DesignerUp

designerup

How I Grew My Instagram: Sharing My Journey as a Jewelry Designer

I’ve always been inspired by the openness within the developer community—the way they freely share solutions and source code for anyone to explore. Beyond the vast array of available learning materials and self-study courses, there are entire repositories filled with code you can dive into, adapt, learn, and borrow solutions from for your projects. In contrast, the graphic design world tends to be more closed off. Designers often showcase only final results, with little insight into their creative process. For me, the openness in development helps move the whole field forward. We all benefit from those contributions when everyone can access knowledge and tools. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Design While graphic design has always been my core focus, I’ve been drawn to other fields that intersect with it—motion design, illustration, typography, photography, and digital design. This doesn't mean I have mastered each profession (there are always far more experienced professionals in each specific field), but I believe in a multidisciplinary approach. Understanding the foundations of a field before diving into it helps shape your design perspective and ensures that the practical aspects of the medium inform your work. For instance, in graphic design, it’s important to understand the specifics of printing before preparing a layout. That knowledge guides the design process. Similarly, when I began designing a website for my design studio, I became interested in front-end and back-end website development. At that time, I had some knowledge of HTML, CSS, and a little JavaScript, so the first version of the site I built manually without any CMS. But soon, I realized I needed a more flexible content management system. Exploring CMS Options A developer friend of mine recommended Kirby, a flexible and user-friendly file-based PHP CMS that’s ideal for small sites. Using it helped me understand the core concept of setting up content management systems and integrating it with the frontend, which had previously felt so complex. Later I even built a student exhibition website using Kirby, where 150 students uploaded their work themselves, but that’s a story for another day. This opened the door for me to explore new tools, and I started experimenting with Gatsby (a React-based framework for static sites) and Sanity (a headless CMS). I set myself a challenge: to update my portfolio website using these tools to learn more about them. In that process, I was greatly helped by the large amount of knowledge, documentation, and video tutorials available: it's a fascinating process. Once I finished and published my studio’s website, I had an idea. Why not create a tool for other designers? Specifically, an open-source portfolio template that any designer or visual creator could use to build their own website. Visual-First Approach & Customisation There are plenty of portfolio templates built with Next.js which can be easily deployed on Vercel. But those templates are usually made for developers with a focus on development specifics. Designers, on the other hand, need a different approach—one that highlights their visual work. That’s why, for this template, I used a grid layout with large project previews and project pages that emphasize imagery and content. Customization is also key for designers. When building the template, I included features like setting custom background and text colors, reordering projects displayed on the main page, and creating project pages using modular content blocks—images, video embeds, and text. The idea is to be able to easily compile a story about a particular project out of predefined content pieces, creating an ideal visual storytelling. I used Tailwind CSS for the frontend, which makes styling and adapting content for different devices extremely easy. Thanks to Sanity’s powerful content management and the integration with Next.js, users can update content without needing to rebuild with each content update through Webhook-triggered Incremental Static Revalidation. This makes it easy to populate the portfolio with projects from scratch, keep it updated, and add projects on the go when a new project is completed and ready to be published. Easy Deployment and Accessibility Using Vercel, a user can deploy a copy of their own website with just one click, even with no development experience. The only thing needed is to register a set of free accounts: GitHub, Vercel, and Sanity. And for those who are more technically inclined, the code is open-source, so they can tweak it to suit their needs. Vercel and Sanity have more than enough traffic and content storage for a small portfolio site, and with the provided CDN, loading time is minimized, which is important for a site with a large amount of visual content. The only thing left is to connect a custom domain, which will make the portfolio site truly personal for the designer. This template is perfect for junior and experienced designers, even small design studios. One of the biggest challenges for designers in creating a portfolio is the blank page syndrome—getting stuck while being overwhelmed with designing and structuring their future portfolio website. I’ve taken care of the design and layout part, so all designers need to do is select their best projects and publish them. I named the template Collected, as it’s a place to collect and showcase the best work. I’ve created a small dedicated website to showcase the template, complete with a visual overview, a demo version, step-by-step instructions, and a video screencast where I show how to set up a portfolio website. My goal is to make the process as intuitive and visual as possible, showing designers how they can easily create a professional portfolio site without development experience. collected.to What’s next Looking ahead, I plan to keep expanding the template’s functionality. I want to add options for choosing fonts from Google Fonts, changing the grid’s column layout on the main page, and adding even more flexibility in the project page builder. I’m excited to see how the design community will use and adapt this project. Some of my fellow designers have already shared their work using this template, and I am thrilled to see what they have created. I think that by encouraging a culture of openness, we can push design forward, creating better tools and more collaborative opportunities, similar to what I've seen in the developer community. I hope this project will inspire more designers to explore the technical aspects of their craft, as understanding the tools we use is as important as creating designs in today's digital world. The complete source code for this project can be found on GitHub. I’ve always been inspired by the openness within the developer community—the way they freely share solutions and source code for anyone to explore. Beyond the vast array of available learning materials and self-study courses, there are entire repositories filled with code you can dive into, adapt, learn, and borrow solutions from for your projects. In contrast, the graphic design world tends to be more closed off. Designers often showcase only final results, with little insight into their creative process. For me, the openness in development helps move the whole field forward. We all benefit from those contributions when everyone can access knowledge and tools. A Multidisciplinary Approach to Design While graphic design has always been my core focus, I’ve been drawn to other fields that intersect with it—motion design, illustration, typography, photography, and digital design. This doesn't mean I have mastered each profession (there are always far more experienced professionals in each specific field), but I believe in a multidisciplinary approach. Understanding the foundations of a field before diving into it helps shape your design perspective and ensures that the practical aspects of the medium inform your work. For instance, in graphic design, it’s important to understand the specifics of printing before preparing a layout. That knowledge guides the design process. Similarly, when I began designing a website for my design studio, I became interested in front-end and back-end website development. At that time, I had some knowledge of HTML, CSS, and a little JavaScript, so the first version of the site I built manually without any CMS. But soon, I realized I needed a more flexible content management system. Exploring CMS Options A developer friend of mine recommended Kirby , a flexible and user-friendly file-based PHP CMS that’s ideal for small sites. Using it helped me understand the core concept of setting up content management systems and integrating it with the frontend, which had previously felt so complex. Later I even built a student exhibition website using Kirby, where 150 students uploaded their work themselves, but that’s a story for another day. This opened the door for me to explore new tools, and I started experimenting with Gatsby (a React-based framework for static sites) and Sanity (a headless CMS). I set myself a challenge: to update my portfolio website using these tools to learn more about them. In that process, I was greatly helped by the large amount of knowledge, documentation, and video tutorials available: it's a fascinating process. Kirby Gatsby Sanity Once I finished and published my studio’s website, I had an idea. Why not create a tool for other designers? Specifically, an open-source portfolio template that any designer or visual creator could use to build their own website. Visual-First Approach & Customisation There are plenty of portfolio templates built with Next.js which can be easily deployed on Vercel. But those templates are usually made for developers with a focus on development specifics. Designers, on the other hand, need a different approach—one that highlights their visual work. That’s why, for this template, I used a grid layout with large project previews and project pages that emphasize imagery and content. Customization is also key for designers. When building the template, I included features like setting custom background and text colors, reordering projects displayed on the main page, and creating project pages using modular content blocks—images, video embeds, and text. The idea is to be able to easily compile a story about a particular project out of predefined content pieces, creating an ideal visual storytelling. I used Tailwind CSS for the frontend, which makes styling and adapting content for different devices extremely easy. Thanks to Sanity’s powerful content management and the integration with Next.js, users can update content without needing to rebuild with each content update through Webhook-triggered Incremental Static Revalidation. This makes it easy to populate the portfolio with projects from scratch, keep it updated, and add projects on the go when a new project is completed and ready to be published. Easy Deployment and Accessibility Using Vercel, a user can deploy a copy of their own website with just one click, even with no development experience. The only thing needed is to register a set of free accounts: GitHub, Vercel, and Sanity. And for those who are more technically inclined, the code is open-source , so they can tweak it to suit their needs. Vercel and Sanity have more than enough traffic and content storage for a small portfolio site, and with the provided CDN, loading time is minimized, which is important for a site with a large amount of visual content. The only thing left is to connect a custom domain, which will make the portfolio site truly personal for the designer. open-source This template is perfect for junior and experienced designers, even small design studios. One of the biggest challenges for designers in creating a portfolio is the blank page syndrome—getting stuck while being overwhelmed with designing and structuring their future portfolio website. I’ve taken care of the design and layout part, so all designers need to do is select their best projects and publish them. I named the template Collected , as it’s a place to collect and showcase the best work. I’ve created a small dedicated website to showcase the template, complete with a visual overview, a demo version, step-by-step instructions, and a video screencast where I show how to set up a portfolio website. My goal is to make the process as intuitive and visual as possible, showing designers how they can easily create a professional portfolio site without development experience. Collected collected.to collected.to collected.to What’s next Looking ahead, I plan to keep expanding the template’s functionality. I want to add options for choosing fonts from Google Fonts, changing the grid’s column layout on the main page, and adding even more flexibility in the project page builder. I’m excited to see how the design community will use and adapt this project. Some of my fellow designers have already shared their work using this template, and I am thrilled to see what they have created. I think that by encouraging a culture of openness, we can push design forward, creating better tools and more collaborative opportunities, similar to what I've seen in the developer community. I hope this project will inspire more designers to explore the technical aspects of their craft, as understanding the tools we use is as important as creating designs in today's digital world. The complete source code for this project can be found on GitHub. The complete source code for this project can be found on GitHub . GitHub

Bridging Design and Development: Creating an Open-Source Portfolio Website Template for Designers

Career Growth for Designers: 4 Steps Towards Fast Promotion

Кариерно израстване за дизайнери: 4 стъпки към бързо повишение

Crecimiento profesional para diseñadores: 4 pasos para una rápida promoción

Crecemento da carreira para deseñadores: 4 pasos para unha promoción rápida

צמיחת קריירה למעצבים: 4 צעדים לקראת קידום מהיר

デザイナーのキャリアアップ: 早期昇進に向けた 4 つのステップ

ການເຕີບໂຕຂອງອາຊີບສໍາລັບນັກອອກແບບ: 4 ຂັ້ນຕອນໄປສູ່ການສົ່ງເສີມໄວ

Karjeros augimas dizaineriams: 4 žingsniai greito paaukštinimo link

Carrièregroei voor ontwerpers: 4 stappen naar snelle promotie

Kukura Kwebasa kune Vagadziri: Matanho mana Kuenda Kukurumidza Kusimudzira

Ukuaji wa Kazi kwa Wabunifu: Hatua 4 Kuelekea Ukuzaji Haraka

Paglago ng Karera para sa Mga Designer: 4 na Hakbang Tungo sa Mabilis na Pag-promote

设计师职业发展：快速晋升的 4 个步骤

Enhance Your UI/UX With These 16 Web Designer Resources🔥🎨

A few years ago, a proficient designer needed skills in Adobe Photoshop for retouching, Adobe Illustrator for drawing, and Figma for creating landing pages. However, the demand for highly specialized designers has surged. Now, a product designer focuses solely on product design, and a graphic designer concentrates on graphic elements, without overlapping roles. The need for all-in-one designers is declining, which is a positive shift. However, this trend hasn’t yet affected the game development industry. GameDev still requires versatile specialists who possess a broad skill set. If you’re aiming for a career in the game industry, you must be adept at a wide range of skills. In this article, I will delve into the essential skills required for GameDev and illustrate each with examples from my own experience. Graphic Design: From Banners to Brand Identity Graphic design encompasses many elements. It includes identity and branding, as well as all promotional materials, from avatars and banners to merchandise and billboards. As part of graphic design in game development, you will develop a project’s identity and brand book, create banners, design social media assets, and develop merchandise. What you need to know in graphic design: you need a comprehensive understanding of typography, color theory, and composition, and the ability to integrate these elements beautifully into the right format. UX/UI and Web Every game has a website, usually a multi-page site that needs to be designed for easy user navigation. Here too, the designer must think about structure and design interfaces. In web design, you will handle the development of promotional sites, special projects, and landing pages for new game updates. For long-running projects that are frequently updated, you’ll need to create a design system. For more straightforward, one-off sites, you’ll build a UI kit. This category also includes creating email newsletters, as the tasks are similar to web design. What you need to know about web design: Interface design skills are essential, from research to visualization. 3D Design for Marketing For web and graphic design layouts, you need various 3D graphics—cannons, chests, 3D icons, renders of characters, weapons, and achievements. Where do you get them with the perfect angle and lighting? You create them yourself. Within the scope of 3D tasks, you’ll need to: Render in-game models with the right angle and lighting.
Model and render materials for promotions, including lighting and action boosts.
Create 3D graphics for special projects.
Develop 3D marketing materials that are later integrated directly into the game, such as chevrons and badges for user customization.
Create 3D sticker packs for Discord. What you need to know about 3D design: At a minimum, you should be proficient in one 3D software package, but preferably two. One for modeling, such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or Maya, and another for texturing, like Adobe Substance 3D Painter or Marmoset. Sticker Pack Case.
My first challenging 3D job was a duck sticker pack. I spent sleepless nights grappling with complex materials and shapes while trying to convey anthropomorphic emotions on the ducks’ faces. It was tough, but I succeeded, and I will never forget those ducks. Retouching for Anything That's Not Perfect With 3D models, things can go wrong: polygons may be out of place, lighting may be off, or the model may come from the developer’s engine. To make everything look attractive and polished, retouching is essential. Knowledge of retouching allows you to quickly assemble a story art banner from existing assets or enhance them for further use. What you need to know about retouching: A basic level of retouching involves using Photoshop sliders, masks, adjustment layers, and a graphics tablet, and understanding the basics of light shading and composition. Neural Networks as an Additional Retouching Tool Neural networks can now be used for retouching. For example, you may have a 3D render of poor quality based on a ready-made model from developers. You can take the long route and retouch it yourself, or the short route by using a neural network like SD. In just five minutes, you can achieve a good result: the model will have beautiful hair, appropriate facial expressions, and correct color corrections. What you need to know about neural networks: Using them effectively requires time and resources to train the model. You need to feed the neural network about 100 photos of the object from different angles with prompts, review the results, make edits, and review everything again. Motion Design Let’s say the website for a game is ready, but it looks boring. What to do? Add IDLE animation to the main art. For this, you need to know how to create such animations. Knowledge of motion graphics allows you to create animated logos, art for promotional materials, and showreels. What you need to know to excel in motion graphics: Learn After Effects and master layering art in Photoshop. The More You Know, The More You Can Do Of course, on a design team, everyone has an area in which they are highly skilled experts. For example, I wouldn’t expect high-quality AAA art from a web designer. However, in game development, a web designer might still get AAA-art tasks and will need to handle them. Therefore, the more diverse tasks you can manage without relying on colleagues, the more valuable you will be as a specialist. Consequently, your grade, salary, and recognition will grow faster. I remember vividly how, as a designer with over a decade of experience, I retouched characters late into the night, struggled with 3D models, or nervously created my first landing page. Now I realize that it was a crucial experience. Acquired skills significantly broaden your horizons and enhance your design capabilities. There emerges an ironclad confidence that you can handle any task (even 3D ducks). So, I highly recommend developing multidisciplinary skills, especially if you want to enter game development. Even if you don’t, the more you know, the more you can achieve. A few years ago, a proficient designer needed skills in Adobe Photoshop for retouching, Adobe Illustrator for drawing, and Figma for creating landing pages. However, the demand for highly specialized designers has surged. Now, a product designer focuses solely on product design, and a graphic designer concentrates on graphic elements, without overlapping roles. A few years ago, a proficient designer needed skills in Adobe Photoshop for retouching, Adobe Illustrator for drawing, and Figma for creating landing pages. However, the demand for highly specialized designers has surged. Now, a product designer focuses solely on product design, and a graphic designer concentrates on graphic elements, without overlapping roles. The need for all-in-one designers is declining, which is a positive shift. However, this trend hasn’t yet affected the game development industry. GameDev still requires versatile specialists who possess a broad skill set. If you’re aiming for a career in the game industry, you must be adept at a wide range of skills. The need for all-in-one designers is declining, which is a positive shift. However, this trend hasn’t yet affected the game development industry. GameDev still requires versatile specialists who possess a broad skill set. If you’re aiming for a career in the game industry, you must be adept at a wide range of skills. In this article, I will delve into the essential skills required for GameDev and illustrate each with examples from my own experience. In this article, I will delve into the essential skills required for GameDev and illustrate each with examples from my own experience. Graphic Design: From Banners to Brand Identity Graphic Design: From Banners to Brand Identity Graphic design encompasses many elements. It includes identity and branding, as well as all promotional materials, from avatars and banners to merchandise and billboards. As part of graphic design in game development, you will develop a project’s identity and brand book, create banners, design social media assets, and develop merchandise. What you need to know in graphic design: you need a comprehensive understanding of typography, color theory, and composition, and the ability to integrate these elements beautifully into the right format. What you need to know in graphic design: you need a comprehensive understanding of typography, color theory, and composition, and the ability to integrate these elements beautifully into the right format. UX/UI and Web Every game has a website, usually a multi-page site that needs to be designed for easy user navigation. Here too, the designer must think about structure and design interfaces. In web design, you will handle the development of promotional sites, special projects, and landing pages for new game updates. For long-running projects that are frequently updated, you’ll need to create a design system. For more straightforward, one-off sites, you’ll build a UI kit. This category also includes creating email newsletters, as the tasks are similar to web design. What you need to know about web design: Interface design skills are essential, from research to visualization. What you need to know about web design: Interface design skills are essential, from research to visualization. 3D Design for Marketing For web and graphic design layouts, you need various 3D graphics—cannons, chests, 3D icons, renders of characters, weapons, and achievements. Where do you get them with the perfect angle and lighting? You create them yourself. Within the scope of 3D tasks, you’ll need to: Render in-game models with the right angle and lighting. Model and render materials for promotions, including lighting and action boosts. Create 3D graphics for special projects. Develop 3D marketing materials that are later integrated directly into the game, such as chevrons and badges for user customization. Create 3D sticker packs for Discord. Render in-game models with the right angle and lighting. Model and render materials for promotions, including lighting and action boosts. Create 3D graphics for special projects. Develop 3D marketing materials that are later integrated directly into the game, such as chevrons and badges for user customization. Create 3D sticker packs for Discord. What you need to know about 3D design: At a minimum, you should be proficient in one 3D software package, but preferably two. One for modeling, such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or Maya, and another for texturing, like Adobe Substance 3D Painter or Marmoset. What you need to know about 3D design: At a minimum, you should be proficient in one 3D software package, but preferably two. One for modeling, such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or Maya, and another for texturing, like Adobe Substance 3D Painter or Marmoset. Sticker Pack Case. My first challenging 3D job was a duck sticker pack. I spent sleepless nights grappling with complex materials and shapes while trying to convey anthropomorphic emotions on the ducks’ faces. It was tough, but I succeeded, and I will never forget those ducks. Sticker Pack Case. Sticker Pack Case. My first challenging 3D job was a duck sticker pack. I spent sleepless nights grappling with complex materials and shapes while trying to convey anthropomorphic emotions on the ducks’ faces. It was tough, but I succeeded, and I will never forget those ducks. Retouching for Anything That's Not Perfect Retouching for Anything That's Not Perfect With 3D models, things can go wrong: polygons may be out of place, lighting may be off, or the model may come from the developer’s engine. To make everything look attractive and polished, retouching is essential. Knowledge of retouching allows you to quickly assemble a story art banner from existing assets or enhance them for further use. What you need to know about retouching: A basic level of retouching involves using Photoshop sliders, masks, adjustment layers, and a graphics tablet, and understanding the basics of light shading and composition. What you need to know about retouching: A basic level of retouching involves using Photoshop sliders, masks, adjustment layers, and a graphics tablet, and understanding the basics of light shading and composition. Neural Networks as an Additional Retouching Tool Neural networks can now be used for retouching. For example, you may have a 3D render of poor quality based on a ready-made model from developers. You can take the long route and retouch it yourself, or the short route by using a neural network like SD. In just five minutes, you can achieve a good result: the model will have beautiful hair, appropriate facial expressions, and correct color corrections. What you need to know about neural networks: Using them effectively requires time and resources to train the model. You need to feed the neural network about 100 photos of the object from different angles with prompts, review the results, make edits, and review everything again. What you need to know about neural networks: Using them effectively requires time and resources to train the model. You need to feed the neural network about 100 photos of the object from different angles with prompts, review the results, make edits, and review everything again. Motion Design Let’s say the website for a game is ready, but it looks boring. What to do? Add IDLE animation to the main art. For this, you need to know how to create such animations. Knowledge of motion graphics allows you to create animated logos, art for promotional materials, and showreels. What you need to know to excel in motion graphics: Learn After Effects and master layering art in Photoshop. What you need to know to excel in motion graphics: Learn After Effects and master layering art in Photoshop. The More You Know, The More You Can Do Of course, on a design team, everyone has an area in which they are highly skilled experts. For example, I wouldn’t expect high-quality AAA art from a web designer. However, in game development, a web designer might still get AAA-art tasks and will need to handle them. Therefore, the more diverse tasks you can manage without relying on colleagues, the more valuable you will be as a specialist. Consequently, your grade, salary, and recognition will grow faster. I remember vividly how, as a designer with over a decade of experience, I retouched characters late into the night, struggled with 3D models, or nervously created my first landing page. Now I realize that it was a crucial experience. Acquired skills significantly broaden your horizons and enhance your design capabilities. There emerges an ironclad confidence that you can handle any task (even 3D ducks). So, I highly recommend developing multidisciplinary skills, especially if you want to enter game development. Even if you don’t, the more you know, the more you can achieve.

Why GameDev Designers Are the Swiss Army Knives of Game Development

Onboarding of a New Product Designer: How to Make It Comfortable and Effective

My name is Marina Chernyshova. I have seven years of experience in Product and UX/UI design, working with complex web and mobile apps. Through my experience, I have been working with different teams, and I've learned that the development of any tech product relies heavily on the effective collaboration between Product Designers (PD) and Product Managers (PM). It is often discussed that poor communication can significantly damage a product. Lack of feedback, different understanding of the problem, and missed agreements lead to an increase in development time and the release of unfinished features. I have summarized several practical tips that have significantly helped me in my work. I hope they will be valuable for you as well. TIP N1: Twice a week syncs In my experience, it is pointless to meet each day because it is difficult to make significant progress. But when the workload is tough, having a meeting once a week also is not enough, so meeting twice a week seems to be the optimal solution. It doesn’t mean that you don’t communicate at all the rest of the time. You can use different software or platforms for collaboration, such as Slack, write comments on a Jira issue, or use tools like Figma and Miro. This approach is more time-efficient and serves as a form of written agreement. TIP N2: Action items after each sync Since the syncs are not daily, there are usually quite a lot of issues discussed, and it is easy to miss some agreements. I make it a rule to post a brief list of our agreements and action items to my corporate Slack channel after each sync. It is also a valuable practice for the PM to read this list carefully later and acknowledge that everything is okay. TIP N3: Compiled introductory notes If there are any user quotes, reviews, requests, analytics, published research papers, and expert articles connected with the investigated problem, it would be helpful for both - Designer and Product Manager to see them all stored in one place before starting work. It can be anything that suits you best: a Jira issue, a Google doc, a presentation, a Confluence page, or a Miro board. TIP N4: Clearly defined problem strongly recommend that Product Designers and Product Managers put their best efforts into collaboration and work on formulating the problem together. The main point is to clearly define the problem and return to this formulation when validating design solutions. A phrase like “The users from Company X want it to work like in Product Y” does not provide a sufficient understanding of the problem that needs to be solved; it rather looks like a solution suggestion. Personally, I do not mind when a PM offers possible solutions; the main thing is that it should not be in an ultimate form, and it’s better to have it accompanied by an explanation. TIP N5: Common preliminary research It can be done by both sides and even better together. For example, a Designer does a competitor analysis, and a PM organizes interviews with customers. It's great when a designer can also attend these interviews, but the meeting recording or summary can be very useful too. It is also essential to ensure that the results of this research are stored somewhere in the system and are available at any time. TIP N6: Visual evidence of your point of view It works for both sides, too. The examples for that might be: User flow records of other products (Mobbin Pageflow)
Screenshots of the reviews of your own and other products
Fragments of recordings of customer interviews
Screenshots of the support requests
Diagrams like mind maps, CJM, persona cards
Screenshots from Amplitude and Google Analytics, etc. Since both designers and the PMs collaborate quite closely and less formally than they communicate with the leadership team, they often forget about the rules while presenting their solutions to each other. It is unnecessary to make a full presentation every time; however, a short explanation of a conclusion helps a lot with ensuring productive communication. It doesn’t mean I don't trust a PM solely based on verbal communication, but when I'm shown the visual arguments, it feels more convincing. As a designer, I find visual information more impactful since visual materials are better perceived by us. Also, while delivering a short presentation, a designer or a PM may notice something that was mistakenly overlooked before and offer a fresh approach to the solution of the problem. Conclusion: It's clear that Product Management and Product Design are two critical roles that must work closely together to create successful products. I think effective collaboration is possible with a different distribution of roles; it all depends on the agreement within the team. But in any case, it’s very important to define and record all main agreements and always try to convey your idea to your colleague as unambiguously and visibly as possible. Clear communication and mutual understanding are essential to avoid misinterpretations and ensure that everyone is aligned toward the same goals. My name is Marina Chernyshova. I have seven years of experience in Product and UX/UI design, working with complex web and mobile apps. Through my experience, I have been working with different teams, and I've learned that the development of any tech product relies heavily on the effective collaboration between Product Designers (PD) and Product Managers (PM). It is often discussed that poor communication can significantly damage a product. Lack of feedback, different understanding of the problem, and missed agreements lead to an increase in development time and the release of unfinished features. I have summarized several practical tips that have significantly helped me in my work. I hope they will be valuable for you as well. TIP N1: Twice a week syncs In my experience, it is pointless to meet each day because it is difficult to make significant progress. But when the workload is tough, having a meeting once a week also is not enough, so meeting twice a week seems to be the optimal solution. It doesn’t mean that you don’t communicate at all the rest of the time. You can use different software or platforms for collaboration, such as Slack, write comments on a Jira issue, or use tools like Figma and Miro. This approach is more time-efficient and serves as a form of written agreement. TIP N2: Action items after each sync Since the syncs are not daily, there are usually quite a lot of issues discussed, and it is easy to miss some agreements. I make it a rule to post a brief list of our agreements and action items to my corporate Slack channel after each sync. It is also a valuable practice for the PM to read this list carefully later and acknowledge that everything is okay. TIP N3: Compiled introductory notes If there are any user quotes, reviews, requests, analytics, published research papers, and expert articles connected with the investigated problem, it would be helpful for both - Designer and Product Manager to see them all stored in one place before starting work. It can be anything that suits you best: a Jira issue, a Google doc, a presentation, a Confluence page, or a Miro board. TIP N4: Clearly defined problem strongly recommend that Product Designers and Product Managers put their best efforts into collaboration and work on formulating the problem together. The main point is to clearly define the problem and return to this formulation when validating design solutions. A phrase like “The users from Company X want it to work like in Product Y” does not provide a sufficient understanding of the problem that needs to be solved; it rather looks like a solution suggestion. Personally, I do not mind when a PM offers possible solutions; the main thing is that it should not be in an ultimate form, and it’s better to have it accompanied by an explanation. TIP N5: Common preliminary research It can be done by both sides and even better together. For example, a Designer does a competitor analysis, and a PM organizes interviews with customers. It's great when a designer can also attend these interviews, but the meeting recording or summary can be very useful too. It is also essential to ensure that the results of this research are stored somewhere in the system and are available at any time. TIP N6: Visual evidence of your point of view It works for both sides, too. The examples for that might be: User flow records of other products (Mobbin Pageflow) Screenshots of the reviews of your own and other products Fragments of recordings of customer interviews Screenshots of the support requests Diagrams like mind maps, CJM, persona cards Screenshots from Amplitude and Google Analytics, etc. User flow records of other products (Mobbin Pageflow) Screenshots of the reviews of your own and other products Fragments of recordings of customer interviews Screenshots of the support requests Diagrams like mind maps, CJM, persona cards Screenshots from Amplitude and Google Analytics, etc. Since both designers and the PMs collaborate quite closely and less formally than they communicate with the leadership team, they often forget about the rules while presenting their solutions to each other. It is unnecessary to make a full presentation every time; however, a short explanation of a conclusion helps a lot with ensuring productive communication. It doesn’t mean I don't trust a PM solely based on verbal communication, but when I'm shown the visual arguments, it feels more convincing. As a designer, I find visual information more impactful since visual materials are better perceived by us. Also, while delivering a short presentation, a designer or a PM may notice something that was mistakenly overlooked before and offer a fresh approach to the solution of the problem. Conclusion: It's clear that Product Management and Product Design are two critical roles that must work closely together to create successful products. I think effective collaboration is possible with a different distribution of roles; it all depends on the agreement within the team. But in any case, it’s very important to define and record all main agreements and always try to convey your idea to your colleague as unambiguously and visibly as possible. Clear communication and mutual understanding are essential to avoid misinterpretations and ensure that everyone is aligned toward the same goals.

A Guide for Collaboration and Building a Great Product: Product designer prospective

Yaroslav Zubko has crafted a remarkable international career, creating designs for Boeing, Markit, Deloitte, and Tinder. His exceptional work has earned him prestigious accolades, including the DotComm Award and the Clio Awards, one of the oldest creative awards in the US. The latter was received for one of Tinder's most famous projects, Swipe Night. How did he achieve such impressive feats in the competitive world of design? From Law to Designs Zubko’s journey began in the heart of Ukraine, a burgeoning hub for IT and design. Initially, he studied business law at a local college but decided to follow his passion and started studying graphic design online. In 2012, he landed his first job as a web designer at a Ukrainian fitness retail company, Terrasport. That work, along with some other early projects, laid the foundation for his work philosophy, characterized by a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality. In 2017, he assumed the role of product design director at UpTop, a New York-based property management startup. There, he was in charge of choosing which product features to research and test and deciding how they would be implemented. “There were nights when I couldn't fall asleep because I was thinking about ideas for the product,” Zubko recalls. Concurrently, he dedicated his time to “Interaction Library,” an ambitious project he had been nurturing since 2016. The initiative aimed to curate a comprehensive collection of interaction samples and interface behaviors, serving as a valuable resource for designers and stakeholders. American Odyssey The library's publication on platforms like Dribbble not only earned Zubko industry recognition but also captured the attention of business leaders. Among them was Tinder's Jonathan Badeen, who extended an offer to the designer, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Zubko’s professional life as the lead product designer at the dating giant in 2018. Zubko was entrusted with reshaping Tinder's user experience, with a focus on monetization and engagement. “I animated and presented over 20 versions of Tinder's app, and used A/B testing methods to understand what ideas were worth implementing,” he recalls. One of the standout achievements during his tenure was the restyling of subscription packages in alignment with Apple Store guidelines. This initiative not only enhanced the user experience but also paved the way for sustainable revenue growth. Zubko’s ability to balance user-centric design and revenue optimization was a testament to his holistic approach to product design. He often noted that his goal was to align Tinder's business objectives with user needs, creating a win-win scenario for the company and its users. His original design solutions helped reinvigorate Tinder's premium offerings, catapulting the app's revenue to new heights. Learning Solutions Transitioning from the realm of dating apps to educational technology and leveraging his previous experience, Zubko launched Fluently in 2019—a mobile application dedicated to immersive language exchange. In 2020, he was commissioned by Riiid Labs, which builds AI-based personalized learning solutions. It is one of the major players in the EdTech field, backed by $250 million in investment funding. At the company, Zubko took on the role of director of product design, contributing to Riiid's mission of revolutionizing personalized learning through AI and gamification. Drawing from his insights into UX/UI design, user engagement, and gamification strategies, Zubko led several notable projects. For instance, he worked on an application that helped American students to prepare for the SAT, a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. He also developed the mobile app DE Saber for Colombian students preparing for the Saber 11, a high school exit examination for college admission. Further, Zubko was invited to join Shiftsmart, a company that developed a platform assisting with team onboarding and training, performance management, scheduling and shift dispatch, and more. Shiftsmart raised a total of $117 million in funding, attracting prominent investment firms such as D1 Capital, Spieker Partners, Oakridge Management Group, and S12F, among others. Zubko served as a Senior Designer at the company and worked on the creation of the mobile app and branding. Towards Rewards Zubko’s original designs have earned prestigious international awards and industry acclaim. For instance, he was recognized as Designer of the Year 2019 by the Ukrainian IT Awards. He also won an international competition, the dotCOMM Awards, and the Italian A' Design Award for one of his freelance projects, FameLab. FameLab is a leading social marketing cloud that delivers authentic engagement on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook Pages. Zubko created interactive designs for the company’s app. He also contributed ideas and concepts to the Swipe Night initiative created for Tinder by the advertising agency 72andSunny in 2019. This was an interactive mini-series about friends trying to save themselves from the apocalypse. Users could participate in the series by swiping, thereby making decisions for the main characters. Based on users' choices, Tinder would then offer potential matches. In 2020, this project won a Clios, one of the oldest awards in the US, recognizing innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design, and communication. In 2021, Swipe Night was awarded the Entertainment Grand Prix at Cannes and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Interactive Media. Yaroslav Zubko has crafted a remarkable international career, creating designs for Boeing, Markit, Deloitte, and Tinder. His exceptional work has earned him prestigious accolades, including the DotComm Award and the Clio Awards, one of the oldest creative awards in the US. The latter was received for one of Tinder's most famous projects, Swipe Night. How did he achieve such impressive feats in the competitive world of design? From Law to Designs Zubko’s journey began in the heart of Ukraine, a burgeoning hub for IT and design. Initially, he studied business law at a local college but decided to follow his passion and started studying graphic design online. In 2012, he landed his first job as a web designer at a Ukrainian fitness retail company, Terrasport. That work, along with some other early projects, laid the foundation for his work philosophy, characterized by a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality. In 2017, he assumed the role of product design director at UpTop, a New York-based property management startup. There, he was in charge of choosing which product features to research and test and deciding how they would be implemented. “There were nights when I couldn't fall asleep because I was thinking about ideas for the product,” Zubko recalls. Concurrently, he dedicated his time to “ Interaction Library ,” an ambitious project he had been nurturing since 2016. The initiative aimed to curate a comprehensive collection of interaction samples and interface behaviors, serving as a valuable resource for designers and stakeholders. Interaction Library Interaction Library American Odyssey The library's publication on platforms like Dribbble not only earned Zubko industry recognition but also captured the attention of business leaders. Among them was Tinder's Jonathan Badeen, who extended an offer to the designer, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Zubko’s professional life as the lead product designer at the dating giant in 2018. Zubko was entrusted with reshaping Tinder's user experience, with a focus on monetization and engagement. “I animated and presented over 20 versions of Tinder's app, and used A/B testing methods to understand what ideas were worth implementing,” he recalls. One of the standout achievements during his tenure was the restyling of subscription packages in alignment with Apple Store guidelines. This initiative not only enhanced the user experience but also paved the way for sustainable revenue growth. Zubko’s ability to balance user-centric design and revenue optimization was a testament to his holistic approach to product design. He often noted that his goal was to align Tinder's business objectives with user needs, creating a win-win scenario for the company and its users. His original design solutions helped reinvigorate Tinder's premium offerings, catapulting the app's revenue to new heights. Learning Solutions Transitioning from the realm of dating apps to educational technology and leveraging his previous experience, Zubko launched Fluently in 2019—a mobile application dedicated to immersive language exchange. In 2020, he was commissioned by Riiid Labs, which builds AI-based personalized learning solutions. It is one of the major players in the EdTech field, backed by $250 million in investment funding. At the company, Zubko took on the role of director of product design, contributing to Riiid's mission of revolutionizing personalized learning through AI and gamification. Drawing from his insights into UX/UI design, user engagement, and gamification strategies, Zubko led several notable projects. For instance, he worked on an application that helped American students to prepare for the SAT, a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. He also developed the mobile app DE Saber for Colombian students preparing for the Saber 11, a high school exit examination for college admission. Further, Zubko was invited to join Shiftsmart, a company that developed a platform assisting with team onboarding and training, performance management, scheduling and shift dispatch, and more. Shiftsmart raised a total of $117 million in funding, attracting prominent investment firms such as D1 Capital, Spieker Partners, Oakridge Management Group, and S12F, among others. Zubko served as a Senior Designer at the company and worked on the creation of the mobile app and branding. attracting attracting Towards Rewards Zubko’s original designs have earned prestigious international awards and industry acclaim. For instance, he was recognized as Designer of the Year 2019 by the Ukrainian IT Awards. He also won an international competition, the dotCOMM Awards, and the Italian A' Design Award for one of his freelance projects, FameLab. FameLab is a leading social marketing cloud that delivers authentic engagement on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook Pages. Zubko created interactive designs for the company’s app. He also contributed ideas and concepts to the Swipe Night initiative created for Tinder by the advertising agency 72andSunny in 2019. This was an interactive mini-series about friends trying to save themselves from the apocalypse. Users could participate in the series by swiping, thereby making decisions for the main characters. Based on users' choices, Tinder would then offer potential matches. In 2020, this project won a Clios, one of the oldest awards in the US, recognizing innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design, and communication. In 2021, Swipe Night was awarded the Entertainment Grand Prix at Cannes and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Interactive Media. won won awarded awarded

How a Designer Landed a Job at Tinder and Achieved International Recognition

When I was diagnosed with autism at age 28, I finally got an explanation for so many of the struggles I’d faced in school and my professional life as a writer and website designer. My doctor explained that some people go undiagnosed due to learning to mask specific indicators they are autistic throughout their lifetime. Since I worked behind a computer, I typically avoided situations where I might have to make small talk. I could plan my own schedule and take breaks when I felt overwhelmed. I set up my home office workspace how I wanted and reduced distractions. However, I found myself struggling when I had to venture outside the norm for a team meeting or professional conference, which ultimately led to my diagnosis. Now, I’m proud of the coping strategies and tools I’ve used to grow in my field since I was diagnosed. One of the biggest aids has, to my surprise, been the rise in AI. What a Neurodevelopmental Diagnosis Means for Design and Development Professionals When my psychologist first suggested I might be neurodivergent, I felt unsure of the potential diagnosis. However, as I learned more about the condition, it was a relief to have a word for the struggles I’d faced trying to match emotions and fit into a nine-to-five job at a company. I learned one in every 36 children is now diagnosed with ASD. The numbers are steadily growing. Other neurodivergent conditions that might impact web design work include ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome and OCD. According to the AAPC, about 80% of women remain undiagnosed with neurodivergent conditions until after the age of 18. So what does all this mean for a website designer? Here are some of the most common neurodivergent traits that can impact design, development and other technology professionals. Communication differences: A neurodivergent person often communicates differently than a neurotypical person. I must be aware of this and ask for clarification if a client is vague.
Need for additional flexibility: Many people with neurodivergent conditions do better in a flexible work atmosphere, which many companies have started to offer.
Repetitive behaviors: People with conditions such as OCD may complete the same task repeatedly, causing projects to take longer.
Obsessive focus: I and many other neurodivergent workers can get obsessed with research on a topic. Those with ASD often are very detail-oriented. I have to remind myself to focus on the project and not spend three days researching how people respond to the color red.
Distress at small changes: When a client tells someone with executive functioning challenges to do a design one way and then changes their mind halfway through, that person may get stressed and want to quit working on the project.
Sensitivity to the environment: Many neurodivergent people can’t focus if there is a lot of light or sound. For me, using headphones helps when I work around others.
Difficulty paying attention: While medication can help the brain focus on one task, a difficulty focusing on routine tasks is an extremely common trait of ADHD.
Disorganization: ADHD designers may need to devise systems to keep them organized, such as planning books and reminders.
Impulse control: People who face impulsivity might make big promises that they then struggle to complete by the deadline.
Forgetting essential things: Alarms and reminders are the best friend of someone who struggles with executive functioning challenges.
Unfocused: Designers with ADHD often struggle with focus and should create project management lists. If they skip to another part of the project, they will know where they left off and can return to the same task. Researchers have conducted neurological imaging on autistic brains and found ASD people have a brain structure that gears them to have talent in visual arts, music, math and programming. Once I accepted that my condition and the things that make my brain different from an average person’s are also what gives me a creative edge as a designer, I could focus on solutions, and AI has been a large part of this. How AI Is Changing Things for Neurodivergent Developers and Designers Those with a neurodivergent disorder are lucky to live in a time when artificial intelligence (AI) can fill the gap in many areas, such as communication and analysis. I may think something makes sense that a neurotypical person fails to understand. A machine can analyze word patterns and help me fix anything confusing. Here are some of the ways neurodivergent professionals can utilize AI to create more manageable and even enjoyable work experiences. Better Training Neurodivergent brains may struggle to learn through traditional educational methods. AI is proficient at taking a complex concept and breaking it down. People can ask ChatGPT to explain a topic in simpler terms. Schools must offer more than just book studies — they must also provide hands-on training. New Communication Methods One struggle for me has been learning to communicate with my peers. While my mind thinks concretely, many people share broad concepts or subtle jokes. More than once, I’ve misunderstood what a client wants for a project. I’ve since learned to ask detailed questions to get to the heart of the website’s goal. While about 80% of people check their phones first thing in the morning, mine can overstimulate my brain if I start looking at messages and moving elements too early or too long. AI allows me to tap into the power of chatbots to respond to clients without feeling overwhelmed with all the chatter. Allowing for Breaks Business owners use AI for everything from sending automated responses to creating newsletters to generating artwork. As a web designer, my focus has to be on the most critical tasks or I feel stressed. AI can take over sending out marketing emails, responding to repetitive questions and creating some content to save me time. The extra time allows me to stop and go into a bubble when needed, helping me adapt to situations where I feel burdened. I can adjust my schedule and still meet project deadlines. The future of AI is intriguing. Researchers are using robots to find new ways to interact with autistic children. The robots consider the person’s unique sensory challenges and typical social cues and utilize the training robots to show them appropriate facial responses and respond accordingly. Better Organization One of my biggest mistakes is underestimating how long a project will take. I might think I can finish a multilingual website in two days, but it takes two weeks. Rather than give clients an immediate answer, I run the task through models. The computer takes the data and breaks up big tasks into smaller ones. I can use that information to estimate a completion date. I add a few extra days as a buffer in case I have times when I am unable to focus or need a break to continue my work. The Unique Qualities That Benefit Me as a Web Designer An adult diagnosis of neurodivergence can be shocking at first. However, once I realized the many benefits that come with a neurodivergent brain, I better understood why I chose a creative field. My unique ways of looking at the world around me also help me develop designs my clients love that no other designer thought of. AI is helping me work innovatively as a neurodivergent designer. As technology advances, I’m confident I’ll find even more ways to utilize it in my work and help other professionals like myself succeed. When I was diagnosed with autism at age 28, I finally got an explanation for so many of the struggles I’d faced in school and my professional life as a writer and website designer. My doctor explained that some people go undiagnosed due to learning to mask specific indicators they are autistic throughout their lifetime. Since I worked behind a computer, I typically avoided situations where I might have to make small talk. I could plan my own schedule and take breaks when I felt overwhelmed. I set up my home office workspace how I wanted and reduced distractions. However, I found myself struggling when I had to venture outside the norm for a team meeting or professional conference, which ultimately led to my diagnosis. Now, I’m proud of the coping strategies and tools I’ve used to grow in my field since I was diagnosed. One of the biggest aids has, to my surprise, been the rise in AI. What a Neurodevelopmental Diagnosis Means for Design and Development Professionals When my psychologist first suggested I might be neurodivergent, I felt unsure of the potential diagnosis. However, as I learned more about the condition, it was a relief to have a word for the struggles I’d faced trying to match emotions and fit into a nine-to-five job at a company. I learned one in every 36 children is now diagnosed with ASD. The numbers are steadily growing. Other neurodivergent conditions that might impact web design work include ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome and OCD. According to the AAPC, about 80% of women remain undiagnosed with neurodivergent conditions until after the age of 18. one in every 36 children one in every 36 children 80% of women remain undiagnosed 80% of women remain undiagnosed So what does all this mean for a website designer? Here are some of the most common neurodivergent traits that can impact design, development and other technology professionals. Communication differences: A neurodivergent person often communicates differently than a neurotypical person. I must be aware of this and ask for clarification if a client is vague. Need for additional flexibility: Many people with neurodivergent conditions do better in a flexible work atmosphere, which many companies have started to offer. Repetitive behaviors: People with conditions such as OCD may complete the same task repeatedly, causing projects to take longer. Obsessive focus: I and many other neurodivergent workers can get obsessed with research on a topic. Those with ASD often are very detail-oriented. I have to remind myself to focus on the project and not spend three days researching how people respond to the color red. Distress at small changes: When a client tells someone with executive functioning challenges to do a design one way and then changes their mind halfway through, that person may get stressed and want to quit working on the project. Sensitivity to the environment: Many neurodivergent people can’t focus if there is a lot of light or sound. For me, using headphones helps when I work around others. Difficulty paying attention: While medication can help the brain focus on one task, a difficulty focusing on routine tasks is an extremely common trait of ADHD. Disorganization: ADHD designers may need to devise systems to keep them organized, such as planning books and reminders. Impulse control: People who face impulsivity might make big promises that they then struggle to complete by the deadline. Forgetting essential things: Alarms and reminders are the best friend of someone who struggles with executive functioning challenges. Unfocused: Designers with ADHD often struggle with focus and should create project management lists. If they skip to another part of the project, they will know where they left off and can return to the same task. Communication differences: A neurodivergent person often communicates differently than a neurotypical person. I must be aware of this and ask for clarification if a client is vague. Communication differences: Need for additional flexibility: Many people with neurodivergent conditions do better in a flexible work atmosphere, which many companies have started to offer. Need for additional flexibility: Repetitive behaviors: People with conditions such as OCD may complete the same task repeatedly, causing projects to take longer. Repetitive behaviors: Obsessive focus: I and many other neurodivergent workers can get obsessed with research on a topic. Those with ASD often are very detail-oriented. I have to remind myself to focus on the project and not spend three days researching how people respond to the color red. Obsessive focus: Distress at small changes: When a client tells someone with executive functioning challenges to do a design one way and then changes their mind halfway through, that person may get stressed and want to quit working on the project. Distress at small changes: Sensitivity to the environment: Many neurodivergent people can’t focus if there is a lot of light or sound. For me, using headphones helps when I work around others. Sensitivity to the environment: Difficulty paying attention: While medication can help the brain focus on one task, a difficulty focusing on routine tasks is an extremely common trait of ADHD. Difficulty paying attention: Disorganization: ADHD designers may need to devise systems to keep them organized, such as planning books and reminders. Disorganization: Impulse control: People who face impulsivity might make big promises that they then struggle to complete by the deadline. Impulse control: Forgetting essential things: Alarms and reminders are the best friend of someone who struggles with executive functioning challenges. Forgetting essential things: Unfocused: Designers with ADHD often struggle with focus and should create project management lists. If they skip to another part of the project, they will know where they left off and can return to the same task. Unfocused: Researchers have conducted neurological imaging on autistic brains and found ASD people have a brain structure that gears them to have talent in visual arts , music, math and programming. Once I accepted that my condition and the things that make my brain different from an average person’s are also what gives me a creative edge as a designer, I could focus on solutions, and AI has been a large part of this. gears them to have talent in visual arts gears them to have talent in visual arts How AI Is Changing Things for Neurodivergent Developers and Designers Those with a neurodivergent disorder are lucky to live in a time when artificial intelligence (AI) can fill the gap in many areas, such as communication and analysis. I may think something makes sense that a neurotypical person fails to understand. A machine can analyze word patterns and help me fix anything confusing. Here are some of the ways neurodivergent professionals can utilize AI to create more manageable and even enjoyable work experiences. Better Training Neurodivergent brains may struggle to learn through traditional educational methods. AI is proficient at taking a complex concept and breaking it down. People can ask ChatGPT to explain a topic in simpler terms. Schools must offer more than just book studies — they must also provide hands-on training. struggle to learn through traditional struggle to learn through traditional New Communication Methods One struggle for me has been learning to communicate with my peers. While my mind thinks concretely, many people share broad concepts or subtle jokes. More than once, I’ve misunderstood what a client wants for a project. I’ve since learned to ask detailed questions to get to the heart of the website’s goal. While about 80% of people check their phones first thing in the morning, mine can overstimulate my brain if I start looking at messages and moving elements too early or too long. AI allows me to tap into the power of chatbots to respond to clients without feeling overwhelmed with all the chatter. 80% of people check their phones 80% of people check their phones Allowing for Breaks Business owners use AI for everything from sending automated responses to creating newsletters to generating artwork. As a web designer, my focus has to be on the most critical tasks or I feel stressed. AI can take over sending out marketing emails, responding to repetitive questions and creating some content to save me time. The extra time allows me to stop and go into a bubble when needed, helping me adapt to situations where I feel burdened. I can adjust my schedule and still meet project deadlines. The future of AI is intriguing. Researchers are using robots to find new ways to interact with autistic children. The robots consider the person’s unique sensory challenges and typical social cues and utilize the training robots to show them appropriate facial responses and respond accordingly. new ways to interact with autistic new ways to interact with autistic Better Organization One of my biggest mistakes is underestimating how long a project will take. I might think I can finish a multilingual website in two days, but it takes two weeks. Rather than give clients an immediate answer, I run the task through models. The computer takes the data and breaks up big tasks into smaller ones. I can use that information to estimate a completion date. I add a few extra days as a buffer in case I have times when I am unable to focus or need a break to continue my work. The Unique Qualities That Benefit Me as a Web Designer An adult diagnosis of neurodivergence can be shocking at first. However, once I realized the many benefits that come with a neurodivergent brain, I better understood why I chose a creative field. My unique ways of looking at the world around me also help me develop designs my clients love that no other designer thought of. AI is helping me work innovatively as a neurodivergent designer. As technology advances, I’m confident I’ll find even more ways to utilize it in my work and help other professionals like myself succeed.

How AI Has Helped Me Work Smarter as a Neurodivergent Web Designer

The use of gradients is common in modern web design. We see them everywhere from hero backgrounds to illustrations, text colors, borders, hover animations, and many more. Creating them directly in CSS might take a lot of time and would require some knowledge of how different types of gradients are constructed. To help you out in this article, I compiled some of my favorite gradient makers. I will provide you with the direct link to the tools, give you a concise description, and include a screenshot of the tool, so you can get an initial impression on the fly. Web Gradients A free collection of 180 linear gradients that you can use as content backdrops in any part of your website. Easy copy CSS3 cross-browser code, and use it in a moment! Grabient Add up to 6 colors, and change the angle of the gradient with the modern-looking UI. UI-Gradients Browse lots of predefined gradients from the gallery, and edit the gradient direction in the generator. Opensource, add your own gradients via code. HyperColor A curated collection of beautiful Tailwind CSS gradients using the full range of Tailwind CSS colors. Easily copy and paste the class names, CSS, or even save the gradients as an image. Gradient King Browse lots of gradients based on the color theme. Also includes an option to generate the gradient based on uploaded image colors. Option to sign in, and save your favorites. CoolHue Try the Coolhue Gradient Palette Plugin. With it, you can directly access gradient color palettes from right inside your favorite prototyping tools like Sketch App and Figma. GradientHunt Gradient Hunt is a free and open platform for color inspiration with thousands of trendy hand-made color gradients. CSS Gradient Gradient generator with modern-looking UI and lots of customization options. Gradient Png Supports adding up to 5 colors, switching their positions, changing their weight, and other customization options. Random mode to come up with awesome presets. Mycolor.space Generate a CSS Color Gradient with 2 or 3 colors. Change directions and copy the CSS code when ready. Color Gradient CSS color generator for cool backgrounds and UI elements. Gradient Generator Advanced CSS gradient generator by Josh W.Comeau. Lots of customization options such as color mode, angle, and easing curve. CSS Gradient Generator Create linear and radial gradients. Experiment with random color modes and edit gradient directions. Switch between HEX and RGBA modes. Did You Like the Resources? Here's More 👇 Over the previous months, I've compiled The Ultimate Bundle with every resource you need from starting to learn to code to landing your dream tech role! Includes 900+ resources in total, further divided into 99 categories for easier navigation and access! Save 1000s of hours, and focus on what matters! I'm currently offering 50% OFF just for my readers! Don't miss out on this! ⭐ Get it here: Ultimate Resources Bundle to Land a Job in Tech! ⭐ Writing has always been my passion, and it gives me pleasure to help and inspire people. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Make sure to receive the best resources, tools, productivity tips, and career growth tips I discover by subscribing to my newsletter! Also, connect with me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and GitHub! Also published here. The use of gradients is common in modern web design. We see them everywhere from hero backgrounds to illustrations, text colors, borders, hover animations, and many more. Creating them directly in CSS might take a lot of time and would require some knowledge of how different types of gradients are constructed. To help you out in this article, I compiled some of my favorite gradient makers. I will provide you with the direct link to the tools, give you a concise description, and include a screenshot of the tool, so you can get an initial impression on the fly. Web Gradients Web Gradients A free collection of 180 linear gradients that you can use as content backdrops in any part of your website. Easy copy CSS3 cross-browser code, and use it in a moment! Grabient Grabient Add up to 6 colors, and change the angle of the gradient with the modern-looking UI. UI-Gradients UI-Gradients Browse lots of predefined gradients from the gallery, and edit the gradient direction in the generator. Opensource, add your own gradients via code. HyperColor HyperColor A curated collection of beautiful Tailwind CSS gradients using the full range of Tailwind CSS colors. Easily copy and paste the class names, CSS, or even save the gradients as an image. Gradient King Gradient King Browse lots of gradients based on the color theme. Also includes an option to generate the gradient based on uploaded image colors. Option to sign in, and save your favorites. CoolHue CoolHue Try the Coolhue Gradient Palette Plugin. With it, you can directly access gradient color palettes from right inside your favorite prototyping tools like Sketch App and Figma. GradientHunt GradientHunt Gradient Hunt is a free and open platform for color inspiration with thousands of trendy hand-made color gradients. CSS Gradient CSS Gradient Gradient generator with modern-looking UI and lots of customization options. Gradient Png Gradient Png Supports adding up to 5 colors, switching their positions, changing their weight, and other customization options. Random mode to come up with awesome presets. Mycolor.space Mycolor.space Generate a CSS Color Gradient with 2 or 3 colors. Change directions and copy the CSS code when ready. Color Gradient Color Gradient CSS color generator for cool backgrounds and UI elements. Gradient Generator Gradient Generator Advanced CSS gradient generator by Josh W.Comeau . Lots of customization options such as color mode, angle, and easing curve. Josh W.Comeau CSS Gradient Generator CSS Gradient Generator Create linear and radial gradients. Experiment with random color modes and edit gradient directions. Switch between HEX and RGBA modes. Did You Like the Resources? Here's More 👇 Over the previous months, I've compiled The Ultimate Bundle with every resource you need from starting to learn to code to landing your dream tech role! Includes 900+ resources in total, further divided into 99 categories for easier navigation and access! Save 1000s of hours, and focus on what matters! I'm currently offering 50% OFF just for my readers! Don't miss out on this! ⭐ Get it here: Ultimate Resources Bundle to Land a Job in Tech ! ⭐ Get it here: Ultimate Resources Bundle to Land a Job in Tech Ultimate Resources Bundle to Land a Job in Tech Writing has always been my passion, and it gives me pleasure to help and inspire people. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Make sure to receive the best resources, tools, productivity tips, and career growth tips I discover by subscribing to my newsletter ! my newsletter my newsletter Also, connect with me on Twitter , LinkedIn , and GitHub ! Twitter Twitter LinkedIn LinkedIn GitHub GitHub Also published here . here

Every Web Designer Should Know These 13 Beautiful Gradient Tools 💯👍

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