UX & Design

Pivotal + Invision – Our Two-Tool Solution for Managing Design & Software Implementation

It’s not often that design is completed before implementation begins. With multiple to-do lists taking place at the same time, finding a way to keep track of everything that needs to be done is crucial to staying on top of a project.

There are two great tools to help make this happen—Pivotal Tracker and InVision. Together, they’ve given us a powerful combination to keep us and our clients apprised of progress. Read more on Pivotal + Invision – Our Two-Tool Solution for Managing Design & Software Implementation…

Writing Context Scenarios? Start at the End

If you’ve watched as many YouTube videos as I have, you’ve inevitably seen some ads for Master Classes. These are online classes taught by some of the most renowned names in their respective industries—Ron Howard on directing, Gordon Ramsey on cooking, Steph Curry on dribbling and shooting, etc.

In the ad for Malcom Gladwell’s class about writing, he offers this bit of advice: Don’t start your story at the beginning. Start it at the end, because when you have the end figured out, you know what you have to do in order to get there.

This same idea can be used for writing context scenarios: With the end goal in mind, work backward, step-by-step. Read more on Writing Context Scenarios? Start at the End…

The Many Pros of Using Zeplin for Design Collaboration

There are countless design collaboration tools out there today. It can be overwhelming to know which ones are worth the time (and cost) investment, and which ones will turn into another item you need to maintain. I’ve recently started using Zeplin on a few of my projects, and I can confidently say it has improved my teams’ workflows. Read more on The Many Pros of Using Zeplin for Design Collaboration…

How Traditional Design Principles Apply to Software Design

There’s a perceived divide between “traditional” designers (who work in print and branding) and software designers. But the reality is, most of us received the same foundational education and follow the same design principles. The tools and outcomes are often different, but the ingredients have a lot in common. Read more on How Traditional Design Principles Apply to Software Design…

My Five Favorite Tools for Mobile App Design

My work as a digital designer has focused on creating digital experiences for (mostly) desktop or laptop users. When I’m designing in Sketch, what I see is really close to what I’ll see in the finished interaction. But what about designing for mobile or tablet apps?

It can be easy to underestimate the size of text or buttons, or even what feels natural when interacting on a mobile device. There is no shortage of tools, free and paid, that attempt to simulate a developed solution. However, I like to keep it simple. Here are the five tools I use to design mobile applications. Read more on My Five Favorite Tools for Mobile App Design…

Design Thinking Toolkit, Activity 13 – Hopes & Fears

Welcome to our series on Design Thinking Methods and Activities. You’ll find a full list of posts in this series at the end of the page.

If you’re new to the Design Thinking Toolkit, check out the introductory post to learn more about design thinking. For those who have been along for the entire ride thus far… gold stars for you! Our next lesson explores an exercise called Hopes & Fears.
Read more on Design Thinking Toolkit, Activity 13 – Hopes & Fears…