Kirk Henry

Great concise analysis of how senior product designers can stand out, relative to the young ones with glitzy portfolios: becoming a 10x designer by slid use of AI for all steps in the design process. I will add that AI can be particularly helpful for older professionals because it supplements our declining fluid intelligence particularly well. (Fluid intelligence peaks at age 20, but increasing experience compensates for this loss up until age 40. After 40, we now have AI to further stave off the effect of aging brains on fluid intelligence.) I wrote about the particular brnefits of AI for older users: https://lnkd.in/gQcS4bNw

55

11 Comments

This just happened at Config 2024... Figma has introduced some major updates at Config 2024. The updates include a new user interface, AI integrations, auto layout suggestions, Figma Slides, and an improved DEV mode. The new AI tools can create UI mockups, offer visual search, and automate text translation and image background removal tasks. One downside is that Figma will now use our intellectual property to train its AI, which is a concern. Where will this all lead us in the next few years? That's something we'll know when we get there. #Config2024 #Figma #ProductDesign #News #AI

16

Not sure how I missed this podcast with Lenny Rachitsky but this episode with Katie Dill is amazing. There's a reason it has 47k views on YouTube. Just furthering my claim that the very best of Lenny's podcasts are not about product development or traditional product management. His best episodes are about design and business. "The use of the word beauty in books that have been digitized by Google has decreased,  like pretty dramatically. And it's aligned with this idea of, "Well,  functionality is king. Functionality is what matters." As if people think about  functionality and beauty as like two opposite things. No, they're not two  opposite things. Functionality is important. And actually beauty enhances functionality  because it does make things easier to use, more approachable, more comp elling to use.  And the other piece of it that is not talked about in business as often is just  the importance of how people feel. Things that are more beautiful, increase trust. You see that  we've put painstaking detail into this, and we care about the details of how something works,  and that gives you assurance that we care about other details that you can't see too." —Katie All I have to say is YES.

39

5 Comments

It's interesting to me that, while engineers are seeing a massive explosion in productivity from AI, product design has yet to see any real progress. Where are the tools from Figma/Adobe that 2-3x the output of a designer? Where is the AI-driven design system, etc.

32

15 Comments

“AI could never do what I do—it’s too complex, too bespoke, too special.” Sound familiar? I've been hearing this a lot from ICs in my network—product designers mastering Figma or junior banking analysts dominating Excel. Here’s the hard truth: too many ICs tie their self-worth to their "craft." These comments aren’t about AI’s capabilities—they’re about where we derive pride in our work. For years, we’ve worn our execution as a badge of honor. Knowing every keyboard shortcut. Building complex formulas. But when AI starts to automate those tasks, it feels like a challenge to our identity. Granted, many AI tools aren’t there yet. But let’s be real: in 5 years, will auto-layout skills or Excel wizardry be what sets you apart? 𝗦𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁: AI doesn’t devalue you. It clears the clutter so you can focus on creativity, strategy, and real impact. 👉 Designers: Move beyond pixels and solve the problems that matter most to users. 👉 Analysts: Let AI build the model—your value lies in the insights and strategy it enables. (Psst: Talk to us at Socratics.ai 😉 ) The future of work isn’t about how well you execute—it’s about why you do it. If you’re feeling the friction, ask yourself: Are you ready to redefine what your job can be? Embrace the shift. The opportunity is to work smarter and with greater purpose. #AI #FutureOfWork #Leadership #UX #Innovation

19

9 Comments

Etsy was recently seen A/B testing AND eventually shipping a more visible search with the help of a higher contrast orange background button color (instead of a ghost-like icon only approach). Full screenshots: https://lnkd.in/gVJThW3W Now I don't work for Etsy (as much as I'd love to design some experiments for/with them) so we can't see the actual numbers beyond this feint probabilistic residue from the public domain. However, the amazing Andrey Andreev who runs experiments at Metro recently ran a very similar one and shared a solid result on GoodUI - with a positive impact to sales and searches. N = 896,009 SRM Check = Pass p-val on Increased Sales = 0.0139 (I know some people might like this to be even lower for a primary metric; but there is also reinforcing evidence on increased searches with an even lower p value at "ultra stat-sig" levels using Ron Kohavi's language; p < 0.00000001). I inverted the a/b test and categorized it under the Filled Vs Ghost Button pattern - further weakening the ghosts and strengthening the high contrast filled button styles on multiple metrics. https://lnkd.in/gmD8Exvc Thanks Andrey for a somewhat of an unintended replication, as I know your source of inspiration came from somewhere else on this one. :) Have you tested anything similar or different. If so, what did you discover? I'd be super curious to see more examples where increases to search have either ❌ failed or ✅ succeeded. Please share independent of outcome. ps. We also have a handful of similar "visible search" experiments where companies tested adding or hiding search: https://lnkd.in/gvWqzrK5 - further supporting this direction. [EDIT]: Note the additional confounders / variables in the Metro test - a stronger border, a change in background color of the search box as per Jakob Nielsen comment. They may be similar along the lines of the increased visibility theme - but possible additional variables nevertheless. #experimentation #ecommerce #replication #optimization #ui #ux

379

28 Comments

Let’s be real: The "DIY, throw it up there, and hope for the best" approach is not cutting it. Design requires intention, strategy, and an understanding of user behavior to make a real impact. 3tone Approach: We regularly conduct usability testing throughout our design process. This helps identify pain points, allowing us to make informed adjustments based on data that will improve user experience. #websitedesign #figmadesigner

4

Great writeup on the value design can bring to product organisations irrespective of technoöogical shifts such as AI.

4

Designers MUST understand generative AI. And not in theory: you must roll up your sleeves and work hands-on with these tools and materials. This is not a passing fad but a deeply transformative set of technologies.

21

1 Comment

In my latest podcast interview, Greg Petroff shares insights about the state of design and the opportunities open to designers in these dynamic times. Check it out! https://lnkd.in/gTXpQgjn #UxDesign #Ux #Design #Leadership

34

4 Comments

#figma disabled it’s ‘make design’ feature released earlier this month at #config Figma CEO Dylan Field says the company will temporarily disable its “Make Design” AI feature that was said to be ripping off the designs of Apple’s own Weather app. Interesting this- AI generated images and Ui can’t ever be ‘original’ simply because it is pulling data from a range of sources to create an ‘original copy’. So whatever will be generated using this feature will by default be trained on existing components. The only thing that can be ensured is that the model generates greater variables creating only a perception of the outputs not being a direct ‘rip off’. Basically it’s always going a rip off - directly (in this case) or indirectly. Thoughts? #design #figma #ai

7

3 Comments

Interesting article from the Shutterstock blog on the topic of color accessibility. Helpful reminders abound. https://lnkd.in/evC2SfhH #design #designthinking #designbuild #designstrategy #product #producctdesign #productmanagement #productstrategy #designprinciples #innovation #designers #digitaltransformation #ux #uxdesign #uiux #uidesign #designinnovation #application #software #softwaredesign #usability #userresearch #research #usercentereddesign #productleadership #uxwriting #designsystems #empathy #interfacedesign #usabilitytesting #userexperience #productdesign #accessibility #ui #ai #genai 

2

I've long been a fan of Google when it comes to their design of physical and digital product, but their implementation of Gemini / AI has taken their already household search status to a new level. I'm genuinely so stoked to see this feature roll out. They enhanced search by showing you a relevant excert from the top result but now this takes it a step further to collate results for me in a tangible way. 👏👏 #google #userexperience #AI #gemini #search

8

1 Comment

The many faces of Jen BlatzChatz.... I am working on a video on How to REALLY Use AI in UX Research. If you want to be notified of when that video drops, please subscribe to the BlatzChatz (Youtube) channel. https://lnkd.in/gCBzyXQ2 This video involves: ⛈️ Thunderstorms 🤣 Mistakes 🤬 A few curse words 🤖 Real-world AI use

15

4 Comments

🔊 Design Leadership at Scale has a lot happening in August and beyond. Read on for all the info on Design Leadership at Scale: Operations, plus: ⚡️ Three FREE DLS Lightning Lesson + Team sessions ⚡️ Newly added course dates ⚡️ 20% discount code Design Leadership at Scale: Operations I'm busy putting the final touches on the August course modules, lessons, and projects, but you can expect to dive deep on the following: Module 1: Build and activate high-impact teams Module 2: Define and optimize your operating system Module 3: Identify and address common challenges I'm including many real-world scenarios, and will try to answer pretty much every question you might have during our seven live sessions together. We'll also be joined by special guests with extensive industry experience. If you are still deciding about enrolling in Design Leadership at Scale: Operations, consider joining one of the upcoming free Lightning Lessons or watch my recent Designing your Design Team 30-minute Lightning Lesson to get a better sense for how I teach. And if the August dates don't work with your schedule, I've opened up another cohort October 1-10, 2024. If you have any questions about whether this course will be a good fit for you, let me know, and together we can figure out. Free Lightning Lessons on Maven In August there are three Lightning Lessons from Design Leadership at Scale. All are free to attend. Join live or view the recordings after the session dates. ⚡️ Org Design For Your Design Org – Aug 7, 8-9am PT, with me ⚡️ Team Tactics For Increasing Influence + Impact – Aug 8, 1-1:30pm PT, with Doug Powell ⚡️ How Top Design Leaders Influence At Scale – Aug 16, 2-2:45pm PT, hosted by Rachel Kobetz with Doug Powell, Bob Baxley, and me Grab your spot then spread the word! (links to register in comments) Quick reference: https://bit.ly/4c3UgNA to sign up for the August 19-28 cohort with a 20% discount code https://bit.ly/4cZcf9d to sign up for the October 1-10 cohort with a 20% discount code If your company offers an L&D or education budget, here's a reimbursement template you can leverage https://bit.ly/4fmDhcs

53

11 Comments

How can artists show their work online and protect it against pervasive AI looking to learn? Poison? https://lnkd.in/gd3DJY2D #AI #Design #DesignEnds #CX #UX #Endings #Security #Data #CustomerExperience #Services #products #sunsetting #ChatGPT 

7