Google Unveils new AI-Powered Video Creation App, Security, and Workflow Enhancements for Workspace (2 minute read)
Google is launching Google Vids, an AI-powered video creation app, along with meeting, messaging, and security improvements. Workspace Labs will include Google Vids starting in June, enabling users to make storyboards, choose styles, and assemble scenes from stock videos, images, and music.
Google’s AI photo editing tools are expanding to a lot more phones (1 minute read)
Google is expanding access to its AI photo editing tools in Google Photos, including Magic Editor, previously exclusive to Pixel owners and Google One subscribers. Now, any user with a compatible Android or iOS device can use these features, with free users limited to 10 monthly saves, while Pixel owners and paying subscribers enjoy unlimited use.
Messenger Now Lets You Create Shared Albums, Send HD Photos, and Share Larger Files (2 minute read)
Messenger users can now create shared albums, send photos in high-definition, and share larger files up to 100MB in chats. With shared albums, you can make albums of pictures and videos in group chats, letting everyone view, add, delete, and download photos and videos. The new HD photo-sharing capability enables users to toggle an "HD" option once they select an image from the chat composer. Messenger lets users directly send Word, PDF, Excel, and zip files instead of emailing them.
The future of design systems is marketing (2 minute read)
To ensure the adoption and success of a design system, creators need to adopt a marketer's mindset, craft a compelling narrative, engage with different stakeholders, and demonstrate its value consistently across the organization. Strategies include developing target audience-specific pitches, utilizing engaging communication channels, establishing clear success metrics, and fostering a community of internal advocates to create a self-sustaining culture of use and improvement.
The anatomy of a component sprint (9 minute read)
The Washington Post developed a 10-day component sprint process that emphasizes collaboration between design and development teams. It contains stages like kickoff and implementation that aim to reduce delivery time and technical limitations. Gathering input from stakeholders and documenting insights are crucial for success as it fosters diverse perspectives and shared stewardship for the design system's adaptability.
Six Reasons Why Tesla is Failing, and They All Have to Do With Design (7 minute read)
Tesla's recent numbers show that its bad design is causing the company to suffer. The company's car design needs to be more modern and modern. Its insistent commitment to following impossible manufacturing specs has caused production problems. Tesla's refusal to use third parties to craft and manufacture components has led to quality issues. The lack of dealerships constantly decreases customer satisfaction.
Fall in love with the user, not the technology (5 minute read)
Designers should prioritize user needs over technology in UX design and avoid over-relying on AI tools by designers. While AI is seen as a valuable tool to streamline processes and aid research in UX design, it's essential to verify AI-generated information and recognize its limitations in understanding user experience.
Should designers code? (2 minute read)
Designers don't necessarily need to implement designs in code, but they should grasp key web concepts like the box model, flexbox, and grid to work effectively within the medium. While tools like Figma have improved in replicating web behaviors, understanding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript allows for a deeper appreciation of digital design considerations and fosters better collaboration with developers for enhanced user experiences.
Theming With Design Tokens at Webflow (5 minute read)
This post shows how Webflow's team runs large-scale design updates while keeping the UI consistent. Using design tokens and CSS variables, the team improved the range of intentional design updates and made theming a breeze.