“The differences in my mind are mostly those of scope, responsibility, and visibility. 

As a lead designer, your focus is the project, and your responsibilities are to ensure that you work cross-functionally with PM and Engineering to deliver high-quality work that meets deadlines and expectations.

Staff designers have a broader scope. Their work…”

Full interview with principal designer Madhavi Jagdish →

The UX Collective is an independent ad-free design publication that elevates unheard design voices, reaching over 417,200 designers every week. Here are our editorial plans for 2021.

Editors’ picks

Dispo App buzz →
The buzz around Dispo and the delight of delayed gratification.

UX friction →
Why we need more friction in our algorithms.

Pandemic revolution →
Is the pandemic accelerating the fourth industrial revolution?

Your face is not your own: the secretive face recognition startup that blew the future of privacy wide open.

Food for thought

Speeding up design discussions →
“Have you ever found yourself in a discussion that goes in circles or seemingly does not get resolved? In most cases, a straightforward question can save you a lot of time: ‘Out of ten, how much do you care about this topic [your reasoning]?’”

A pioneer of digital design looks back on a defining era →
“Interface design was full of thoughtful little innovations and touches of magic, like hovering a cursor over a blurry object to bring it into focus. ‘I know that probably doesn’t sound like much now, but at the time it took a lot to make that happen,’ Ms. Staples said.”

Computers and creativity →
“Collaborative software as we know it was born soon after in the form of Google Sheets, the first simultaneous multiplayer software. The state of collaborative software today is a testament to the progression of tools for creativity, as well as the room we still have left to help them reach their full potential.”

The dark UX patterns targeting children — and how in-app advertising proliferated during the pandemic.

Little gems this week

How to write inclusive, accessible digital products

Can design trends be accessible?

Cheats to make your portfolio look redesigned — without actually doing anything

Tools and resources

Sketch 71 →
Real-time collaboration has now arrived on Sketch.

The component gallery →
A repository of interface components based on real examples.

Text over image →
How to ensure legibility and accessibility, via CSS.

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