Code: Tools

When you’re participating in large stakeholder meetings, using analog UX strategy tools can often be a helpful and fun means of clarifying and working through a product, problem, user goals, or business goals. In this article, I’ll explain some benefits of using analog tools during large meetings and workshops, as well as how to encourage people’s participation and develop a shared understanding among everyone who is involved.

Discovering Analog Tools

From concept to execution, using hands-on tools throughout the UX design process can improve collaboration, communication, and the organization of your ideas in ways that digital tools cannot. For example, when kicking off a project, using simple sticky notes to post your ideas on a wall can offer huge benefits. In his book Change by Design, Tim Brown, CEO of the design and innovation company IDEO, recommends using sticky notes because they allow a group of people to agree on solutions when many possibilities exist. People bring their unique knowledge and expertise to the table, and using sticky notes lets you organize large amounts of information concisely, while keeping a meeting fun and interesting. Read More

The right tool makes all the difference in UX and user-interface (UI) design. With hundreds of tools available on the market, selecting the right ones to meet your needs can be challenging. Here’s a look at the top 20 essential tools for UX designers, along with their strengths and drawbacks.

My Framework for Evaluation

I’ll analyze these tools based on five main criteria:

1. Functionality—Core features and capabilities
2. Ease of use—How easy the tool is for new users to learn and use
3. Collaboration features—How well the tool supports team collaboration
4. Integrations—The tool’s compatibility with other tools
5. Value for money—Free or paid—and whether the features justify the price

Let’s get started! Read More

Picture this: You’re starting a new app-design project, and instead of initially staring at a blank screen, you have AI tools at your behest that can generate wireframes that are tailored to your project’s requirements. These layouts aren’t random—they’re based on your users’ data, tailored to users’ preferences, and aligned with what’s working within your industry domain right now. Throughout your design process, an AI can suggest real-time tweaks that are based on user-behavior patterns, helping you refine a product’s design at lightning speed.

This isn’t some distant future—it’s happening now. AI is fast becoming a UX designer’s best teammate, helping us work faster, think smarter, and create more meaningful user experiences. Read More