Matthew Stephens

With the rapid adoption curve of AI, users are expecting more ‘magic' from their digital tools and products. Great piece here about the relevancy and reframing of the value of design when building a non-deterministic digital experience: “Sophistication, in prompting, comes from deeply understanding the user — their attitudes and behaviours towards this experience — and integrating that knowledge into the prompt. This is even more important than with traditional software interactions because of the open-ended nature of conversational experiences. As noted by designer, Emily Campbell, “the more autonomy that users have to direct computers to their personal whim, the better they will expect computers to understand them and anticipate their needs.” Logan Kilpatrick, head of developer relations for OpenAI, boils it down to “context.” The model needs context to do its perform a specific task well. This makes prompting an “inherently human” task because it requires that we understand the nuances of what people are trying to achieve.”

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Sharing my thoughts on the power of spatial computing for data visualization and the design of digital interfaces. Using and prototyping on the Apple #VisionPro has felt like a window into the future of computing, one where information is “set free.” In this article I explore how the rise of AI and spatial computing is poised to revolutionize the way we interact with and understand data. #immersivedata #uxdesign #spatialcomputing #datavisualization

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Remember when people couldn't connect *enough* with others in the beginning of the pandemic? We hopped into virtual groups so much that we experienced zoom fatigue. And now, in 2024, connection feels like it's the new ankle sock?? Iykyk. I met Rachel, indirectly, in one of those networking zooms, and we didn't really speak after that because, life, but when I saw her posting about a design book club meetup, something inside me said: "Hm... you love reading, maybe you should go to that." SO, I didn't sign up and forgot about it. But, then, the day of, she posted about it again and I bit the bullet. I am SO glad I did— I got to turn someone from being a stream of linkedin posts into a 3D human being, I got to meet other cool people, have cerebral and intellectual conversation around design and the state of the world, and I discovered that Johnny Pastrami is actually amazing?! (Also, why didn't my team ever tell me about this place when we talk about food all the time?? Performance reviews will now include: met all expectations but failed me in the UX of our bonding.) If you're on the fence about going outside of your comfort zone, I hope this post reminds you of how exciting and rewarding even the smallest steps over that line can be. And great food is probably waiting there.

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The "design economy" -- wherein value is largely created by those employed in design roles -- is in full swing. You can see this writ large in just about every industry, from consumer electronics to IT and apps, to energy, automotive, healthcare, and even the marketing and ads in those industries. Every time you curse at your HR or healthcare provider's app for being clunky, it's because it likely wasn't designed well...and hence conveys less value to you. If you're interested in having this discussion, look no further than these two terrific San Francisco Design Week events: Attention: A Design x Venture Panel with Founders & Funders - https://lnkd.in/gPyc4Ui5 Shifting the Venture Status Quo Workshop - https://lnkd.in/gKRe2gND

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It pays to invest in UX! Need proof? Some quick stats to reference in our latest blog (and infographic for those visual learners ;))

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My takeaway: same story as with other "copilot" applications. A designer using Figma's AI features > a designer not using Figma's AI features. Automate mundane design tasks and enable designers to focus on higher-order activities. ⚡

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The simple shift from weakness-based product strategy to strengths-based can be a game changer for the trajectory of your product.

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Exciting news from Dupla Studios! We've shared one of the key differentiators of our design process: experience metaphors! By tying an entire experience together with a familiar metaphor, we've made the most complex systems approachable and intuitive to people. Want faster onboarding and higher retention rates? Check out our latest video and let us know what you think! https://lnkd.in/gVEHeZpm #designprocess #experiencemetaphors #userexperience

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AI chatbots are transforming healthcare, disrupting everything from disease diagnosis to patient support. I have taken a look at Flo, a leading female health app using a chatbot to collect symptoms, guide users along their health journey, and provide informational support. A few insights: - Flo uses clear & simple navigation with pre-programmed categories; - They use prior user data such as symptoms logged to tailor conversation starters; - Flo keeps users engaged with infographics, and illustrations that explain complex topics clearly. More: https://lnkd.in/ePY-Yu96

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Just released a new episode of the Future of UX podcast with Emily Campbell, the innovative mind behind Shapes of AI. We had a fantastic chat about how design and AI are coming together in exciting ways. In this episode, we dive into: 🌟 User-Centric AI Design: Emily shares her approach to creating AI applications that are functional and deeply empathetic. 🤖 Ethical AI: We discuss why it’s so important to design AI systems that are responsible and ethical. 🚀 Future Trends: We explore what's on the horizon for AI and UX design. Emily’s insights are incredibly inspiring, and I think you’ll find a lot of value in our discussion. You can find the link to the episode in the comments! How do you see AI impacting the future of UX design? Drop your thoughts below! 💬 #UXDesign #AI #FutureofTech #Podcast #ShapesofAI #DesignInnovation #TechTrends

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A terrific intro into how AI code generation is reshaping the UI design process. Food for thought for back end engineers, you might be able to boldly go into trying hands-on front end design, the tools are making it a lot easier! Not clear how sophisticated these AI-based UIs can get, but it's definitely something to get familiar with.

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Pivot or persevere? 🧐 When you hit a roadblock during product development, deciding whether to stay the course or make a strategic shift can be tough. . As #product expert Dan Olsen says – it's a balancing act. Quitting too early might mean missing out on untapped potential. Bit being overly attached to your vision can blind you to the need for change. Every #startup #founder grapples with this question, repeatedly. So how DO you strike the right balance? To find out, watch this: https://lnkd.in/gkcD8qFs #productdesign #productdevelopment #adaptability #feedback

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Will AI Diminish Our Capacity for Critical Thinking? Google's new "AI Overview" feature, which compiles search results using AI, has been dishing out some inaccurate—and even dangerous—advice. For instance, suggesting mixing glue into cheese to prevent it from sliding off pizza, or using mustard gas to sanitize a washing machine! Extreme examples like these make people pause, but other incorrect results or AI hallucinations may not be given a second thought. In his book, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, Nicholas Carr argues that the internet’s constant stream of information and demand for multitasking encourages a superficial approach to information processing, leading to scattered thinking and diminishing our capacity for deep thought and contemplation. Critical thinking involves intentionally evaluating information, ideas, or situations from different perspectives to understand and decide how to act on them. Design involves people—their inputs, opinions, and feedback—and critical thinking plays a crucial role in the entire design process. Designers are always asking questions, seeking evidence, and striving to understand deeply. Faced with a design opportunity or “problem,” they don’t dive into a solution without first understanding the real problem, which may lie layers below the surface. How can you think critically? - Apply designerly curiosity: Ask "why," "how," and "what if" questions to delve deeper into ideas, arguments, and situations. - Analyze information: Break it down into smaller parts, identify key points, evidence, and assumptions. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources. - Consider multiple perspectives: Train yourself to view issues from different viewpoints to gain a more comprehensive understanding, balance your view of a topic, and recognize potential biases. Developing critical thinking is an ongoing process that takes time and practice. Start by incorporating these techniques into your daily life. Gradually, you'll find yourself becoming more adept at analyzing information, making informed decisions, and engaging with complex ideas. Think Critically! Stay ahead by honing essential #designerly skills, behaviors, and habits: - Follow me here on LinkedIn for regular insights and tips on mastering these skills. - Subscribe to my #BeingDesignerly newsletter for exclusive content, practical advice, and early access to updates about my upcoming book on designerly skills. Elevate your design career and stay competitive. Don’t miss out—follow and subscribe today! Link in comments. #UX #Design #CriticalThinking

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When I first getting started as a designer one of the toughest things to figure out was... *dun dun dun* spacing. 😁 Found this great video today, that I think should provide clarity if you are a junior designer or serve as a great reference for someone more experienced. Leave a like 👍 or comment if this helps you out! #uxdesign #uidesign #productdesign https://lnkd.in/gW8qQTHS

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How do you use data in design? Here’s an interesting perspective: data can be a source of power. That's from Wendy Owen, who leads design for Facebook at Meta. Wendy describes using data (of all kinds) as a source of power to build her intuition and create better conversations across the team. I like the different ways she talks about data and the different sources she considers (observational, behavioral, etc). The variety reminds me of Tommy Geoco's “Shapes of Work” concept. Full interview in the comments. #design

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Excited about supercharging your design team? 🌟 Don't miss our April Gather & Grow webinar! Learn how DesignOps can transform your design crew into your brand’s MVP and drive sustainable ROI. 🚀 Join Aletheia Delivre from Zapier, Jasmine Price from Airbnb, and Kim Marchant from JPMorgan Chase & Co as they dive into strategies for keeping that creative spark alive, seamlessly integrating brand and product, and why embracing progress over perfection matters. Plus, get insights on leveraging AI for feedback and shifting from centralized to distributed teams effectively. Ready to elevate your design game? Sign up now and let's make magic happen together! ✨ #DesignOps #Webinar #CreativeMomentum

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Q: How will AI affect Design? Will it commoditise the boring bits, leaving time and space for designers to shine? Or will it just usher in a new "age of average"? Off Script 4 is live today, featuring Emmet Connolly. It is a *brilliant* episode, a must watch https://lnkd.in/dwQKCrAY

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💡 Great insights in todays Gather and Grow DesignOps talk hosted by Kae Neskovic with thanks to Diana Kolesarova - both from #Superside - featuring Aletheia D., Jasmine Price, and Kim Marchant. ❣ Particularly love Aletheia's take on strategic considerations of implementing AI - it shouldn't focus on solely automating administrative functions. It's about evaluating how humans will react to and benefit from such an automation. Sometimes, it might be important to automate a creative act. It's all about enhancing the experience of the Designer. #designops #productdesigner #skwair

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🌟 How I Build a GSD Culture 🌟 I’ve led multiple companies with one mission: GSD (Get Stuff Done). Here’s what worked, what sucked, and how you can do it too. Where GSD Kicked Ass 🌟 🔹 Full Autonomy: When I could rip the band-aid off and make bold moves, we crushed it. Fast pivots, big wins. 🔹 Visibility: Get the hell out of your office. Sit with marketing, sales, engineering—wherever the action is. Listen, observe, lead by example. People notice. 🔹 Lead by Doing: Show, don’t tell. I rolled up my sleeves and showed the team how it’s done. This “monkey see, monkey do” approach turned everyone into doers. I was the lead monkey! 🐵 Where GSD Flopped 🚧 🔹 Spreadsheet Slaves: Leaders stuck in spreadsheets and offices killed GSD. Visibility is everything. 🔹 People-Pleasers: Democracy is great, but not when it leads to indecision. Strong leaders who balance input with action are crucial. 🔹 Bureaucratic Hell: Red tape suffocates GSD. Cutting through the BS is necessary but tough. How I Did It 🚀 Get Out There: Don’t be a desk jockey. Be where your teams are, use your ears to listen and your eyes to see. Help out, and let them see you GSD. Lead by Example: Be the action hero. Show what you expect. Gain trust through doing, not talking. Nobody wants to hear you ramble; they want to see you hustle. Surround Yourself with Doers: Action attracts action. When people see stuff getting done, they’ll want in. Build a team of GSDers, and watch the magic happen. Creating a GSD culture means being visible, decisive, and action-oriented. Inspire through action and make GSD the norm. Now, go GSD, my friends! 🚀 hashtag #teamGSD

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