Sketching Apps for iPad: Paper vs Procreate vs Affinity Designer

As a designer, I often have opportunities to sketch out ideas for clients – I might be in the wireframing stage of the design and want to get ideas on paper quickly, or I might need to create a logo or illustration. However, it can be a pain to get a paper sketch to a […]

Midwest UX 2019: Reframing Reality

This fall, I had the opportunity to attend and speak at Midwest UX. The conference was well organized, offered a great experience as both an attendee and speaker, and showcased the city (and home of our AO HQ) of Grand Rapids!

Sketch vs. Adobe XD for Prototyping – A Designers’ Conundrum

As part of the design process, we use tools like Sketch or Adobe XD to think through our workflows, visualize wireframes, and share designs with clients and developers. We also use these tools to create clickable prototypes that can clarify component functionality and validate designs in user testing.

Overcoming Cognitive Bias for Consultants: Loss Aversion

Most people think that they tend to make rational, logical decisions. However, often, we don’t! I’d like to provide you with an overview of cognitive bias and how a well-known bias, loss aversion, can affect the consultant-client relationship.

Making Atomic Proud

This June, I was happy to take part in Atomic Object’s new initiative, supporting Pride Month. While Atomic prides itself (no pun intended) on its diversity within the company, this year, leadership chose to provide LGTBQIA+ and ally Atoms with additional opportunities to celebrate the diversity within our company and out in our communities.

Being a Boss at Context Switching, Part 2 – Daily Habits

Yesterday, I talked about context switching between projects and how smart preparation can help you prevent cognitive overload when context switching. The post focused on how to set up your projects and plan your week to prevent forgetting tasks or missing deadlines. Today, I’ll focus on things you can do day-to-day to maintain a clear […]

Being a Boss at Context Switching, Part 1 – Proper Setup

People are often surprised when I say that I am comfortable with—and even enjoy—working on more than one project at a time. For me, this comfort lies in my ease with context switching. Over time, I’ve developed a series of habits that make it easy for me to switch between different projects. These mental tools […]

Applying the Magic of “Tidying Up” to Software Design

You’ve probably heard of the Netflix show “Tidying Up,” where Marie Kondo works with families to help them organize and declutter their homes. While watching the show, I couldn’t help noticing the parallels with software design.

Five Steps for Tying Up a Project Unexpectedly Cut Short

As consultants, we always have to be prepared for the unexpected. In rare cases, the surprise can be that a project is suddenly wrapping up. This can happen for a number of reasons. It could be a clerical error in accounting that resulted in the project unexpectedly reaching the limit of its budget. It could […]

Resolving Conflict when Others Disappoint, Step 3 – The Conversation

In our previous posts, we talked about deciding when to have a conversation with someone who has disappointed you, and how to prepare for having this kind of emotionally charged and difficult conversation. Now it’s the big day! The work isn’t over yet: Here are additional things to keep in mind so you can have a […]

Atomic Spin

Atomic Object’s blog on everything we find fascinating.

By: Mirabella Olszewski

Author: Mirabella Olszewski