Microsoft is finally improving Windows 11's dark mode (1 minute read)
Windows 11's latest preview build adds more dark mode elements, including updated file operation dialogs, though some buttons and key UIs like Control Panel and Run remain light-themed. These tweaks suggest a broader dark mode overhaul may arrive with the 25H2 update, nearly a decade after Microsoft first introduced the feature.
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Spotify just redesigned the way you'll ‘listen' to audiobooks (6 minute read)
Spotify is testing a new “Follow Along” feature that enhances audiobooks with synced visuals and music, moving beyond the traditional audio-only format. By collaborating with authors, publishers, and designers, Spotify has created custom assets for titles like “Culpability”, boosting engagement by replacing static PDFs with dynamic, multimodal storytelling, and opening new possibilities for visually rich books.
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Tributes paid to the James Bond 007 logo designer Joe Caroff (4 minute read)
Joe Caroff, the American graphic designer who created the iconic 007 James Bond logo in 1962, has died at 103. Though largely unknown outside design circles, his prolific career included posters for “West Side Story” and “A Hard Day's Night”, film title sequences, and logos for Orion Pictures and ABC News. Tributes hail him as a humble yet timeless design giant whose work quietly shaped global culture.
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Design Patterns for... Almost Everything! (2 minute read)
A comprehensive resource collection compiles UX guidelines, design patterns, accessibility resources, and UI showcases into a single location. The compilation addresses the common problem of designers getting lost in bookmarks when searching for specific design references. The resource spans multiple categories, including best practices, inclusive design, UI components, layouts, branding, and regional design showcases.
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Make things happen (4 minute read)
A former manager reflects on a top designer who worried colleagues resented her for always getting “fun” projects, but in reality, most of her assignments started out difficult or unglamorous. What made them great was her ability to transform messy, uninspiring work into exciting outcomes. Designers shouldn't wait for shiny projects, but instead create them by bringing energy, vision, and enthusiasm to whatever they're given.
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Evolution Comes from Disagreement (2 minute read)
Design has gained business integration but lost its distinct voice that once challenged products from a unique perspective. Real product evolution requires contrasting viewpoints and creative tension, not homogeneous thinking across team roles. Designers contribute through visual coherence and microdetails that build long-term value beyond immediate metrics.
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Metaphor in UX Design (38 minute read)
UX metaphors enable users to learn new interfaces by transferring knowledge from familiar concepts to unfamiliar digital systems. These metaphors work through analogical reasoning, mapping multiple attributes between familiar source domains and new target interface domains. Successful metaphors reduce cognitive load, accelerate understanding, and bridge the gap between designers' models and users' mental models.
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It's imperative we have age diversity in creative teams (2 minute read)
Many creatives leave the industry as they age due to family priorities, disenchantment, relocation, or health issues, often shifting to consulting, starting businesses, or new careers. Yet age diversity is vital: older creatives bring deep experience, cultural insight, and credibility with older clients, making them an untapped resource that should be celebrated and more visible in the industry.
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Thanks for reading,
Jae Lee, Matej Latin & Ralph Brinker
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