Jakob Nielsen's 10 general principles for interaction design. They are called "heuristics" because they are broad rules of thumb for UX and not specific usability guidelines.
Empathy maps help UX teams visualize user attitudes and behaviors, building a shared understanding of end users while highlighting gaps in existing user data.
Modern day UX research methods answer a wide range of questions. To know when to use which method, each of 20 methods is mapped across 3 dimensions and over time within a typical product-development process.
User interviews have become a popular technique for getting user feedback, mainly because they are fast and easy. Use them to learn about users’ perceptions of your design, not about its usability.
User journeys and user flows both describe processes users go through in order to accomplish their goals, but they differ in scope, purpose, and format.
iOS 26’s visual language obscures content instead of letting it take the spotlight. New (but not always better) design patterns replace established conventions.
Elaborate usability tests are a waste of resources. The best results come from testing no more than 5 users and running as many small tests as you can afford.
In a card-sorting study, users organize topics into groups. Use this research method to create an information architecture that suits your users' expectations.
UX Theatre, coined by Tanya Snook, is the act of performatively using UX frameworks without achieving impact. It’s caused by unclear goals, shaky methods, weak evidence, poor insight adoption, and skipping testing.
Moving from graphic design to UX doesn’t mean starting over. Most core skills are directly transferable and serve as a strong foundation to become a great UX designer.
UX maps clarify complexity but are often presented poorly. Prepare audiences by communicating early, speaking plainly, and focusing on collaborative outcomes.
When designs get rejected in dev review, missing specs are often the culprit. A solid spec covers layout, interactions, requirements, and project scope.
Storytelling isn't just for communicators — it's central to user research. Stories help uncover insights, make findings intelligible, and drive team action.
No design is perfect on the first try. Combining iteration, parallel design, and competitive testing helps teams move quickly, explore broadly, and make confident, evidence-based design decisions.
