What makes some designs good and others bad? Why do some designs work while others don’t? Posts in this category offer thoughtful design critiques of modern digital interfaces, with commentary inspired by Don Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things.”
Procreate is known by digital artists worldwide. Its low one-time only cost, as well as a lack of subscription service, makes it a popular choice among users who simply want to create digital art on the go. It’s often used for drawing illustrations, designing logos, creating custom brushes, and even animating!
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The StoryGraph is a web-based book cataloging platform created by Nadia Odunayo in 2019 that serves as an alternative to Amazon’s Goodreads. Users can log their reading progress, set challenges, and view statistics, among other social features.
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In this post, we’ll look at Spotify’s podcast features, using the popular show “Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain” as a case study. We’ll analyze these features not as mere enhancements, but as essential design solutions when viewed through the lens of the Social and Functional Solutions models of disability.
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The Daytech Smart Caregiver Pager System helps the elderly, people with seizure disorders and people with chronic illnesses. It mostly follows the social and functional models by reducing social barriers within the household and by relying on innovative technology to eliminate limitations. It consists of a wearable call button that users press when they need assistance and a receiver that alerts caregivers of their needs.
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Discogs is a music database and trading platform beloved by vinyl collectors. Its iOS app enables users to search, organize, and purchase records anytime, anywhere. Though adapted from an older web interface to align with modern user habits, the app still carries a distinct sense of its operational logic’s “vintage feel.” As a platform that
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Amazon Kindle is an app that allows readers access to a variety of digital content, including options such as books, magazines, and even newspapers. With syncing across devices, allowing users to pick up where they just were on any device as long as the account remains the same. However, the home page has sections that can be improved upon in order to enhance the user experience.
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The NJ Transit Mobile App is an application designed to be a one-stop shop for people traveling via the New Jersey Transit system, whether on train, light rail, or bus. It gives users the ability to buy tickets, plan trips, receive alerts, and more.
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Adidas Running is a fitness tracker that logs workouts, maps routes, and records performance data such as pace, calories, and distance. With adaptive training plans, progress tracking, and social features like community groups and challenges, it supports beginners and experienced athletes in setting goals, staying motivated, and advancing their fitness journeys. Home Screen and Start
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Strava is a popular iOS mobile application that enables athletes to record and post their workouts, such as running, hiking, and swimming, and connect with a community of people who share a passion for fitness. Users will use their phones and/or smartwatches to track their activities, post the exercise on Strava, and receive back various
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When assistive tech gives you your voice back Losing one’s voice is not just a medical condition, it’s a loss of identity. For people with ALS, cerebral palsy, throat cancer, or other conditions that affect speech, communication can be a challenge. Traditional speech – generating devices often use generic, robotic voices. Even though these voices
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