Reclaiming your humanity in an algorithmic world

Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers.

Jan 06, 2025

“We could argue all day about which things are fundamentally different in an AI-first world, but one undeniable difference is that the more intelligent technology gets, the fewer visible interfaces a human sees. (…)

With each automated decision, we remove a choice, a slice of agency, from the user. As we do this more often, we begin to leave some of our personality behind. If the algorithms are an average of our calculated habits, then living on autopilot will leave us regressing toward the mean.”

Reclaiming your humanity in an algorithmic world →

Is your UX Research reaching its full potential in business decisions? →
[Sponsored] Join leading UX research experts as we explore the reasons why UX research is undervalued despite the high demand for it. We’ll also look at practical ways to reframe research to tackle visibility issues and enhance its impact on the business.

Editor picks

What does it mean to have an “experience”? →
Different definitions shape product perspectives.
AI and cognitive offloading →
Sharing the thinking process with machines.
Making product quality a team sport →
Two intentional rituals you should try.

The UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices and helps designers think more critically about their work.

The challenge with design sprints, by Elan Miller →

Make me think

Ethical web principles →
“These principles are not merely theoretical; they constitute a call to action. They encourage everyone involved in the web’s evolution to assess their contributions’ societal and environmental impacts. We can create a web that truly benefits everyone by adhering to these principles.”
Resist summary →
“The output of Large Language Models (“AI”) is an aid to learning extremely simple things, and it is an impediment to learning anything complex or creative. I worry that without a complex model in one’s own mind, one may never notice complex relationships that are otherwise missed. A loss of attention to detail.”
The web is too big, or scaling down →
“Ultimately, though, the problem with this situation isn't that Mozilla or Firefox aren't good enough. It's that the web is too complicated. A browser is an extraordinarily complex piece of software.”

Little gems this week

What we can learn from the 7 worst designs →

Redefining chatbot design in the age of AI →

How tabs changed the way we browse →

Tools and resources

Rewards strategies →
How Duolingo, Nike, and Amazon use rewards to keep you hooked.
Should AI write your alt text? →
It’s time you write alt text on every meaningful image.
UX storytelling →
Practical advice, not vague analogies, on how to use UX storytelling.