Spotify Push notifications are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they’re direct lines to a user’s attention, offering immediacy and relevance. On the other hand, they’re intrusive, demanding consideration in an already attention-saturated world. For a platform like Facebook, where notifications range from friend requests to event invites to specific mentions of friends, optimizing...
Continue readingDesigning a Compelling News Site for Today’s Generation
Spotify Understanding How Millennials (and Gen Z) Consume and Share News In a world of headlines competing for swipes, taps, and fleeting attention spans, designing a modern news experience isn’t just about content; it’s about culture. Today’s consumers don’t just read the news; they react to it, share it, comment on it, and remix...
Continue readingGoPro Needs a New iPhone App: Why UX is Holding Back the Experience
Spotify GoPro has built a brand around adventure. It’s the go-to camera for athletes, travelers, and creators who want to capture the moment in all its high-octane glory. But for a product that lives at the bleeding edge of action, the iPhone app experience feels… stuck. The GoPro hardware is incredible. The footage is...
Continue readingTacking Toward Excellence: What Sailboat Racing Teaches Us About UX
Spotify I was sailing in the annual Red Grant Regatta when I made two epic mistakes. The kind that don’t just slow you down — they potentially cost us second place. We were on track to take second place overall. But a bad tack and an override that trumps all overrides turned a strong...
Continue readingRunning a Research and UX Department: Making It Hum
Spotify Leading a Research and UX department is a lot like conducting an orchestra. Each section, user research, UX design, UI design, content strategy, and accessibility, plays a vital role. When every player is tuned, in sync, and working with clear direction, the result isn’t just output; it’s synergy. It’s harmony. It’s momentum. It’s...
Continue readingThe Unsung Hero: Why Empathy is the Cornerstone of Great UX
Spotify In the bustling world of product development, where deadlines loom and features multiply, it’s easy to get lost in the technicalities. We talk about wireframes, prototypes, analytics, and agile sprints. Yet, amidst the jargon and methodologies, one fundamental principle often gets overlooked, despite being the bedrock of truly exceptional user experiences: empathy. Empathy...
Continue readingThe Unsung Heroes of Patagonia: A Buttoned-Up Tale of Textile Triumph and UX Nirvana
Spotify Ah, the humble button. Often overlooked, frequently frustrating, yet utterly essential. But what if I told you there’s a company out there that has elevated the button, not just to a functional fastener, but to an art form? A company whose meticulous approach to securing a tiny disc of shell or metal to...
Continue readingThe Role of UX Professionals: Strategy, Careers, and the Evolution of Research
Spotify UX has matured from a misunderstood discipline into a core driver of product success, customer loyalty, and business strategy. It’s no longer a nice-to-have. It’s the foundation of how users experience your brand, and more importantly, how your business sustains growth. Today, UX professionals wear many hats. We are researchers, strategists, content designers,...
Continue readingDesigning for Specific User Groups: From Patient Portals to Inclusive Apps
Spotify Designing a great digital experience is never one-size-fits-all. Yet too often, products are built for the “average user”, a persona that doesn’t exist. When you design for everyone, you usually end up creating for no one in particular. Real-world users come with specific needs, limitations, and expectations. That’s especially true when creating experiences...
Continue readingMastering the 3 C’s of UX Writing: Clarity, Conciseness, and Consistency
Spotify Behind every intuitive interface is a writer making deliberate choices. UX writing is not just about inserting microcopy into a layout. It is about guiding users with intention, building trust, and reducing confusion. The 3 C’s of UX Writing, Clarity, Conciseness, and Consistency, are not buzzwords. They are essential principles that separate a...
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