Ambition’s Post

A Future Take on the Design Industry, Based on Current Trends: ⮑ Oversaturated Market and Rates: The market is, and will continue to be flooded with designers emerging from bootcamp culture. Solidifying low day rates and supercharging an increasing trend of outsourcing to offshore design teams. This is already happening in large organisations. ⮑ AI Tooling Impact: The recent integration of Figma AI will enable designers to produce new propositions at an unprecedented pace. This will drive market competition to peak levels, lowering the entry barriers for businesses and providing consumers with more choices. ⮑ The Rise of Synthetic Users: Businesses will increasingly rely on synthetic users for insight, resulting in a majority of them failing by not building the right thing for real humans. ⮑ Evolving Roles for Designers: Experienced designers will transition into product, design, and service owner roles, overseeing delivery. This could be our one saving grace. ⮑ AI Limitations with Enterprise Tools: AI will not yet be capable of creating complex enterprise tools. Senior designers will oversee these systems and services, with delivery outsourced. ⮑ Sprints: Sprints will be used to drive rapid progress and collaboration, becoming a primary use for office spaces within a hybrid work culture. New types of sprints, such as Strategy, Service, and Delivery sprints, will facilitate quick decision-making among stakeholders and workers across organisations. ⮑ Another Rise in Mentorship: An increase of poorly educated junior designers will lead to greater demand for mentorship services like Adplist. Expect more of these services to emerge. ⮑ The Design 'Winter': The culmination of these trends will lead to a 'design winter' where we are on the outside, design thinking will be a thing of the past. When many businesses and organisations fail, it will highlight a need for real research, genuine design, and leaders who understand how to achieve effective outcomes. The cycle will begin again. Discuss. #Predictions #Future #Design #UX #ServiceDesign #ProductDesign #Researchers #UI #Product 

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio: In 2024, I transformed from a designer into a product leader - proving that evolution isn't just about adding new skills, but about finding new ways to create impact. Just like in UX design, sometimes the best innovations come from rethinking the entire user journey. This year, I reimagined my own professional journey: Key Milestones: → Promoted to Product Manager at Vconnct → Completed Google Project Management certification → Earned ALX AI Career Essentials certification → Maintained a successful Senior Graphic Designer role → Completed Google UX Design certification Three insights that resonated with our community: "This incredible journey has deepened my understanding of AI and its applications, equipping me with the skills to leverage artificial intelligence in various business contexts." On completing ALX AI certification and embracing the future of product development "As a designer, I've learned that knowing what not to do in UX is just as important as knowing best practices." On the critical balance of design knowledge "Starting out in UI/UX design? Here are some of the best free platforms to kickstart your journey!" On democratizing design education and sharing knowledge Looking ahead: 2025 will be about integrating AI innovations into our product development process while championing user-centered design principles. The intersection of AI and UX presents exciting opportunities to create more intuitive, personalized experiences. To every designer looking to expand their impact: Your design thinking skills are your superpower in product leadership. Trust them. #ProductManagement #UXDesign #AIinProduct #2024Wrapped #LinkedInRewind -- Get your 2024 LinkedIn Rewind! Go to coauthor.studio

Product design is an exciting but challenging field. Designers often encounter various pain points that can hinder the creative process and impact the final product's success. Here are a few common challenges: - Iteration Speed: Rapid prototyping and iteration are crucial, but time-consuming manual adjustments can slow down the process. - Collaboration: Coordinating with cross-functional teams can be difficult, especially when feedback loops are lengthy and communication is fragmented. - Consistency: Ensuring design consistency across various components and screens is vital but often challenging, especially in large projects. Figma's new AI implementation is poised to revolutionize the way designers approach product design by addressing these pain points head-on: - Enhanced Iteration: AI-powered suggestions and automations speed up the iteration process, allowing designers to focus more on creativity and less on repetitive tasks. - Streamlined Collaboration: AI can help synthesize feedback from different stakeholders, making integrating diverse perspectives easier and maintaining project momentum. - Improved Consistency: AI-driven tools can automatically ensure design consistency, reducing the need for manual checks and revisions. As someone currently in the process of learning Figma, this new AI feature is a game-changer. The integration of AI in Figma can alleviate some of the most common pain points in product design, enabling the creation of more innovative and user-centric products faster and more efficiently. Embracing these advancements can elevate design processes to new heights, fostering innovation and efficiency in the field. #ProductDesign #Figma #AI #Innovation #DesignThinking

Today, Susan casually said "Your job title starts with the user" and I had to think about it again. This statement made me think of why the #designthinking framework focuses greatly on collaboration between designers and users, it also aims to bring innovative solutions to life based on how real users think, feel and behave. As much as the process can be tailored to your team's goals and solutions, it's imperative not to rush over the early stages because it helps you lay a solid foundation for whatever solution you are designing. This week, I learnt better ways to craft "user need" and "how might we" statements. This is a phase that's usually skipped or rushed over to get into the user interface design itself, especially if you work with small organizations or early-stage startups that have strict and tight deadlines. However, I've come to understand that as a #UXDesigner, if I truly seek to achieve a balance between users' experiences and business success, then I have to ensure I lay a proper foundation in my #research and #ideation phase. It's been amazing to put off my known ways and methods of researching, ideating and designing to learn, use and adapt to even better ways. And this is what my journey as a designer has been in the past month. I'll be leaving you with 3 key things that stood out for me from today's session about crafting these statements. 1️⃣ Speak facts, insights, and data only. 2️⃣ Let your statements be simple and concise, and do away with every form of ambiguity. 3️⃣ HMW statements especially should help you picture ideas in your mind. You should be able to envision ideas from your how might we questions. I'm thrilled about the learnings I've gained at the #DODODesignMentorship, but I'm even more excited to integrate them into my day-to-day work as a #productdesigner. 🚀🚀

Notes from a PM: Bringing Design and Data Together As a product manager, I often find myself at the intersection of design, data, and storytelling. My most recent project at Hack4Impact has been an incredible example of this: designing our Social Impact Report to showcase how we're driving change through technology and collaboration. The Vision - The goal was clear. Create a report that's both visually engaging and data-driven, demonstrating our impact for nonprofit partners and the students who build projects with us. But execution required balancing creativity and analytics, aligning diverse teams, and keeping the focus on our audience. My Approach - Clarify the Story: I worked closely with stakeholders to define the "why" behind the report. Who are we speaking to? What do they need to see, and how can we make it resonate? Collaborate with Design: With our UX teammates, I pulled inspiration from industry leaders like Girls Who Code to craft layouts that work as both a webpage and a downloadable PDF. Turn Data into Insights: I partnered with analytics to feature metrics like retention, diversity, and projects completed to ensure the numbers supported a compelling narrative. Iterating for Impact: Early sketches and Figma mockups were essential for refining ideas and encouraging collaboration across teams. The Takeaway - This project reinforced a critical lesson: impactful design doesn't just happen, it's the result of alignment, iteration, and a clear understanding of your audience. I love being a PM because it places me at the center of that process, helping turn ideas into experiences that connect with people. What's your approach to bringing design and data together? Let's share strategies and ideas! #ProductManagement #DesignThinking #UXDesign #SocialImpact #MetricsThatMatter #NonprofitTech #TechLeadership #UserExperience #DataStorytelling

🤔 Have you watched Ansh Mehra's latest video on "Wil AI replace Designers?" 🤖 🎥 It's packed with insights that every designer need to know! 💡 Key Highlights: 🔍 New Figma features - Figma AI, Create prototyping links, Rename layers, Figma slides, ui3. 👉 Their impact - Figma AI is helping us save time using the tools, but understanding of our subject still remains our own responsibility. ♻ Important cycle - Human thinks > Human prompts > AI gives result > Human validates > Human builds on top of the output. 👣 Actionable steps - 👉 Focus on understanding UX & Don't feel anxious of AI 👉 Recognize and learn to define, write and validate AI outputs 👉 Prioritize learning about AI. 😬 Will UX designers exist? Or Will companies need UX designers? Yes, They will need product designers but not for the same responsibilities. UX designers all across the world will be expected to become great writers, speakers and thinkers. 👀 What to do next? 👉 Plan for just 30 days 👉 If you want to achieve something extraordinary in your career, create a 60 days upskilling syllabus for yourself. 🌚 Framework - UPLIFT Understanding, Planning, Learning, Implementing, Focusing, Testing. 🎯 3 strategies to upskill yourself : 👉 Take care of your health 👉 Focus on learning, writing & speaking 👉 Build in public. 🌟 3rd level of Leverage - The simple answer is Access! Who knows you and how visible are you? Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned professional, these insights are a must-watch to remain relevant in our ever-evolving field! 💫 Check out his video now! 👍 Stay calm and evolve while everyone is panicking. Happy Designing! ✨ #UXDesign #FutureOfDesign #CreativeDesign #CareerGrowth #DesignWithAI

Hey LinkedIn fam! 👋 As a developer, I've come to realize that design thinking isn't just for designers – it's a game-changer for all of us in the tech industry, and beyond. Let's dive in! 🎨 Empathy First: Design thinking encourages us to step into the shoes of our users. By truly understanding their needs, frustrations, and desires, we can build products that resonate and solve real problems. 💡 Innovation Catalyst: have you ever hit a roadblock in your coding journey? Design thinking can help us break through those barriers by fostering creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. 🔍 Problem-Solving Superpower: Whether it's debugging code or optimizing user experiences, design thinking equips us with a structured approach to problem-solving. 👥 Collaboration Cornerstone: Collaboration lies at the heart of design thinking. By bringing together diverse perspectives and skill sets, we can tackle challenges from all angles and create truly impactful solutions. 💼 Career Booster: In today's fast-paced tech landscape, adaptability and agility are key. Embracing design thinking not only enhances our technical skills but also boosts our marketability as versatile professionals. To gain more insights into design thinking you can check out these works : 1. "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman for some eye-opening insights on user-centric design. 2. Tim Brown's "Change by Design" is a fantastic read on how design thinking fuels innovation in unexpected ways. 3. "Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation" by Idris Mootee is a comprehensive guide that delves into the problem-solving methodologies of design thinking. So, fellow developers, let's embrace design thinking as a powerful tool in our arsenal. Together, we can create products that not only function flawlessly but also resonate deeply with our users. Let's innovate, collaborate, and design for a brighter future! #DesignThinking #Innovation #TechLife #collaboration #tech #design #uiux #developercommunity #developer #userexperience #frontenddevelopement Feel free to drop your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below! Let's keep the conversation going. 👇

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio: 2024: The year design and AI danced – sometimes in sync, sometimes stepping on each other's toes. But isn't that how innovation happens? As a design leader, I've watched our craft transform faster than ever. Two decades of experience taught me that technology doesn't replace creativity – it amplifies it. This year at diconium, I've been exploring how AI can be a design collaborator, not just a tool. Key moments that shaped my journey: • Obtained AI for Product Management certification from Pendo.io – proving that continuous learning isn't just a checkbox, it's a mindset • Completed my first full year as UX Creative Director, bridging enterprise software needs with human-centered design • Continued mentoring through ADPList, because the best way to understand technology is to help others navigate it • Contributed to Portugal's creative ecosystem, reminding myself that innovation is a collective effort Three posts that seemed to resonate most with our design community: 1. "A continua evolução da criatividade em Portugal obriga-nos a nós designers, a contribuir sempre que requisitado" - Reflecting on designers' role in driving creative evolution https://lnkd.in/d8D2GP96 2. "AI just arrived but it's already doomed or are we?" - A critical look at AI's impact on design and society https://lnkd.in/dUAYNdtj 3. Exploring the delicate balance between design skills and business understanding https://lnkd.in/dauRRZmR Looking ahead to 2025: The goal isn't to replace human creativity with AI, but to create a symbiotic relationship where technology enhances our most human capabilities. To my fellow designers: Stay curious, stay human, and never stop learning. #AIinDesign #DesignLeadership #UX #LinkedInRewind #2024wrapped #PortugueseDesign -- Get your 2024 LinkedIn Rewind! Go to coauthor.studio

I enjoyed synthesizing our team's insights from #Config2024 (there were a lot 😅). After the conference, Thinkers shared their thoughts on AI, design systems, human-centered design, and more. Ultimately, all underscoring the importance of intentional design. Check out the blog post. 💭 #Figma #IntentionalDesign #UX #AI Figma

You know those notifications we get like: "you're one of the few selected specialists..." and then they throw a challenge at you to write about? Well, I got a little carried away with one of those. The challenge was: "You're facing a client pushing for quick results in UX research. How do you ensure quality isn't compromised?" Since everything I wrote didn’t fit the character count there, I'm leaving it here. ✍ In my experience, having a transparent backlog tied to an agile methodology can help manage expectations and align priorities with stakeholders. However, when time is tight, the focus needs to shift to how we plan and conduct the research itself. I think time is, and always will be, a challenge when it comes to research, but the integrity of research goes far beyond the timeline you're working with. In fact, a longer timeline doesn't necessarily guarantee reliable research. Reliability, to me, comes from thoughtful planning and smart execution. I believe the first step in maintaining quality under pressure is to clearly define the research OKRs. Since time is a limiting factor, we must be precise about what we need to learn, focusing on the most critical questions that align with business goals and user needs. Prioritization here is essential to ensure the research delivers maximum value. Next, building a solid foundation is key. This means selecting the research method that best fits the OKRs and delivers actionable insights quickly. It’s also important to develop a concise roadmap or script that will guide the research and ensure efficiency, covering essential tasks or user flows while avoiding unnecessary complexities. Finally, I would leverage technology to expedite the process without compromising quality. Automated tools, such as remote usability platforms and A/B testing frameworks, can speed up data collection and analysis. Additionally, AI-driven tools can streamline tasks like survey analysis or even generate report decks, allowing researchers to focus on interpreting findings. Of course, all outputs will be reviewed and validated by the researcher to ensure the integrity and reliability of the results. In summary, I believe that with the right planning, focus on what we want to know, and a touch of technology, we can maintain the integrity of UX research even when time is tight. #UXResearch #UserExperience #ProductDesign #OKRs