Collective UI, why designers quit, responsive Figma variables, 2023 fonts

Spotify’s recent layoff of 1,500 employees, despite positive earnings, signals a shift in how we view roles like UX Research in the tech industry. What are the implications for professionals in non-business crucial roles like ours?

What Spotify’s latest layoff means for UX Research →

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Editor picks

• An exploration in collective interfaces → From personal computing to computing environments.
• Can UX design actually be ethical? → Designing for users of tomorrow without knowing who they are.
• Aging in a tech-driven world → When tech evolution outpaces aging adaptability.

A typography publication’s favorite fonts of 2023 →

Make me?think

• Signals of interface quality → “Quality is the degree to which an object or entity (e.g., process, product, or service) satisfies specific attributes or requirements. The quality of something can be determined by comparing a set of inherent characteristics with a set of requirements.”
• People accomplishing ambitious things together → “The Eiffel Tower was built in 2 years and 2 months; that is, in 793 days. When completed in 1889, it became the tallest building in the world, a record it held for more than 40 years. It cost about $40 million in 2019 dollars.”
• Charge your worth → “I never assumed a client wouldn’t value my work if they couldn’t afford my rates. I knew they were not a good fit for me. As much as I would like to buy a Ferrari SF90 Spider, I wouldn’t value the vehicle’s quality less when I couldn’t afford something at the top of the market. I know it’s not the best decision for my finances, so I look for a cheaper alternative.”

Little gems this?week

Norman Doors: how do we still get this wrong? →

Why designers quit (2023 report) →

Why weirdness is at the center of belonging, diversity, and innovation →

Tools and resources

• Using Figma variables for breakpoints → The hunt to find more use cases for local variables.
• Navigation patterns in mobile applications → How to make the right choice?
• How to negotiate your job offer → Comparing multiple offers and evaluating your compensation.

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