Issue 77

Engineering teenagers in Figma components

Hello, dear readers! 👋

In this issue, among other things:

• How to think like a designer

• How to create an identity for digital products

• Winners of the Data Visualization Award

• How to optimize components in Figma for faster and smarter work with them

• Several new generative AI

• A documentary about AI (generated by AI, of course)

• The Techno-Optimist Manifesto

• …and much more!

Enjoy reading!

🗞 News and articles

A Journey Into Shaders. Part I: The blob

A cool interactive article about how shaders work at the level of mathematics and code. And how to use them on the web to create visual effects.

The Design Mindset. What does it mean to be a designer?

Steven Anderson has formulated his 11 principles of attitude to the design profession. Briefly:

• Frame & Reframe Problems. Look at the problem through many different frameworks to see new possibilities

• Force yourself to think. Use prototypes, sketches, and models to give ideas a tangible shape so that they can be thoroughly studied

• Work from Principles & Values. They are the main motivators for designers. They are stronger than deadlines, processes, or theoretical approaches

• Tame complexity. A designer should not be satisfied with a complex solution. On the contrary, a good designer will look for an elegant, simple solution hidden in a complex problem

• Obsess over Aesthetic Details. Designers appreciate aesthetically pleasing projects that bring pleasure and stimulate the senses. This applies to appearance, sensation, sound, taste, movement — all aspects of perception

• Think in systems and contexts. Designers view the whole in relation to the parts; they see the big picture. When they are asked to think about the parts outside the broader context, frustration sets in

• Focus on Human Needs & Motivations. Designers care about people and are natural defenders of what is right from the point of view of human centrism

• See a possible future (where others see the current reality). It's natural for a designer to think about how things could be better.

• Thrive on ambiguity. The zone of complexity between chaos and boredom is the preferred state in which designers feel most useful

• Exude positivity. A good designer is usually an idealist, focused on a positive possible future, recovering from failures with the help of other possible options

• Show a Bias for Intuition. Designers tend to rely on intuition and instincts rather than data. This can be a boon for an experienced designer, but it is dangerous for a beginner.

Building smarter Figma components: crafting for efficiency

Using a specific example, Jerome Benoit examines exactly how to optimize the components in the Figure so that it is more pleasant to work with them and they spend less machine resources.

Crafting A Killer Brand Identity For A Digital Product

A large article by Clay brand designer Sasha Denisova in Smashing Magazine about the intricacies of digital product brand design.

The article provides an overview of the entire process of creating an identity. She also writes about the most important processes and factors needed to achieve brand consistency across platforms. He also tells you how to establish cooperation with the product team.

⚡️ Briefly

Breaking the Figma addiction. Jamie Mill gives practical tips on how not to spend too much time moving pixels in a Figure.