writers, filmmaker
Neo Robot and the role of design in selling unfinished dreams
From ‘Fake it till you make it’, to ‘Build it with Integrity’Continue reading on UX Collective »
The hidden structure of digital products
Bridging the gap between atomic design and conceptual modelsContinue reading on UX Collective »
Are we designing for brain rot?
The consequences of making habit-forming apps.Continue reading on UX Collective »
How to nail onboarding — a case study of Runna
How to nail onboarding — a case study of RunnaLessons in clarity, confidence and communityNearly 1 billion runs were recorded on Strava in 2024.Targeting runners is a big market.And it’s a market that’s growing — according to Strava, running was the ‘fastest growing sport globally’ with ‘Gen Z turning to running to create community and connection’.Which is the winning strategy for coaching app Runna.If you run, you’ve probably heard of Runna. The consumer app is all over Instagram, TikTok, and S
Evergreen Web Design Is a Lie (But Maybe That’s Okay)
“Evergreen” web design sounds noble, but in reality, it’s just safe, bland, and creatively bankrupt. Designers chasing timelessness are often just afraid to take risks—and that fear is killing originality on the web.
Fading Light And Falling Leaves (November 2025 Wallpapers Edition)
November can feel a bit gray in many parts of the world, so what better way to brighten the days than with a splash of colorful inspiration? For this month’s wallpapers edition, artists and designers from around the globe once again tickled their creativity and designed unique and inspiring wallpapers that are sure to bring some good vibes to your desktops and home screens.As always, the wallpapers in this post come in a variety of screen resolutions and can be downloaded for free — just as it h
Designing for emotional dependence
How tech companies like OpenAI are addressing emotional safety to make technology more humane.Continue reading on UX Collective »
Hoping for the long-term
An interview with Alexander Rose.Image by Dave Hoffer. Inset is the little baby redwood tree I planted in my backyard.Time is money. Move fast and break things. Crunch time. We hear these idioms repeated, and to many, they become true. You can live your life by these sayings if you like.I prefer:“Time is a fluid condition which has no existence except in the momentary avatars of individual people. — Virginia Woolf”Woolf seemed to recognize the spectrum on which time exists — its fluidity. Import