Author: Michelle
Dark patterns are everywhere
Dark patterns are common in websites and apps we use everyday, but they’re sometimes hard to spot because they’re designed to deceive us. Through secretly obtaining personal information and making us do things we don’t want to do, dark patterns can create inconveniences or even serious harms.
Dark Patterns Tip Line’s mission is to change the status quo by advocating for stronger consumer protections and holding companies accountable.
Learn how to spot and report them here >
Signal to noise ratio
Here is my favorite quote from an excellent article by the good folks at UX Collective:
As a designer when someone asks you to “make it pretty” or “do your design thing” what they really mean is “give me a good signal-to-noise ratio.”
Worth the full read here >>
Photo by Khara Woods on Unsplash
We are balloons
Masayoshi Matsumoto is a self taught balloon artist who realistically creates creatures using only balloons!
The COVID sign archives
Although as of this date we are still living this, I thought it would be important to share this ongoing collection of Pandemic Graphics and Covid Posters Archive.
It is a growing list. If you would like to contribute go here >>
Design vs Art
“…imagination has to be tamed to serve a practical purpose. Otherwise, it’s art. Art is a blue-sky venture. Design is a planned activity with specific goals.”
Photo by Carolina Sánchez on Unsplash
If you could redesign covers of books you’ve read
As a personal project (unpublished) graphic designer Jenny Volvovski redesigned covers for books she has read. And if you want to see the covers of books she designed but did not read check out her design agency ALSO here.