AI Video Platform Hedra Raises $32M to Build Digital Character Foundation Models (2 minute read)
Hedra raised $32 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz, bringing its total to $44 million since 2024. Its Character 3 model lets users create lifelike AI character videos from text, audio, and images via Hedra Studio. With 3 million users and over 10 million videos made, it powers viral content like AI talking babies. Hedra plans to triple its 20-person team and boost research to enhance video quality and control.
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VUZ gets $12M for its immersive video experiences across emerging markets and the U.S. (3 minute read)
VUZ raised $12 million in a pre-Series C round to grow its immersive video platform in emerging markets and the U.S. With 15 million users and nearly 3 billion screen views, it secured exclusive streaming deals, revamped monetization, and hit EBITDA profitability in 2024. Focusing on hyper-local content, creator support, and partnerships, VUZ aims to stand out from giants like YouTube and TikTok and reach 5 billion views by 2026.
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Data vs. Findings vs. Insights in UX (7 minute read)
UX research moves from data (observations) to findings (patterns) to insights (actionable value). Designers should aim for theoretical saturation, not statistical significance, to avoid costly mistakes. The “What Happened + Why + So What” framework turns findings into stories that highlight business value, making UX insights harder to dismiss in stakeholder meetings.
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How to Avoid Accidentally Giving Up Creative Control of Your Designs (8 minute read)
Designers can avoid shadow planning, or copying existing designs, by not relying on analogies like “It's like Amazon but for pets.” Instead, they should define value propositions by identifying target users, key problems, provisional personas, and unique selling points. This keeps designs contextually relevant and protects creative control, especially as AI threatens to standardize interfaces.
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Why Jaguar's rebrand failed, and what it can teach us (7 minute read)
Jaguar's 2023 rebrand by Accenture Song aimed to position it as an all-electric luxury brand by 2026 but ended up alienating loyal fans, confusing new buyers, and cutting sales nearly in half. Critics say it dropped emotional and visual assets without a strong new identity. As Jaguar seeks a new agency, the lesson is clear: rebrands should evolve identity and preserve emotional connection, even in a tech-driven future.
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Doodad (Website)
A tool that stylishly reduces image file size using old-school dithering, which mimics missing shades with dots for faster web loading.
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Fictional Brands Archive (Website)
Curated collection of fictional brands from films, series, and video games, presented with real-world brand design principles and contextualized within their original works.
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Component Cloner (Figma plugin)
Select component instances you want to copy, and they'll be assigned to a new copy of their original master component. Keep the text, images, and other variations in your instances without having to repeat yourself.
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How to Pick Your Battles as a Designer (5 minute read)
Designers should choose battles wisely in companies that claim to be design-led but sideline design in decisions. Despite evidence of better performance, many still see designers as service providers, leading to burnout. Spot chances to influence, like leadership interest or design debt work, but know when to walk away. In interviews, ask about design's role in strategy, reporting, impact, and past challenges.
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From WHY to HOW: The Diamond Circle for the AI Era (3 minute read)
The Diamond Circle is a new framework for the AI era inspired by Simon Sinek's Golden Circle. As AI and automation reshape work, adaptive processes and continuous learning are becoming essential. This shift addresses younger professionals' concerns about unstable careers, emphasizing that flexible skills and learning offer more control than fixed roles.
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No Country for Junior Designers (6 minute read)
Lean startup environments, the evolution of product design into a strategic role, AI automation of junior tasks, and remote work have collectively eliminated traditional pathways for new designers.
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