Cognitive ease happens when there is no cognitive strain. When a design works, people experience cognitive ease. When it doesn’t, we experience an interruption to our state of flow (more about this later) that throws us into cognitive strain, and the design has failed. This can easily happen when basic…

This article is an updated and expanded version of two of my previous articles “The Principles of Dark UI Design” published by The Startup and “Dark UIs: the dos and don’ts” by the UX Collective. Creating the look and feel of a product is one of a designer’s primary responsibilities…

Designers need to start thinking about AI in design as an augmented intelligence system and a creative partner. As design tools, workflows, and processes will inevitably be molded by AI in the coming decade, we need to shift our mindset from a human versus machine to a human plus machine mindset. — This article is an updated and expanded version of my previous article “AI and Design: why AI is your creative partner” published in 2020 by the UX Collective.

Experimental product design techniques deployed rigorously during the design process are crucial for optimizing user experiences. Instead of converging on a single solution and implementing it in the final phase, experimentation enables product teams to test out ideas earlier in the process with real-world users at scale. — Following up on our previous collaboration, Evolving UX — Experimental Product Design with a CXO, I joined forces with Chris Gibbins, a chief experience officer (CXO) at Creative CX, an insight-led, advanced experimentation consultancy based in London. …

Involve your customers and collaborate with them from the start. Otherwise, you are designing without understanding the whole picture. — What Is Human-centered Design (HCD)? “ When you understand the people you’re trying to reach-and then design from their perspective-not only will you arrive at unexpected answers, but you’ll come up with ideas that they’ll embrace.” —IDEO, Field Guide to Human-centered Design

Most mobile experiences suffer from poor UX because their creators failed to observe mobile UX design principles and best practices. These fundamental tenets of mobile usability have been developed over time through meticulous research and user testing. Applying them with rigor will enable designers to create better mobile user experiences. — With nearly 9 million apps at people’s fingertips, it’s tough out there for a mobile app designer. At least a thousand new apps pour into the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store each day. Yet, more than 75% of them are downloaded, opened once, and never used again. …

This article was written in collaboration with Senior UX researcher Caitria O’Neill, currently at Google, previously at Airbnb and Facebook. — The human brain is lazy, biased, and prone to shortcuts. The user experience study of human cognition can be mushy, unscientific, and filled with false assumptions—perhaps it’s the fault of a lazy brain. Cognition is complex, and many factors play into gut reactions or an instant impression. When you ask someone, “Why’d you do that?” …

The best UX trends speed up interactions, improve usability, and reduce friction. 2020 has reinforced some trends from the previous year, including AI-assisted voice interactions, hyper-personalization, and hand-drawn content; and produced a handful of new UX trends that will endure through the coming years. — 2020 proved to be a cataclysmic year with many companies going into hibernation. Thousands of designers lost their jobs and the design field experienced a significant decline in activity. Homebound during lockdowns, most designers caught up on design books, scoured blogs for inspiration, and brushed up on design skills. …

Dark UI designs are seen far and wide, from mobile screens to massive TVs. A dark theme can express power, luxury, sophistication, and elegance. However, designing for dark UIs presents multiple challenges and won’t meet expectations if implemented poorly. …