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10 years of Google Material Design
Google Material, also known as Material Design, is a design system developed by Google in 2014. It was Google’s comprehensive design system/framework to create good UX and UI designs. It aims to create a unified, consistent user experience across various devices, platforms, and screen sizes. It’s 10 years old and has evolved a lot in…
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Web forms placeholder text – Don’t use it!
I found a great resource that explains with excellent examples why we shouldn’t use web forms placeholder text as field labels. “Placeholders are popular because they save space and have a minimalist aesthetic. But using placeholder text for labels or even just hint text is problematic.” I often explain to people that what is most…
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Designing for neurodivergence: Software accessibility and ADHD
Digital accessibility is important for many reasons and its importance is only growing. Yet defining what accessibility means, or what the application of universal accessibility principles look like when designing for neurodivergence, is really challenging. I believe that many people use WCAG compliance checkers to test their work for technical compliance. That’s a good start,…
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Designing Progress Trackers
I’m working on a progress tracker for a service within a larger application environment and am looking at ways to incorporate this component into the existing pattern. I want to design a progress tracker that both looks good and also enhances the user experience by making a specific process clear. Here are key factors I’m…
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Accessibility resource: The A11Y Project
The A11Y Project is a community-driven effort to make digital accessibility easier. It’s full of resources, information and context for people in different roles to help them create more accessible digital products and experiences. Summary of the The A11Y Project: Visit the A11y Project for more
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Don’t break the rules… Checkboxes Are Square; Radio Buttons Are Round
Hey you (Apple included)! Don’t break established design principles! This public service announcement comes from Jakob Nielsen in a recent UX Roundup newsletter. He essentially says that square pegs and round holes don’t mix: Why you shouldn’t change design principles It is important to follow established UI principles to ensure usability, consistency, and intuitive interaction…
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Figma course – Introduction to design systems
A colleague forwarded me this link to a free Figma course, which I am saving for future reference. It’s a course that’s all about design systems. It’s also apparently for both beginners and experts, so there should be something for everyone! Course description from Figma: “Design systems are a vast and ever-evolving concept, it can…
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AI image generator Midjourney
I attended a virtual “fire side chat” with Jakob Nielsen and Sarah Gibbons recently and heard Jakob mention Midjourney, which I promptly Googled. What is Midjourney AI? Midjourney AI is a generative AI tool and is adept at transforming text inputs/prompts into visually compelling images. Alongside counterparts like Dall-E and Stable Diffusion, it has earned…
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Wired: 17 Tips to Take Your ChatGPT Prompts to the Next Level
At this point, I consider AI to be a useful assistant. I jokingly told a colleague that it’s like a really proficient intern (I was j-o-k-i-n-g – I don’t actually mean that, humans are better than software!). However, AI and ChatGPT Prompts are key to success. I have used AI to help figure out all…
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How to create accessible web products by Digital BC
If you are looking for a resource that articulates the importance of creaing accessible web products to both experienced professionals and those new to digital accesibility, Digital BC has a great resource for you. This accessibility information is part of the Digital BC website from the Government of British Columbia. It provides information and guidance…