How AI is reshaping design collaboration
First UX weekly roundup on Substack! Navigating AI backlash, career pivots & writing for UX success
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This week we’re diving into the big AI debate, rethinking job-hunt habits, sharpening microcopy skills, and more—plus a deep cut on where our field started. Let’s jump in.
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1. Microsoft’s design chief on human creation in the AI era
Source: The Verge
Main takeaway: Generative AI is now used by design departments at the largest tech companies like Microsoft—and there’s a lot of mixed feelings
Microsoft’s Jon Friedman argues for AI as a collaborator, not a replacement
Mixed feelings: guilt about using AI, excitement about how the breadth and quickness of A- generated solutions, and the worry that AI-generated “slop” will dilute human craftsmanship
Upcoming development of AI agents: “The line between AI as a tool and AI as a replacement for skilled human jobs looks like it’s about to be tested, leaving us all to wonder what comes next.”
Your turn: do you think of AI as another tool in your toolbox, or something completely different?
2. “I stopped applying to tech jobs”
Source: Written by Melody Koh in Prototypr
Main takeaway: Constantly firing off resumes can backfire—focus instead on strategic visibility.
treating applications as stress-tests led to burnout more than new offers
shifting to networking and skill showcases (case studies, side projects) yielded higher-quality conversations
selective outreach reinforces your brand rather than diluting it
On the job hunt? Try this: audit your last 10 applications—what could you replace with a personal note or project showcase?
3. Buttons vs. links
Source: Nielsen Norman Group
Main takeaway: An oldie-but-goodie distinction: use buttons for actions, links for navigation.
Buttons trigger immediate changes (e.g., “save,” “delete”)
Links move users between contexts or documents (e.g., “read more,” “learn more”)
Proper use improves screen-reader clarity and keyboard focus order
Your turn: pick a key workflow in your product and swap any misplaced buttons/links to align with these conventions.
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4. UX book rec: Strategic Writing for UX
Why it’s worth reading: author Torrey Podmajersky breaks down how to plan, measure, and advocate for UX copy as part of the design process
Quick summary:
Learn a robust framework for aligning microcopy with user goals, brand voice, and business metrics.
3 actionable insights:
Design the content first – sketch copy before wireframes to root interfaces in conversation
Measure effectiveness – run A/B tests on button text and error messages, then iterate
Build stakeholder buy-in – use word-assignment templates to keep product, engineering, and legal aligned
5. The state of ux design 2025-2030 (Youtube)
This video forecasts the shift from pure UX to “product strategist”—we’ll need cross-disciplinary fluency in data science, service design, and ethics.
Key points:
empathy alone won’t cut it—designers must interpret user data and metrics
growing demand for “design ops” roles to scale research and prototyping
ethical guardrails for AI-driven experiences are emerging as core skills
My take: this clip underscores why your next sprint should include a KPI workshop, not just wireframes. What metric will you start tracking in May?
6. UX discussion: “how to design a safe cancel experience?”
Context: For a modal with 38 inputs, an accidental “cancel” can mean massive rework and user frustration.
Why it matters: balancing cognitive load with clear exit paths is critical for complex workflows. My own gripe is when the word cancel is used too broadly. Cancel what? Does it mean cancel this process and start from the beginning (ugh), or just close out this window? More specific, the better, like literally Close window.
Your turn: review your last modal or wizard—does “cancel” risk data loss? What confirmation or save-state could you add?
7. Design history: the mother of all demos (1968)
Fact: on Dec 9, 1968, Douglas Engelbart showcased the NLS system (oN-Line System). It was called The Mother of All Demos because it showcased the first mouse-driven cursor, hypertext links, and multiple windows. That’s 57 years ago!
Why it matters today: that brief demo laid the groundwork for every GUI, menu, and toolbar we now take for granted.
That’s this week’s mix. Let me know if you received this email, since we recently migrated to Substack and I want to make sure the pipes are working.
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Stay curious.
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