Pinterest Says its AI-Powered Collages are Now More Engaging than Pins (3 minute read)
Using Pinterest's Shuffle feature, users can combine images and photos to create collages. The company says its latest version, powered by AI and computer vision, gets three times as much engagement as traditional Pins. With the new format, users can curate content from the web and Pinterest, but they can also snap pictures with their phones to express their tastes, interests, and styles.
Framer Unveils Masking & Workflow Enhancements (2 minute read)
The April update to Framer introduces a new masking feature that enables designers to apply and customize masks with gradients or images and stack multiple masks for complex layouts. It also includes workflow enhancements and precise gradient editing. Working with different Framer versions has become seamless thanks to improved collaboration capabilities.
The Arc browser arrives on Windows to take on Chrome and Edge (5 minute read)
The Arc browser, which has impressed macOS and iOS users over the past couple of years, has finally made its way to Windows. The Browser Company, the company behind Arc, is betting that its browser features, like the collapsible sidebar, vertical tabs, app switcher-like experience, and a command bar, are different enough to entice Windows users away from Chrome and Edge.
How We Created a Multi-Brand Design System in Figma (9 minute read)
SnappOS offers white-label infotainment systems for automakers who need more time and expertise to develop their own. Each carmaker has its own branding, features, and hardware setup. In this article, Snapp Automotive describes how it created a theming engine that can handle multiple levels of customization, enabling it to scale to tens of different brands without branching out.
An Updated Primer on Android Navigation (9 minute read)
Designers should build navigation based on tasks and content. The navigation bar is convenient for jumping between primary destinations but should only be used on compact screens. The navigation rail is positioned on the side of the screen and should be used on medium and expanded screens.
Beyond βDoneββ Prioritizing Quality in Product Experiences (6 minute read)
While most product teams strive to deliver products that meet or exceed user expectations, they need more time and resources to perfect every part of the user experience. The number of epics in a release cycle is often prioritized over quality. This approach fails to define and aim for the quality of the experience, resulting in products that meet requirements but fail to delight customers. Through Experience Quality Acceptance Criteria, teams can prioritize epics based on their potential impact on user adoption and satisfaction instead of just their feasibility.
Making Product Value Obvious (3 minute read)
The most valuable contribution product designers can make to software is making the core value of a product clear to the people using it. Teams working on a product understand their product's value, but outsiders may not. Being more straightforward is often necessary.
Composability in Design Systems (3 minute read)
People tend to prefer and use design systems that encourage mixing and matching. Too much coverage can turn a design system into a bureaucratic hurdle instead of a helpful tool. Instead of enforcing recipes too soon, you should think of your design system as a library of ingredients, consistent but flexible enough to accommodate creativity and innovation.