Get inspired by the world around you & more
Sketching for UX Newsletter Issue #31 - my favorite design resources I discovered last month (May, 2025)
Hey dear subscriber 👋,
This issue is about
Getting inspired by the world around us - some advice & the new UX Knowledge Piece Sketch
10+2 design resources I loved the most in May
I hope you’ll find something valuable! 💎
✏️ Draw inspiration from the world around you
As a designer, you should also get inspired by the world around you.
Observe for instance objects, how things work, architecture, places and wayfinding. Learn from bad designs. Study game design and instructional design, notice the different colors e.g. in nature, visit museums and so on.
, author of the book, the Elements of user experience said that experience design is a design of anything as long as it is about human experience as an outcome and human engagement as a goal. So it can be about designing a guest experience at a hotel, or designing a flyer, or learning experiences, customer support processes, organizing a conference and so on.Using your designer eye should become your natural way of being. Something you don’t have to think about or you don’t have to turn on.
Here is a useful practice activity: look around and find an example for a good and for a bad design, try to list out your whys, and you can also add some redesign ideas.
A useful framework for this analysis: the 3 Levels of Design by Don Norman.
There is the visceral level: it is about how something looks, the first impression, your immediate response.
The second level is the behavioral, it is about usability and effectiveness, so the functions and performance.
Finally, the third level is the reflective level: how is this product part of your self-image or your identity? Are there any memories or good stories attached to it?
If you’d like to learn more about how to get inspired, check out the How to train your designer eye course.
Read my sketch & detailed article here soon (I’ll include many-many examples.) And btw. this is the first hybrid / mixed media sketch - I thought that a sketch about getting inspired by the real world around you should contain images of these things, not just sketches. Let me know if you have any feedback! :)
✏️ Favorite resources
Here are my favorite discoveries of May, 2025:
#1 That guide to UI design by Mariya Lambrianov
”This is that guide you’ve been looking for—a curated collection of resources and exercises I've gathered to help you start your UI Design journey.”
This is an epic resource collection for any designers wanting to work on their UI or visual design skills!
#2 How to write error messages that actually help users rather than frustrate them by Amy Hupe
”When we handle errors with care, clarity and empathy, we not only help users move forward, we show that we value their time, their goals and their experience.” My sketch about error messages
#3 The Evolution of AI Products by Luke Wroblewski
#4 Version control: How a UX writer weighs one word against another by Henry Freedland
“We needed to remember that it wasn’t enough just to get someone to click; we also were responsible for making sure they knew the implications of what was happening. So, for the final experience, we added icon states at the top of a file, accompanied by more explanatory language, connecting the technical situation to the overarching goals of the experience itself.”
#5 Prompt Suggestions by Kate Moran and Tim Neusesser
”Prompt suggestions are typically used in generative-AI (genAI) systems that accept open-text prompts from users. When people first begin using an AI system, they’re often faced with the “blank page” problem and must think about how they could use the product.”
#6 Website headlines
Home of the internet's finest website headlines.
#7 The cognitive cost of convenience by Michael F. Buckley
”But the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate all cognitive effort — only unnecessary friction. Thoughtful UX doesn’t just make things easier — it makes experiences more enriching and empowering over time.”
My sketch about deliberate friction.
#8 The great manipulation by
This article is from February, but I discovered it last month, and I read it multiple times since then. One of the best pieces I’ve encountered in a long time. The story of Edward Bernays is fascinating. The “Torches of Freedom'“ slogen is genius. And I love the main message of the article: “Design is just a tool, like a sword. It's clearly very effective at what it does, but it's all about who's using it and why. The truth is, design will always be about influence and manipulation. Our only choice is what kind of influence we want to have, and whose interests we choose to serve.”
#9 I've done over 10,000 prompts - 44-min tutorial on how to generate UI by Meng To
You should also check out his Tips for Prompting
#10 Making software by
”A reference manual for people who design and build software.” Here you can preview some things that’ll be included in the book.
+1 Every day sketches by Sebastian
”Every day sketches, brainfarts and ideas flying around in my backpack and apartment. I hope they can inspire or help someone out there.”
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Newest course: How to train your designer eye - €12.99
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Thanks for reading my newsletter, I hope you enjoyed it! 💙
Krisztina
Very juicy post, as usual. I like the hybrid sketch and the "Making Software" is so intriguing. Thank you for sharing!