Weekend Reads: 6 Month Backlog
Thoughts, links, and observations over the past six months. I just never hit publish. Rather than let them sit in drafts forever, I’m sharing the backlog all at once.
Think of this post as an archive of what’s been on my mind: product ideas, design notes, stray curiosities, and the occasional tangent. Read if you brave.
Design Is Lockpicking.
This is such a fascinating perspective that compares design to lockpicking. Outside of approaching problems with pre-packaged solutions, design requires us to explore and experiment until we understand the unique "shape" of each challenge.
The collaboration aspect of it really resonated with me as well. Designing in isolation isn’t always the best approach - we need others to help us determine which problems are worth solving in the first place, and then to refine our solutions.
The Age of Vibe Compute
"Vibe compute" - fun new buzz topic. AI is becoming something that can now understand what we prefer instead of just doing what we tell it to do. Its probably just pattern matching but what happens with AI and AI UX starts to anticipate our need before we do?
Convenient, yes, but this emotional intelligence of a rock we tricked into thinking is going to reshape our self-perception and expectations of technology.
VibeCheck: Discover and quantify qualitative differences in LLMs on Arxiv
The hype and risks of vibe coding
Another one on vibe coding / computing. It's buzzing. Our ability to work beyond traditional coding constructs is making the path to POC faster, more automated, and seemingly more accessible. This is promising news, and it also runs the risk of oversimplifying UX design because it bypasses the very crucial human-centered research and understanding that makes design effective.
Data over real insights is concerning - we may gain velocity in 0-1 but we might lose the essential empathy that comes with engaging with actual humans. It's a balance, but we shouldn't ignore the depth and understanding that comes from genuine user research and connection.
Figma and the enshittification of Product Design
Hot take article. It's a great read.
Figma has made it easier for more people to design. But there is a problem with how some companies are thinking about design these days. The idea that being good at Figma is all there is to design is too simplistic.
Good design involves much more than just making interfaces - it needs careful and deep thinking about users and their needs and motivations. When design is reduced to just knowing how to use a piece of software, the whole practice suffers.
How to grow as a designer even when you’re overwhelmed with work
Practical perspective on professional growth with a focus on experimentation and incremental improvements.
Choice quotes from Grace Hopper are always welcome: "The only phrase I've ever disliked is, 'Why, we've always done it that way.' I always tell young people, 'go ahead and do it. You can always apologize later.'"
Agents → Workflows
There is an interesting shift in how we talk about AI lately. We're moving from standalone "AI Agents" to something more like "Agentic Workflows" - and it makes sense. AI systems still have trouble with accuracy, especially when they need to make sense of complex information in office / collaboration contexts.
While AI working autonomously is exciting, it doesn't come without limitations. What we really need isn't the newest AI buzzword™, but systems that actually solve real problems.
The Next Era of Design is Intent-Driven
New trend alert! Move away from static UX flows / screens and start building ones that understand what users are trying to do. Prediction and proactivity, unprompted from a system that understands intent right away seems like a huge time saver. Technology that can read my mind is already pretty creepy - read as "doom scrolling". But if it's saving me time at work...
The breakdown of the different eras of intent is very cool. If you're going to look at anything, look at that.
Creative Briefs!
80/20 rule in action. Creative briefs represent that critical 20% of documentation effort that delivers 80% of the clarity needed for successful design projects. I find slowing down and writing stuff really helps people get on the same page (pun).
Document as you go! Write a UX Design Diary.
I've found that dedicating about a small (5-10%) of project time to documentation is a design deposit that pays enormously on the back end in driving clarity and making things a little more efficient.
We are all juggling multiple projects and responsibilities, and a design diary is a great tool and a mental anchor in making sense of where you are (and where you want to go).
Any of you do this? I'd be curious to hear how it's worked for you.
A Simplified Roadmap Storytelling Framework
I've never heard of the GOSPA Framework before, and I am digging it. It echos design thinking principles, divergent and convergent decision making. I think the anecdote about her experience in theater helped contextualize it for me - product strategy and storytelling both require exploration, interaction and some discomfort / comfort in navigating ambiguity. It's all part of the process to drive clarity.
To become a more trusted designer, ask your team more questions
Solid bit of perspective in this article. The role of designers as strategic partners, rather than just task executioners is topical.
I think it resonates with my experience around the importance of asking deeper questions. Jumping straight into solutions before fully internalizing the "why" has put me into situations where I become more reactive and a little less sure about my designs.
Churn is a reality in our role and taking a step back to ask "What does success actually look like?" can completely change, not only your approach but also smooth out your work on the back end.
Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
Good side quest articles from this one: • Julie Zhou • George Morris
A linear thinker, a design thinker and a systems thinker walk into a bar…
I've been putting some thought into how we approach complex user problems across team and product boundaries.
This article breaks down three distinct and complementary thinking approaches that - when combined, create a solid, problem-solving toolkit that helps you think across these different boundaries and surfaces.
I also really like the house, neighborhood, and city analogy.
Linear thinking - Break complex problems into smaller manageable components.
Design thinking - Emphasizes empathy and observation to create solutions that solve actual user requirements.
Systems thinking - Holistic. It's holistic because it examines relationships, interactions, and long-term consequences of decisions.
Its a good read.
The paradox of UX personalization
This was a thought-provoking article. Designing experiences that balance personalized recommendations and discovery mechanisms is important for a few reasons - all written throughout the article.
Designing for personal growth. HMW expose users to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences they might not discover otherwise? HMW design these in ways that feel delightful - not just analytical?
Pretty UI won’t get you hired anymore: A designer’s brutal wake-up call
🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠
Job market shifts have led to people needing to adjust their approach in marketing themselves. If you are to believe this exchange and POV in this article*, companies that are hiring are now seeking problem solvers who can demonstrate business impact rather than just aesthetic skills.
It appears that the move is to be a designer that not only serves mock ups, but also provides a hefty portion of business and strategic thinking.
I asked ChatGPT what a new title would be for this type of designer.
Impact-Design Driver
Design Strategist
Business Design Architect
Design Economic Officer
Experience Optimizer
I like the last one. The others are pretty lame, tbh.
*Oh, this person has a business that helps people transform their design careers - so consider this part anecdote, part advertisement.
The Video Resume 2.0: How I Accidentally Cracked the Job Search Code in Today's AI Era
This starts off as "fun" jaunt into looking at today's job market, and how traditional resumes are ineffective.
The actual fun part is him walking through how he leveraged NotebookLM's podcast feature to get him hyped about his own portfolio. He ends it with a tutorial.
I like this as a way to help me think about structuring my design presentations. Coming at it from a part hype, part evidence is a fun way to look at getting ideas out.
DeepSeek FAQ
As an enthusiast and designer of AI tools (we all are now, I know), I'm excited about DeepSeek's breakthroughs in making AI more accessible and affordable.
Innovations in low cost and efficient training, improved edge performance, etc means we'll likely see more affordable AI services, better device-level performance, and a wider variety of specialized tools.
This is promising - it means we can focus less on the underlying technology and more on creating truly valuable user experiences.
I know I've posted articles from Ben on Stratechery a few times already - if you aren't subscribed you should be.
DeepSeek: Does a Small AI Model Invalidate Big Models?
Long read but the key takeaway for me is that we're entering an era where we are going to see a mix of more efficient and hyper specialized AI models. These types of updates would benefit us as designers and give us more options to match the right level of AI capability with specific user needs and use cases.
The great undermining of the American AI industry
Im sure we've all been following the downturn this week. From my POV it's a great learning moment for the hype cycle. From a user perspective, this could mean more affordable AI tools and greater choice in the market. Instead of being locked into expensive subscription models, we might soon see a proliferation of equally capable, lower-cost alternatives.
OpenAI's $200 dollar a month subscription for their Pro model is very pricey - even with our Bill Bucks. Using an equally capable model at "1/50th" (that is $4 dollars!) of the cost of OpenAI's is very enticing. I wonder what's going to happen next.
Again, this guy has a great alternative / adversarial / contrary look at industry trends in AI. Its a good follow.
Artificial intelligence is transforming middle-class jobs. Can it also help the poor?
Bluntly, AI is creating opportunities for those that already have access / means and those that don't. This divide is widening. Executives prioritizing AI skills over experience is promising and is a concerning trend.
One thing that has me thinking is what can we do to design AI tools that go beyond serving the tech-savvy middle class.
An interesting focus area could be on creating accessible solutions that work within infrastructure constraints in developing regions, helping to bridge rather than widen the digital divide.
I think Mustafa Suleyman has the right idea by making o1 reasoning free everywhere.
Luis Felipe López-Calva, Global Director, Poverty and Equity Global Practice - World BankCarlos Rodríguez-Castelán, and Hernan Winkler on Brookings commentary.
Introducing Operator
OpenAI released Operator. Its a very compelling service or tool or agent- honestly IDK what to call these things any more. But, it’s a glimpse into AI-assisted browsing. It can navigate the web independently, handling tasks like form-filling and grocery ordering and knows when to ask for user input. Currently in preview for U.S. Pro users. It’s still early-stage but I think Operator shows gives us a look at what streamlining routine online tasks might look like.
Cool tool alert.
Adobe's Project Concept is an AI-powered mood-boarding app with a non-linear / infinite canvas, super cool and how I work naturally. Its now in private beta with an open waiting list. No, I didn't sign up - but I might? IDK.
Adobe's Project Concept could be the future of creative ideation – and the waiting list is open
What happens when AI joins the Org Chart?
I've been thinking a lot about AI's role in the workplace, I'm pretty confident we all are, lol. But mostly the idea of AI coworkers and managers. There's genuine potential for AI to free us from a lot of repetitive tasks and boost productivity, efficiency, etc., this shift brings up some important questions about accountability and trust. The challenge ahead seems like it isn't just technical - it's also about ensuring AI enhances rather than diminishes human potential in organizations.
The Value Curve is not linear
This perspective on product value is fascinating - it's not always "more is better" but about understanding the unique patterns of how value grows and evolves. The article introduces a practical framework for thinking about value curves, whether they're linear, exponential, or logarithmic. What caught my attention is how this applies to different types of products and features - some things naturally plateau in value after a certain point, while others might have massive compound effects over time (like some of the time-saving improvements we are making in our product). This framework gives me a more nuanced way to think about where to invest resources, challenging this assumption that value always increases linearly with effort or investment.
Noa Ganot on Product Coalition
Why you shouldn't be too eager to share your work
This article makes a compelling point about slowing down your design process and avoiding the temptation to rush into sharing work prematurely. It goes on to say there's often pressure to constantly showcase our design work, but this can actually undermine the deeper work of understanding user needs.
The emphasis on strategic resource allocation is an interesting topic to dig into. Instead of churning out "Fast + Cheap" solutions, we could be investing that time in deeper research and thoughtful and intentional iteration.
Another thing I find interesting is this perspective of how this process challenges the current culture of constant sharing and immediate gratification. I don't think gathering feedback, “sharing early and often”, working on alignment with others isn’t important - I don' think the article is doing that either. This line of thinking is more about shifting focus from quick wins to meaningful impact - something that's increasingly important, especially with the efficiency gains AI gives us.
Christopher K Wong on Substack
How to step outside your writing comfort zone and grow as a writer
Only in the last couple of years have I taken to writing as a way to express my thoughts and articulate my ideas. In fact, this short story by Ted Chiang really pushed me out of my comfort zone and inspired me to start typing on the daily.
The idea of moving ideas from your "drafts" out in the open as a way of pushing past your comfort zone is scary. There are some fun prompts here that could be helpful in pressing that "publish" button. Take a read through - share your thoughts.
Cara J. Stevens on The Writing Cooperative
Tips for writing more this year
There are a ton of links here that lead to articles with tips to challenge yourself to write more this year. I find writing to be helpful at work, even if it's just to write a short design brief to help you and your XFN team align, its a good way to get the wheels turning.
Every's Extendable Articles
Extendable Articles are a new essay format by Every that allows readers to interact with the source material of an article through a chat bot, providing access to original interviews, videos, notes, and articles used in the writing process. This format and capability is super interesting. The level of transparency and trust in storytelling is taken for granted. With content that can be generated by a simple prompt, the true impact of the story is measured by its substance and context. Extendable Articles are an interesting take in allowing the user to "double-click" into the thinking of the article. This enhancement of transparency and trust in storytelling is a nice shift in media towards incorporating AI to facilitate trust and deeper engagement with the author and their content. Give it a try - I linked an example.
Introducing Extendable Articles Give it a try here: The Religion of Ramp
001 Calm Technology
Vivian takes notes and provides perspective on Amber Case's Calm Technology: Principles and Patterns for Non-Intrusive Design. The book itself explores designing technology that is unobtrusive and enhances human well-being without overwhelming users. The "AI Solutions: Defining the Role of AI" section of Vivian's write up provides some powerful thought starters that I think are very interesting.
"Is AI needed, or can the problem be solved through simpler means?" <-- 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Examining the space between human and artificial intelligence by Vivian Chang
finding the right people
Finding the right people is such an important part of personal growth and emotional safety. It is also true that surrounding yourself with individuals who exemplify freedom in ways you do not can give you a unique opportunity to learn and be challenged. The article urges you to start by seeking one person who resonates with you, whether in person or online, and recognize the beauty in their qualities. This exercise might add color to your understanding of relationships, making life richer and more vibrant. "But Dan, we are at work". This is true. At the very least, take a look around and appreciate that you are working with some of the smartest people in the world who are all trying their best.
finding the right people by Nix
The political paradox of UX professionals
This is an interesting take on a paradox that is supposedly faced by UX professionals. There is tension between modernist principles of clarity and universal accessibility and postmodern critiques that emphasize subjectivity and skepticism. According to this article, UX design that is rooted in modernism, may inadvertently reinforce existing power structures even though it's end goal is inclusivity.
The author calls for a critical UX process that confronts these hypothetical contradictions and create designs that are both functional and reflective of diverse experiences. Asking whether this perspective is accurate is not the point. We are shaping technology with our UX decisions, and this article is a good reminder to be more introspective.
The political paradox of UX professionals by Michael F. Buckley
The Gen AI Bridge to the Future
Ben's article discusses the evolution of computing paradigms from mainframes to personal computers and smartphones. Its a fun history lesson but by the end, its emphasizing the role of generative AI as a bridge to future wearable technologies. It highlights how generative AI can enhance user interfaces by providing context-sensitive interactions, transforming wearables into general-purpose computing devices. His optimism about the future of generative AI and its capacity to create new application layers that will unlock innovative computing paradigms is inspiring. I have to agree with him - the road to these new interactions are being built right...now. I'm excited about the future.
If you do not already follow Ben, you should. The Gen AI Bridge to the Future by Ben Thompson
AI Agents Directory
This is a great site that features a directory of AI agents, updated fairly regularly. It provides a comprehensive list of AI solutions organized by task categories such as coding, productivity, research, and ..."other", mysterious! Its a good rabbit hole for looking at how start ups and big corporations are defining and segmenting agents. You can also get a good understanding of what these services' SKU levels and pricing are.
Non-Linear Video Editing
Short Instagram post on an AI video editing method introduced by Runway. This method allows users to start with an AI-generated image, create future frames, and connect them like nodes in a canvas interface, enabling the generation of alternative video options or even branching concepts. Very cool interaction pattern.
The post includes quite a few comments from users debating the nature of this technology. Some expressing skepticism about it actually being "editing" and others highlighting its potential for creative exploration.
I think that with GenAI, you might spend less time and effort generating the content. With that free time and effort you save, you can spend it on perfecting the content and realizing your vision.
@realrileybrown on Instagram. FYI, this link takes you to Instagram.
OpenAI launches ChatGPT desktop integrations, rivaling Copilot
OpenAI has launched desktop integrations for ChatGPT, allowing users to open third-party applications like VS Code directly from the app on Mac OS, with plans for Windows users to follow. The integration will enhance workflows, particularly for developers, by reducing the need for copy-pasting between applications - this is a very cool micro-optimization that OpenAI is clearly and intentionally designing for. The Windows version now includes features like Advanced Voice Mode and screenshot capabilities, further expanding its functionality. The move points to a broader trend in making chat interfaces more integrated with users' work environments.
App integration across the operating system is the new battleground.
OpenAI reportedly plans to launch an AI agent early next year
More news on Agent infiltration in user operating systems.
OpenAI is set to launch an autonomous AI agent named "Operator" in January as a research preview and developer tool. "its development signals a pivotal shift toward AI systems that can actively engage with computer interfaces rather than just process text and images."
Essential design patterns for crafting AI-powered products and experiences
Interesting discussion on essential design patterns for creating intuitive AI-powered products and experiences. There are some great tear-downs of strategies for onboarding new users, the significance of personalization, and feedback mechanisms. My biggest takeaway is that product development cycles are becoming more iterative and we should place a greater emphasis on facilitating continuous learning and adaptation. Its good for us IRT process and it is good for users IRT delightful and intuitive experiences.
✋🏼 High five if you made it this far.