This is the first issue I create using Substack - I hope you are going to like this new platform :) Here are some design resources I really liked:

#1 How to draw ideas

Ralph Hammer explores the 4 different ways drawing influences a creative process. Check out the awesome illustrations he applies!

#2 Principles of Product Design by Aaron Walter (ebook, pdf)

There is an entire chapter about sketching. Here is a quote about how designers apply sketching at Slack:

"We all start on paper at Slack and then explore from there. It’s rare that people are so good with a tool that they can think within it. Having squiggly lines on paper keeps you focused on real problems. You can move through ideas much faster, and there’s also something about the fact that a sketch is so clearly not the final product. People don’t get confused by the style and instead focus on the concept. Diogenes Brito — Slack”

#3. I Asked ChatGPT to Create Comics, Then I Drew Them.

Chaz Hutton explored “how good is this souless collection of 1’s and 0’s at drawing fairly basic and occasionally funny cartoons.”

#4. Visual Jam Community

The Visual Jam Meetup has launched their community space, you can join for free, and watch back over 2000 minutes of their visual thinking event recordings.

#5 Dive

Dive is a cohort-based teaching platform by Ridd (founder of the awesome Figma Academy), their mission is to provide advanced courses led by well-known designers.

#6 Anthony Hobday’s tweet about Bolt’s new website

I love that he notices all the little details! And btw. I can’t recommend his blog enough.

Anthony Hobday @hobdaydesign

People have noticed @bolt's new logo, but don't miss the on-brand motifs through their website. Excellent attention to detail. All of these echo the bolt logo. 1) These tabs at the top of the website have angled sides.

4:31 PM ∙ Jan 20, 2023

---

1,144Likes102Retweets

#7 Copying Designs Doesn’t Work, And Here’s Why

Peter Ramsey (Built for Mars) gives some advice on how to effectively take inspiration from others - based on his rebenchmarking of UK banks.

#8 Product Design Resources

A great collection of product design resources by Ozan Öztaskiran (btw. I have been building my own database for some months, originally, I was planning to build a little website for this purpose, then Simas Maciulis made me realize that I can use Notion. And then Ozan’s resources helped me find the best way to display this information. Thanks for the inspiration Simas and Ozan! I’m going to publish my Notion page soon!)

#9 2023 Design Related Conference Global List

Do you like conferences and workshops? Then this list is for you: a growing collection of design events around the world.

#10 Demystifying Figma auto layout

I just simply love auto layout, last time I was that excited about a feature was when I discovered content aware fill inside Photoshop more than 10 years ago. In this article, Anna Rzepka help you tame your auto layout monster :)

+1 Jobs To Be Done Canvas 2.0

Download the updated JTBD canvas by Jim Kalbach.

My latest UX Knowledge Piece Sketch

I believe that designing for edge cases is a fascinating balancing act (cover what is necessary but at the same time don’t try to cover them all). 14 years ago, in an other life, I graduated as a lawyer. And one thing I learnt is that real life scenarios are so diverse and random that legislation can’t possibly cover and predict all the scenarios that might happen. This is very similar in product design: we can’t possibly find and design for all the edge cases. And that’s okay. However, it is important to design with responsibility. To understand the problem space and your users, to know what the possible risks or threats are and to make design decisions that reflect these.

Read my detailed article here to learn more about his interesting topic.

Coupon codes for my Udemy courses

Sketching for UX Designers course

Be a better designer by understanding development aspects course

Thanks for reading my newsletter, I hope you enjoyed it! 💙

Krisztina

P.S.: Have you written or found an interesting design / visual thinking article or other resource lately? Please send me a DM on Twitter! I might feature your resource in the next issue!