💥Design Brief #118: Mental Models, Tips for Junior Designers, Micro-Experience, Metaphors in Design, Voice User Interfaces, and Microcopy Excellence

Mental Models in Product Design

Mental models are explanations of how we see the world. They influence product design every step of the way, from the conception of an idea to the perception of an experience. From this article we get a deep insight on how mental models influence behavioural economics, and how both are tied to product design at a holistic level. Read more

10 Small Design Mistakes We Still Make

Eugen Eşanu from laroche.co says that we need to be consistent with a couple of principles that will remind us of how to design great products and lists 10 design mistakes that we should stop making. The article was written based on the revised version of the book ‘Don’t Make Me Think’ by Steve Krug. Read more

Investigate First, Design After

This article is a brief guide to problem solving for junior designers with practical tips on how to start working on a project. When delegated a task, a junior designer is usually expected to have a comprehensive understanding of what surrounds the problem they were assigned to solve. Although it can sound relatively straightforward, it is just as easy to miss. Thus it’s good to devote some time to research before jumping into your favorite design tool. Read more

Breakups, Space Travel, And Design Research

As researchers, it’s our job to help people best express and explore their ideas. Each person is the expert of their experiences. Asking the right question — or asking it in the right way — can make all the difference - argues Ximena Ampuero, Design Researcher at Dropbox.

So how do we create space for empowering conversations? And how might these conversations help us bring product development closer to human experiences? At Dropbox, they’ve found that metaphors are a powerful tool to help people explore and share their experiences in more creative and meaningful ways. Read more

Why Are Micro-Experiences So Important to UX Design?

In UX Design, contrary to the popular saying, we absolutely have to "sweat the small stuff”. In this article, the small stuff author is referring to are micro-experiences: the little things that happen before, during, and after a user engages with a product, website, app, or service. By focusing on micro-experiences we turn the ordinary into extraordinary, which by all respects gives our fellow humans a memorable journey with even the most mundane of products. Read more

Voice User Interfaces (VUI) — The Ultimate Designer’s Guide

Voice User Interfaces (VUI) are the primary or supplementary visual, auditory, and tactile interfaces that enable voice interaction between people and devices.

In an increasingly digitized world we may actually be spending more time with our devices than we do with each other. And although a VUI does not need to have a visual interface — it can be completely auditory or tactile, it’s still a challenge for a designer to build a great user experience. Read more

This Is UX Writing at Its Very Best

Executives are finally realizing that brands need a carefully crafted user experience to thrive - says Melissa Mapes, the Founder of Real Big Words in her article. This awakening has led to a new era for microcopy — an age when just the right words can really differentiate a product. What does really awesome UX writing look like? Take a look at these 10 examples of microcopy excellence. Read more