In this episode of Cristian Talks Product Design, I sit down with Frankie Kastenbaum, a senior UX designer and content creator, to explore her journey toward a thriving design career. Frankie shares how she found her way into UX design and how she’s navigated her career, sharing valuable tips along the way.

Frankie offers actionable advice on job searching in today’s competitive market, how to apply for roles beyond your experience level, and the power of leveraging communities like Slack groups to find opportunities. She also talks about the importance of avoiding burnout and maintaining work-life balance as a designer.

We also discuss her recently released UX Portfolio E-Book (The UX Portfolio Sandwich Method)—a practical guide to crafting case studies that capture hiring managers’ attention.

If you're looking for inspiration on breaking into UX, growing your career, or refining your portfolio, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps (Updated)

• [00:00] Introduction & Guest Welcome

• [00:01:40] From Engineering to UX: Frankie's Pivot into UX

• [00:05:00] Entrepreneurship & Frankie's Tees

• [00:10:50] The Role of Bootcamps

• [00:17:00] Landing Early UX Roles & Overcoming Job Search Challenges

• [00:18:20] Job Search Tips and Slack Groups

• [00:24:24] Years of experience and how they impact the job search

• [00:29:20] Agency Vs. Corporate Vs. Freelance

• [00:33:40] Generalists in Today’s Market

• [00:37:50] Avoiding Burnout and Maintaining Work-Life Balance

• [00:44:40] Frankie’s Journey to Sharing UX Career Advice and Content

• [00:46:42] Announcing Frankie's UX Portfolio E-Book

Stay Connected

🔗 Frankie Kastenbaum’s LinkedIn
🔗 Frankie’s UX Website (It's Frankly UX)

Links & Resources Mentioned

📘 Frankie’s UX Portfolio E-Book – The UX Portfolio Sandwich Method
💬 Designer Slack Community – A curated list of Slack groups for UX designers
🗽 The Support Group (NYC UX Community) – A community for designers in and outside NYC🌍 Democracy Lab – A volunteer platform for UX professionals
🛠 UX Rescue – A platform for volunteering and gaining UX experience

Closing Notes

Thanks for tuning in to Cristian Talks Product Design! If you enjoyed this conversation with Frankie, consider subscribing, rating, and sharing the podcast with your network.

To stay updated on future episodes, subscribe to my Substack where I share new podcast episodes, UX insights, and career resources.

See you next time!

What we’re covering today

• Weekly Message

• Must-see AI tools for UX/Product Designers

• Must-Reads for Product Designers in the AI space

• Free Events to Elevate Your Design Skills/Career

My Weekly Message

This week brought some big news with DeepSeek’s breakthrough. While I won’t go into details here, it’s clear this development will make adopting and advancing AI tools much smoother—and that’s exciting for all of us in design!

I’m also thrilled to share that my next podcast guest is Kim Alban! Our conversation sparked a curiosity in me which led me to deep dive into how AI-powered mixed reality could completely transform the way we interact with technology. You’ll see some of those ideas reflected in today’s content, in the meantime stay tuned for for the upcoming episode!

Finally, this marks 25 consecutive weeks of this newsletter. It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I’m so grateful for all of you—whether you’re new here or have been reading since day one. Your engagement and support mean the world to me. Thank you all for being here!

With that, I hope you find value in todays weekly digest.

Let’s dive in!

Innovative Tools That Caught My Eye This Week

This week, I've come across three remarkable tools that blend design and technology in exciting ways. Here's a brief overview of each, along with why I find them intriguing and who might benefit from them.

Jitter: Simplifying Motion Design
A user-friendly motion design tool that enables creators to craft stunning animations effortlessly. With features like one-click animation presets and seamless Figma integration, it streamlines the animation process. I appreciate how Jitter allows for quick exploration of ideas without the complexity of traditional animation software. It's ideal for designers seeking to add dynamic visuals to their projects without a steep learning curve.

Khroma: AI-Powered Color Inspiration
Khroma leverages AI to learn your color preferences and generates limitless personalized palettes. By selecting a set of colors, you train its neural network to produce combinations tailored to your taste. I find Khroma's ability to create infinite color combos and its intuitive search functionality particularly useful. This tool is perfect for designers looking to discover and save unique color schemes efficiently.

VisualEyes: Predictive Design Analytics
A Figma plugin that uses AI to predict user attention on your designs, providing heatmaps and insights to inform design decisions. Its seamless integration makes it easy to validate and refine interfaces. I think this tool is an asset for gaining a better understanding of how users might react to a design without the costly expense of conducting a traditional UXR study. It's perfect for UX/UI designers looking to enhance user engagement through data-driven design.

Must-Reads for Designers Exploring AI & Emerging Tech

This week I’ve handpicked some insightful reads for those of you interested in the intersection of UX design, AI, and emerging technologies like Extended Reality! These reads offer practical tips, forward-looking ideas, and fresh perspectives on the future of user experience design and technology.

Unmoderated User Testing for Conversational Designs
Voiceflow’s guide to unmoderated testing is packed with actionable advice. The key takeaway? Define clear objectives upfront to get the most meaningful insights. Steps like crafting screener questions and post-session surveys stood out as essential for refining conversational designs. If you’re building conversation interfaces, this method is worth trying.

The Future of Mixed Reality in UX Design
This piece on mixed reality (MR) and AI highlights how they’re transforming UX design. What struck me most is the potential for MR to deliver deeply personalized, immersive experiences in fields like retail and education. It’s a reminder that as MR evolves, designers have new tools to create smarter, more engaging interactions.

Agentic AI in Customer Experience
Agentic AI is a shift from reactive to proactive systems, and it’s poised to reshape customer experiences. The article emphasizes how it solves problems, personalizes interactions, and makes real-time decisions for users. This evolution toward seamless, efficient AI-driven experiences is something every designer should keep an eye on.

Curated Free Events to Elevate Your Skills

As January ends, I’ve handpicked these events based on key design trends. Conversational design is growing as organizations adopt AI assistants, making it a must-master skill. Rupa Chaturvedi’s session complements this by encouraging designers to think beyond chatbots and explore the full potential of AI interfaces. Finally, presenting ideas effectively remains essential for designers, and Ian Wharton’s session provides powerful strategies to secure buy-in with confidence. These free sessions are packed with insights to help you stand in 2025.

Conversational AI in 2025: What Every Team Needs to Know

📅 When: January 30th, 2025
⏰ Time: 10 AM EST / 4 PM CET (60 minutes)
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ Sign Up for Free

Join Hans van Dam, Jurgen Gravestein, Michelle Parayil, and special guest Yam Marcovitz for a deep dive into what CX and Conversational AI teams need to know in 2025. You’ll learn about emerging concepts, spot outdated practices, and understand key trends in tech, design, risk, ethics, and skills. Bring your questions for this engaging one-hour session designed to prepare you for what’s ahead.

The Evolution of AI Interfaces: Beyond Chatbots

📅 When: February 4th, 2025
⏰ Time: 12 PM EST (45 minutes)
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ Sign Up for Free

Join Rupa Chaturvedi, Founder of the Human-Centered AI Institute and Stanford lecturer, to explore how AI interfaces have evolved from simple chatbots to complex multimodal systems. You’ll discover key trends shaping AI, learn practical strategies to integrate them into your designs, and get the tools you need to stay ahead in creating intuitive, innovative products.

Why Great Ideas Fail to Get Buy-In

📅 When: February 6th, 2025
⏰ Time: 2 PM EST (30 minutes)
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ Sign Up for Free

Learn how to sell your ideas with confidence in this session with Ian Wharton, Apple Design Award winner and author. You’ll uncover why pitches fail, get tools to navigate tough moments like interruptions or doubts, and master the ‘Surgeon’ technique for delivering your ideas with clarity and precision—helping you secure buy-in from executives, clients, or teams.

Wrapping Up This Week’s Newsletter

That’s it for this week! I hope you found these tools, reads, and events as inspiring and thought-provoking as I did. Whether you're diving into motion design with Jitter, exploring predictive analytics with VisualEyes, or rethinking how AI can transform user experiences, there’s plenty here to spark new ideas.

As always, my goal is to bring you value and keep you ahead of the curve in this ever-evolving design space. If something in this newsletter stood out to you, or if you’ve come across tools, articles, or events worth sharing, I’d love to hear from you—just hit reply!

Until next time, keep experimenting, learning, and designing for the future.

– Cristian

What we’re covering today

• Incase you missed it! Nim’s Podcast

• Must-Reads for Product Designers in the AI space

• Free Events to Elevate Your Design Skills/Career

In Case You Missed It!

Last week on the podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Nimisha Patil, a seasoned AI product designer and founder of Swirly Peak. In this episode, Nim shares her journey from graphic design to launching her own design studio, working with early-stage AI startups, and building impactful AI-powered products.

We talked about everything from navigating startups and running collaborative workshops to the tools and techniques she swears by for ideation, prototyping, and efficiency in design. If you're curious about the intersection of AI and design or need practical takeaways for your own career, this episode is packed with value.

🎧 Tune-in Now: Nimisha Patil’s Journey to Launching Her Design Career

Must-Reads for Product Designers in the AI Space

Here are three insightful reads I’ve curated for anyone exploring the intersection of product design and AI. These resources cover everything from practical frameworks to thought-provoking ideas about AI’s role in shaping user experiences.

Prompt Frames: Structuring Better Interactions with AI
If you’ve ever struggled with designing clear, intuitive AI interactions, this article is a must-read. It introduces the concept of Prompt Frames—a framework for crafting AI prompts that enhance usability and user understanding. Whether you're building conversational interfaces or AI-powered tools, this practical guide offers actionable advice to improve clarity, context, and user satisfaction.

How AI Makes Online Shopping Feel Like a Personal Boutique
This article offers inspiration on how AI can transform e-commerce by creating hyper-personalized shopping experiences. It explores the potential of AI-first applications to curate products, predict needs, and mimic the tailored service of a high-end boutique. If you’re working in retail or exploring ways AI can elevate personalization, this piece is full of creative ideas.

Shaping Minds: How First Impressions Drive AI Adoption
This thought-provoking article dives into the psychology of first impressions in AI adoption. It explores how early interactions with AI systems shape user trust, perceptions, and long-term engagement. For designers building AI tools, it’s an essential read to understand how to create positive first impressions that encourage user adoption and confidence.

Curated Free Events to Elevate Your Skills

As January comes to a close, I’ve handpicked these free events to help you refine your craft, explore new opportunities, and stay ahead in your design career. Whether you’re storytelling your product, adding polish to your prototypes, or navigating the UX job market, these sessions are designed to provide practical value without costing you a dime.😉

Animate Prototype Interactions like a Pro in Figma

📅 When: January 23rd, 2025
⏰ Time: 12 PM EST (30 minutes)
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ Sign Up for Free

Elevate your motion design skills in Figma with Nima Tahami, Co-Founder of ClevrStudio. This 30-minute workshop will teach you how to create smooth interactions using Smart Animate and streamline workflows by adding interactions to components, making your prototypes feel like real apps.

Beyond Big Tech: Companies Hiring for UX Roles in 2025

📅 When: January 28th, 2025
⏰ Time: 12 PM EST (30 minutes)
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ Sign Up for Free

Explore UX opportunities beyond FAANG with Sarah Doody, Founder of Career Strategy Lab. In this 30-minute webinar, discover which industries are hiring, where to find jobs, and quick tips to stand out on LinkedIn—helping you land a role faster with better work-life balance.

How to Map Your Product Story with a Simple Storyboard

📅 When: February 4th, 2025
⏰ Time: 1 PM EST (30 minutes)
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ Sign Up for Free

Join Chris Abad, former Design Director at Google, Dropbox, and Square, for a 30-minute session on using storyboards to clarify your product story. You’ll learn how to define your narrative flow, sketch ideas quickly, and align teams before going high-fidelity—saving time and ensuring a sharper message.

Wrapping Up

Thank you for joining me for this week’s issue of the Cristian Talks Product Design Newsletter. My goal is to provide you with resources, insights, and opportunities to help you grow as a designer in the ever-evolving fields of AI, UX/UI, and technology.

From free events to elevate your skills, to inspiring reads and podcast episodes that dive into the realities of design, I hope you found something valuable here. Don’t forget, January is almost over—now is the time to set the tone for the rest of the year. Take advantage of these resources and start building momentum today!

If you enjoyed this issue, I’d love for you to share it with your network or leave your thoughts. Your feedback helps shape future editions, and I’m always excited to hear what resonated with you.

Until next time, keep learning, designing, and growing!

Cheers,
Cristian

In this episode, we sit down with Nimisha, a seasoned AI product designer and founder of Swirly Peak, to uncover her incredible journey from graphic design to launching her own design studio. Nim shares how her early experiences in startups shaped her approach to design, collaboration, and innovation. We delve into her love for workshopping, the tools that help her stay productive, and the invaluable lessons she’s learned working with early-stage AI startups.

Discover how Nim’s entrepreneurial spirit drove her to create Swirly Peak, a design studio dedicated to helping startups build impactful AI-powered products. Whether you’re a designer, founder, or just curious about the intersection of AI and design, this episode is filled with practical takeaways and inspiration.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00] Introduction

• [03:40] Navigating Early Stage Startups

• [09:02] The Evolution of Product Design

• [13:43] Collaboration and Workshops in Design

• [19:02] Stakeholder Interviews and Insights

• [23:23] Leveraging AI for Efficiency in Design

• [30:24] Synthesizing Learnings and Collaboration

• [33:30] Engaging Engineers in Design Workshops

• [36:35] Sketching and Ideation Techniques

• [44:12] Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

• [47:19] Focus on Early Stage Startups

• [52:19] Misconceptions About Product Designers

• [57:01] The Importance of Rapid Prototyping

• [01:01:27] AI Tools Supporting Design Processes

Stay Connected:

• Nimisha’s LinkedIn

• Nimisha’s Website

• Swirly Peak’s LinkedIn

• Swirly Peak’s Website

Links & Resources:

• Granola AI – A powerful transcription and summarization tool Nim’s swears by.

• Claude AI – For organizing insights and creating themes from discovery sessions.

• Galileo AI – An ideation tool for generating quick design concepts.

• Sprint by Jake Knapp – A guide to running effective design sprints (Must Read!).

Closing Notes:

Thank you for joining us for another episode of the podcast! If you enjoyed this conversation with Nimisha, we’d love for you to leave a rating, follow us, and share the episode with your network. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and insights from leaders in design and AI. See you next time!

PS. be the first to listen to our future releases by subscribing to Cristian Talks Product Design

What we’re covering today

• Exploring a New Format

• AI’s Impact on The Workforce

• 5 Companies Designers Should Keep an Eye On in 2025

• Upcoming Events for Job Seekers and Designers

• Podcast update!

Exploring a New Format

Hello, designers! If you’ve been here before, you might notice a slight change in how this newsletter is structured. My goal with this update is to deliver more focused insights and updates to keep you informed and inspired.

Don’t worry—deep dives into essential topics and podcast episodes aren’t going anywhere. Moving forward, though, those will be shared as standalone content, while this weekly email will focus on curated news and updates. The idea is to streamline things and maximize the value I can provide to you.

Thank you for being here—I’m excited for what’s ahead!

- Cristian Pineda

AI Impact on the Workforce

• Salesforce: CEO Marc Benioff announced that AI-driven productivity gains mean no new engineers will be hired this year. Instead, Salesforce plans to add 1,000–2,000 salespeople to help clients understand and implement AI solutions.

• Meta: CEO Mark Zuckerberg predicts that by 2025, AI could perform tasks equivalent to mid-level engineers, such as writing code independently. This would allow human engineers to focus on more complex, strategic problems.

My Thoughts on What This Means for Designers
While these changes shift engineering roles, the impact on design remains limited. Designers' creativity and problem-solving skills remain uniquely human, with AI tools enhancing workflows rather than replacing them. However, as designers, we should embrace AI to improve how we work, as these tools can help us outperform non-AI users and drive greater innovation.

5 Companies Designers Should Keep an Eye On in 2025

As we dive into 2025, there are a number of companies pushing the boundaries of design tools and empowering creatives to work smarter and more efficiently. Here are five standout companies and tools to keep on your radar:

1. Figma AI
   Figma continues to lead in design collaboration, and while its AI features aren’t fully rolled out yet, they show significant potential in transforming workflows. By automating repetitive tasks and generating design ideas, Figma AI promises to help teams focus more on creativity and less on the busywork.

2. Adobe
   Adobe Express is quickly becoming a go-to tool for visual and graphic designers who need to create assets fast. Combined with Adobe’s integration of AI into flagship tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects, its features remain impressive. From generative fills and auto-masking to enhanced animation tools, Adobe’s AI innovations make even the most complex projects more accessible and efficient.

3. Ideogram
   Ideogram is revolutionizing text-based design and branding. It’s perfect for creating stunning typography and logos, offering designers a fresh approach to visual storytelling.

4. HeyGen
   Video content is more essential than ever, and HeyGen’s AI-powered video generation makes creating engaging, dynamic content a breeze. Whether for marketing campaigns or storytelling, this tool is a must-try for designers.

5. Uizard by Miro Labs
   Uizard helps turn rough sketches into polished UI designs in minutes. It’s a powerful tool for rapid prototyping and wireframing, making it a favorite for UX designers working on iterative projects.

Career Boost: Events for Job Seekers and Early-Career Designers

I wanted to share a couple of upcoming events that I think you’ll find incredibly valuable, especially if you're looking to level up your portfolio or improve your chances of landing your next big role.

Free Event: AI-Powered Portfolio

📅 When: January 29th, 2025
⏰ Time: 9 PM CET | 8 PM UTC | 3 PM EST | 12 PM PST
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ RSVP Here

If you’ve been wondering how to make your portfolio stand out in today’s fast-changing design landscape, this session is for you. In just one hour, you’ll learn how to harness AI to simplify the portfolio creation process and make it more impactful.

Free Workshop: Help Your Resume Beat the ATS & Land More Interviews

📅 When: Tue, Jan 21, 2025
⏰ Time: 6 PM CET | 5 PM UTC | 12 PM EST | 9 AM PST
📍 Where: Live on Zoom
🎟️ Learn More & Sign Up

Let’s be real: getting your resume past ATS systems can feel like trying to crack a code. This workshop breaks it all down and teaches you how to optimize your resume to get noticed.

Podcast Update:

Last week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Nimisha Patil about her journey to launching her design agency, Swirly Peak. We covered exciting topics like leveraging AI, collaborating with stakeholders, and more.

Catch a sneak peek below!

Wrapping things up:

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter! I hope these insights, tools, and updates empower you to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of design. Whether you’re exploring new AI tools, preparing for upcoming events, or simply looking for inspiration, I’m here to support your journey.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts—what resonated, what you’d like to see more of, or how I can continue to provide value. Let’s keep learning and growing together.

Until next time,
Cristian Pineda

Ever wondered about the best way to test conversational experiences? You’re not alone. As these interactive experiences become more embedded in our daily lives, it’s natural to ask how they’re tested and refined. Among the many techniques available, one stands out for its versatility and impact: Wizard of Oz testing.

If you’re not familiar with Wizard of Oz testing, it’s a practical method that allows teams to gain early insights into user behavior without requiring large, costly investments in building a full product. While particularly useful for designing conversational AI experiences, this approach can also be applied to a variety of service and product testing scenarios.

This week, I’ll break down why Wizard of Oz testing is a powerful tool for designers, especially when crafting conversational experiences. We’ll dive into what it is, why it’s important, and how you can start using it today—using a chatbot design project as an example.

Let’s dive in!

What Is Wizard of Oz Testing?

Wizard of Oz (WoZ) testing is a research method that lets you simulate a fully functional system while still in the early design stages. The core idea is that users interact with what looks like a working product, but behind the scenes, a human (the “wizard”) is manually controlling certain elements instead of relying on automation.

For example, imagine you’re designing a chatbot for a customer service app. Instead of coding the AI to handle various user queries, you create a simple prototype interface. When a user types a question, a human—hidden from view—types a response as if they were the bot. The user experiences what feels like a fully functioning chatbot, while you observe how they interact with it.

This approach helps you test your assumptions, evaluate the user experience, and refine your design before committing resources to full development.

Why Should Designers Learn It?

Wizard of Oz testing is an invaluable tool for designers working on conversational experiences, and here’s why:

Risk & Cost Reduction: Building conversational AI is not only resource-intensive but also costly. WoZ allows you to test ideas early, significantly reducing the financial and time investment required for features that might not resonate with users. This makes it an effective way to de-risk your project while saving your organization substantial resources.

Realistic Feedback: Users believe they’re interacting with a fully functional system, so their behavior and feedback are authentic. This provides meaningful insights into how they would engage with the final product, ensuring that you design solutions based on real user behavior, not assumptions.

Flexibility: This method is highly adaptable, whether you’re designing a chatbot, a voice assistant, or even a physical service interaction. Its versatility makes it a cost-effective approach for a wide range of design challenges.

User-Centered Design: Observing how people naturally interact with your prototype helps you align the design closely with their expectations and needs. This ensures that the final product is both functional and user-friendly.

By mastering this method, designers not only refine their solutions with greater confidence but also contribute to smarter resource allocation for their organizations.

Hypothetical Case: Designing a Chatbot

Let’s make this practical by walking through a chatbot design scenario step by step.

Scenario: Your team is tasked with designing a chatbot for a company’s online customer service. Its main goal is to help users track orders and resolve issues.

Prototype Setup: You create a simple chatbot interface where users can type questions. Instead of building the AI, a designer or researcher plays the “wizard,” manually crafting responses in real time.

Testing Objectives: You aim to learn how users phrase their questions, how quickly they expect responses, and what tone of voice feels most helpful.

Insights: During testing, you notice users frequently ask follow-up questions like, “Can I talk to a real agent?” or “How long will this take?” These insights help you prioritize features such as providing clear communication around time estimates and escalation options.

This process informs not only the chatbot’s design but also highlights the features users value most, ensuring the final product meets their expectations.

Practical Steps for Running Wizard of Oz Testing

While the concept is straightforward, a successful WoZ test requires careful planning. Here’s how to get started:

1. Define Your Goals: Be clear about what you want to learn. Are you testing tone, conversation flow, or user expectations?

2. Prepare the Prototype: Create a minimal interface that simulates the real system. It doesn’t need to be perfect—just functional enough to enable realistic interactions.

3. Script Flexible Guidelines: Draft possible responses for the “wizard” but allow room for improvisation based on user input.

4. Recruit the Right Participants: Select users who closely match your target audience for relevant feedback.

5. Observe and Take Notes: Watch how users interact with the prototype. Are they confused? Do they hesitate? What do they expect next?

6. Iterate Based on Findings: Use the insights to refine your design, whether it’s tweaking the chatbot’s tone, adjusting features, or rethinking its core functionality.

By following these steps, you can make the most of WoZ testing and ensure your designs are user-centered from the start.

Your Shortcut to Smarter Design

Wizard of Oz testing is more than a research method—it’s a mindset that prioritizes exploration and learning early in the design process. This week, we’ve covered how it works, why it’s valuable for conversational experiences, and how to apply it using a chatbot project as an example.

With this technique, you can test bold ideas, reduce risks, and create designs that genuinely resonate with users—all without fully developed systems.

Have questions, comments, or personal experiences with Wizard of Oz testing? I’d love to hear from you! Reply to this email or share your thoughts with our community. And as always, feel free to forward this to a fellow designer or researcher who might find it helpful.

Until next time,
Cristian

As the year 2024 comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what we’ve achieved and start thinking about the future. If you’re like me, you’re probably asking yourself: What did I accomplish this year? How can I make 2025 even better? Personally, I’ve been reflecting on ways to balance productivity with my mental well-being—how to stay sharp, energetic, and motivated without succumbing to burnout.

If this resonates with you, I’m excited to share some of my go-to productivity strategies that have helped me stay effective while minimizing burnout. Whether you’re preparing for new challenges or refining your habits, this post is here to help.

What Does Productivity Mean for UX Designers?

For UX designers, productivity isn’t about churning out deliverables or attending endless meetings—it’s about creating value. It’s the ability to solve the right problems, understand users, and deliver impactful solutions effectively and efficiently.

Here’s how I define productivity as a UX designer:

• Focus on Impact, Not Volume: Success isn’t measured by the number of screens you create or meetings you attend; it’s about the value your work brings to users.

• Balance Speed with Thoughtfulness: Recognize when to iterate quickly and when to dive deep into a problem.

• Collaborate Smarter: Reduce rework by aligning with stakeholders and gathering insights upfront.

Productivity is about working smarter, not harder, while staying mindful of your energy and focus.

Spotting Burnout: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Even when we focus on meaningful work, the demands of UX design can sometimes push us to our limits. Burnout happens when the balance between productivity and well-being tips too far.

Here are some signs to watch for:

• You feel exhausted, even after resting.

• Starting work feels like dragging yourself through the mud.

• You’re detached or irritated with coworkers or clients.

• It’s hard to concentrate on tasks.

• You don’t feel satisfied with what you accomplish.

• You doubt your skills or feel “stuck.”

If any of these resonate, it might be time to pause, reassess, and prioritize self-care.

Tactics for Staying Productive and Avoiding Burnout

Now let’s move to the practical side: How can we stay productive, motivated, and healthy? Here are some strategies that you need to know about:

Set Clear Priorities with SMART Goals

Avoid vague objectives and adopt the SMART framework—goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying, “improve user experience,” set a precise target like, “Redesign the onboarding flow to reduce drop-offs by 15% within 90 days.” SMART goals give clarity, focus, and direction, enabling measurable progress.

Learn More: How to Write SMART Goals - Indeed

Use the Eisenhower Matrix to Prioritize Tasks

Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? The Eisenhower Matrix helps organize tasks by urgency and importance:

• Urgent and Important: Do these first.

• Important but Not Urgent: Schedule these to avoid neglecting long-term goals.

• Urgent but Not Important: Delegate to others if possible.

• Neither Urgent nor Important: Eliminate or minimize time spent on these. This framework helps focus on what matters most while managing distractions.

Learn More: Eisenhower Matrix - Asana

Keep a Distraction List

When distractions or unrelated ideas pop into your mind while working, write them down in a designated “distraction list.” This lets you acknowledge the thought without letting it derail your current focus. You can revisit these ideas later, keeping your productivity on track.

Learn More: The Distraction List - Nick Wignall

Start Each Day with Your Most Important Tasks (MITs)

Begin your day by identifying the 2–3 most impactful tasks (MITs) to complete. Tackle these tasks first while your energy and focus are at their peak. This practice ensures that you make progress on high-priority work, even if unexpected challenges arise later in the day.

Learn More: MITs - Lark Suite

Ditch Multitasking

Multitasking decreases efficiency and increases errors. Instead, focus on one task at a time to improve concentration and produce higher-quality work. Studies show that switching between tasks drains mental resources, so committing to a single task can reduce fatigue and enhance overall productivity.

Learn More: The Multitasking Myth - Verywell Mind

Schedule Breaks to Recharge

Regular breaks prevent burnout and maintain productivity. Techniques like the Pomodoro method (work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break) are highly effective. Use breaks to stretch, walk, or relax, giving your mind and body a chance to reset for the next task.

Learn More: Pomodoro Technique - Virginia Tech

Learn the Power of Saying No

Overcommitting can lead to stress and burnout. Learning to say “no” helps you protect your time and energy for tasks that align with your priorities. Practice declining politely and suggesting alternatives when appropriate.

Learn More: The Power of Saying No - Psychology Today

Take Short Walks

Short walks boost creativity and mental clarity. Research shows that physical movement stimulates your brain, helping you process ideas more effectively. A quick stroll can refresh your mind, spark new insights, and improve problem-solving.

Learn More: The Power of a Walk - Harvard Business Review

Explore Creativity Outside of Work

Engaging in creative hobbies—like cooking, photography, or writing—outside of work can boost your professional performance. These activities recharge your mental energy, reduce stress, and inspire fresh perspectives that often translate into better problem-solving at work.

Learn More: Creativity Outside Work - TIME

Design Your 2025 With Intention

As we gear up for 2025, remember that productivity is about focusing on what matters most—not just doing more. By setting clear goals, using smart strategies, and prioritizing your well-being, you can achieve meaningful work and stay balanced.

Here’s to a productive and fulfilling year ahead!

What strategies work best for you? How do you stay focused and energized in your daily work? I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to share your tips, experiences, or questions in the comments! Let’s keep the conversation going and inspire each other to make 2025 our best year yet.

These tools, guides, and platforms have either transformed my work or sparked new ideas. Some are part of my weekly workflow, while others are stable references I keep handy for just the right moment. I see them as essential resources for designers heading into 2025, whether you’re revisiting fundamentals or exploring new frontiers.

You’ll notice some personal touches throughout:

• ⭐ Highlights my favorites.

• 🚀 Marks the ones I’m most excited about for 2025.

Here’s to growth and intentional progress. Let’s dive into the resources to level up in the new year!

Table of Contents

• Foundational UX Knowledge

• User Research & Discovery

• Design Systems

• UI Inspiration & Design Tools

• Accessibility Tools

• Typography & Visual Design

• Interaction Design & Story Mapping

• AI and UX Design Tools

• UX Podcasts and YouTube Channels

Foundational UX Knowledge

Deepen your expertise and grow your knowledge with these comprehensive platforms. They include courses, articles, and practical guides for improving your skills.

• Interaction Design Foundation ⭐

• NNG Group’s UX Resources ⭐

• UX Planet ⭐

• UX Playbook

• UX Library

• UX Glossary by Built for Mars

User Research & Discovery

Learn how to gather insights about your users and uncover their needs. These tools and guides will help you plan, conduct, and analyze research to inform your design decisions.

• Ten Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design (NNG) ⭐

• UX Research Cheat Sheet (NNG) ⭐

• Dscout’s Research Process Pillars for Customer Journey Mapping

• Harvard PSR’s Questionnaire Tip Sheet

• Don’t Make Me Think UX Questionnaire Downloads ⭐

• The UX Research Canvas by The Fountain Institute

• Lookback: User Research Platform

• UserTesting: Remote User Testing Platform

Design Systems

Learn how to create and implement design systems to ensure consistency and scalability in your projects. These resources cover guidelines, tools, and frameworks for building effective design systems.

• Design Systems 101 by NNG

• Design Systems Are for User Interfaces by Brad Frost

• Design Systems for Figma ⭐

• Carbon Design System⭐🚀

• Apple Human Interface Guidelines ⭐🚀

• Material Design 3 ⭐🚀

• Lightning Design System by Salesforce ⭐🚀

UI Inspiration & Design Tools

Find inspiration for your designs or discover new tools to speed up your creative process. These resources include curated design galleries and platforms for visual exploration.

• Land Book: Website Inspiration

• Mobbin: Mobile App Design Inspiration ⭐🚀

• Awwwards: Design Inspiration and Awards

• Unsplash for High-Quality Free Images

• Pexels for Free Stock Photos and Videos

Accessibility Tools

Ensure your designs are inclusive and accessible to all users. These tools help you evaluate and improve accessibility throughout the design process.

• Wave WebAIM Accessibility Evaluation Tool

• Stark for Accessibility in Design ⭐

Typography & Visual Design

Perfect your typography, color schemes, and visual hierarchy while enhancing the overall aesthetics of your designs. These resources are perfect for elevating your design’s presentation.

• Google Fonts

• Type Scale: Visualizing Typography Hierarchies

• Font Awesome Icons ⭐

• Adobe Fonts ⭐

• Adobe Color: Color Palette Creation

Interaction Design & Story Mapping

Design more engaging and functional interactions for your users. These resources also include frameworks for organizing product backlogs and planning features visually.

• Boost Your UX with Interaction Design Principles

• Story Mapping: Visual Way of Building a Product Backlog (Thoughtworks)

• Lean UX Canvas by Jeff Gothelf

AI and UX Design Tools

Explore tools and platforms that leverage AI to assist with prototyping, ideation, and user insights. This bucket includes resources at the intersection of UX and AI.

• UX of AI

• PAIR (People + AI Research) by Google ⭐🚀

• Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit ⭐🚀

• Shape of AI ⭐🚀

• UXPilot for AI-Powered UX Insights

• Galileo AI for UI and UX Design Assistance ⭐🚀

• Uizard for Fast Prototyping with AI

• Adobe Firefly: AI-Powered Creative Tools ⭐

• Stable Diffusion Web for Generative AI

UX Podcasts and YouTube Channels

Learn from experts and stay inspired with podcasts and video content on UX and design. These channels offer valuable discussions and deep dives into UX, design, and creativity.

• Dive Club on YouTube ⭐🚀

• 99% Invisible Podcast on Spotify

• UI Breakfast Podcast on Spotify

• Lenny’s Podcast on Spotify ⭐

• How We Scaled It for Design Teams Podcast on Spotify

I hope this resource repository inspires you to keep learning, growing, and creating impactful designs. Whether you’re exploring new tools, revisiting foundational principles, or diving into emerging technologies, these resources are here to support you at every stage of your journey.

Growth doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the result of intentional effort and curiosity. My hope is that this list becomes a go-to reference for you, just as it has been for me. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and an inspiring start to 2025. Let’s keep leveling up together! 🚀

Lastly if you have thought or comments or additional resources that you'd like to share please leave a comment below.

Cheers!

Cristian Pineda

I’ve been reflecting on one of my 2024 goals: to do at least one thing better every day. Whether big or small, the focus has been on intentional improvement. It’s a simple mindset, but one that’s shaped the way I approach both my personal life and my work.

It’s that same spirit of growth that inspired me to write this article. Because just like in life, growth in UX doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionality, structure, and the right tools to drive progress.

The Challenge: Proving UX Value

As a designer, you already know the immense value UX brings. But let’s be honest: proving that value to others can feel like an uphill battle, especially in organizations with low UX maturity.

Have you ever found yourself in this situation?

• You’re unsure how to showcase the impact of your team’s work.

• You’ve relied on anecdotal evidence that doesn’t quite resonate with leadership.

• You’ve felt like you’re missing opportunities to demonstrate UX’s real value.

If any of this rings true, you’re not alone. It’s a common challenge for UX teams, but the good news is that it’s one you can tackle with a more structured approach. Frameworks give you the tools to connect your design efforts to outcomes that matter to stakeholders, making it easier to demonstrate the value UX brings.

In this article, I’ll introduce you to two powerful frameworks—CASTLE and HEART—designed to help you showcase UX impact, whether you’re improving internal tools or customer-facing products.

Table of Contents

• Introducing the CASTLE Framework

• Introducing the HEART Framework

Introducing the CASTLE Framework 📊

Best for: Internal tools where productivity and efficiency matter most.

When you’re designing tools for internal teams, leadership often scrutinizes their ROI. The CASTLE framework, developed by Nielsen Norman Group, helps you showcase UX’s role in driving outcomes leadership cares about—like productivity and accuracy.

Here are the six core CASTLE metrics:

• Conversions: How often users complete key tasks (e.g., submitting a report).

• Adoption: How many users adopt a tool or feature over time.

• Satisfaction: User happiness, measured via surveys or ratings.

• Task Success: How efficiently users complete tasks (e.g., reduced errors, faster completion).

• Loyalty: Users’ likelihood to continue using or advocating for the tool.

• Engagement: How often users interact with the tool and rely on it.

Internal tools are all about improving workflows. CASTLE makes it easy to quantify UX’s impact with metrics like task success and adoption rates.

Example: Redesigning a dashboard could result in:

• Faster task completion.

• Higher adoption rates.

• Improved user satisfaction.

These outcomes resonate with leadership because they directly translate to time savings and productivity gains.

Pro Tip: Start small. Pick 2–3 CASTLE metrics that align with leadership’s goals. If productivity is their priority, focus on task success and adoption rates.

Introducing the HEART Framework ❤️

Best for: Customer-facing products where engagement and satisfaction drive success.

When designing apps, websites, or platforms, the HEART framework, developed by Google Ventures, is your go-to tool. It tracks UX success across the user journey with five key metrics:

• Happiness: User satisfaction (e.g., CSAT scores, NPS).

• Engagement: How often and deeply users interact (e.g., daily active users).

• Adoption: How many new users start using a feature or product.

• Retention: How many users return over time.

• Task Success: How effectively users complete tasks (e.g., error rates, completion times).

Pro Tip: Pair HEART with the Goals-Signals-Metrics (GSM) method to make it actionable:

• Goals: Define what you want to achieve (e.g., increase retention).

• Signals: Identify user behaviors that signal success (e.g., daily logins).

• Metrics: Choose the data points to measure progress (e.g., DAU).

Driving UX Advocacy Through Frameworks 🚀

CASTLE and HEART go beyond just measuring results—they help you build trust and position UX as a strategic driver of success.

Here’s how to start:

1. Pick small, measurable wins (e.g., improving onboarding or key workflows).

2. Use the frameworks to demonstrate UX’s impact.

3. Create momentum by tying UX metrics to business outcomes.

Over time, you’ll not only prove UX’s value but also build the credibility needed to influence strategy and secure resources.

Make Your Impact Visible 🎯

Proving the value of UX doesn’t need to be a struggle. Frameworks like CASTLE and HEART give you the structure to connect UX to outcomes stakeholders care about—like increased adoption, faster task completion, and higher retention.

When you make your impact visible, you don’t just build credibility. You turn UX into a recognized driver of growth within your organization.

Start small. Focus on measurable wins. Use these frameworks to tell a compelling story of progress and success—one that positions UX exactly where it belongs: at the heart of business impact.

I’d love to hear how you’re applying these frameworks in your own work. What strategies have worked for you to showcase UX value? Let’s keep the conversation going—drop a comment or reply with your experiences. I’m all ears!

Today’s post is a special creator highlight. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the direction of this podcast. Right now, I feel great about keeping it as a monthly series where I bring on fellow passionate UX designers to share their journeys into the field, diving into the niche topics that inspire them.

With that said, I’m thrilled to announce that Episode #003 of Cristian Talks Product Design is live! 🎉 This time, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Xinran Ma, Founder of Design with AI, speaker, 3x author, and award-winning mentor.

Together, we explore Xinran’s incredible path from architecture to UX design and discuss how he has embraced AI tools to push creative boundaries. His unique insights offer a fresh perspective on navigating career transitions, leveraging technology, and building meaningful communities.

Whether you’re looking to break into UX, discover innovative ways to incorporate AI in your work, or simply feel inspired, this episode is brimming with practical advice and thought-provoking ideas. We also delve into Xinran’s ambitious vision for 2025, including plans to cultivate a design-focused community and develop empowering resources for creators.

Episode Highlights:

• 3:45 - Xinran’s pivot from architecture to product design during a pivotal life moment.

• 7:30 - The pros and cons of bootcamps versus self-taught design skills.

• 12:15 - Adopting Figma and staying tool-agnostic in UX design.

• 16:50 - Strategies for job seekers breaking into a competitive UX landscape.

• 21:30 - Xinran’s journey into public speaking and community building.

• 30:45 - Leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and UX Pilot for prototyping and ideation

• 43:20 - Exploring the intersection of generative AI and extended reality in design.

Connect with Xinran:

➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaxinran/

Xinran’s Courses:

➡️ AI for Product Designers: https://maven.com/xinran/ai-for-product-designers

➡️ Case Study Storytelling: https://maven.com/xinran/case-study-storytelling

➡️ UX Resources: https://xinranma.gumroad.com/

Wrapping things up

I’d love to know what you think about this episode and the topics we covered! Are you enjoying this type of content? Do you have any suggestions for future guests or areas to explore? Your feedback means a lot to me and helps shape the direction of Cristian Talks Product Design. Feel free to reply to this email or share your thoughts on social media—I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,

Cristian

Through my research, I came across the Cooperative Principle, a framework from the field of linguistics that focuses on improving how we communicate. When applied to conversational design, it helps us craft experiences that not only feel more human but also deliver real value to users by fostering trust, clarity, and relevance.

So, join me as I explore the Cooperative Principle and Paul Grice’s maxims to uncover how they can help you design AI interactions that are clear, relevant, and trustworthy. By the end, you’ll have actionable tips to transform your chatbot designs and enhance user satisfaction.

Table of contents

• What is the Cooperative Principle?

• Applying the Maxims to AI Conversations

• Evaluating AI with the Cooperative Principle

• Building Trust Through Better Conversations

What is the Cooperative Principle?

The Cooperative Principle, introduced by linguist and philosopher Paul Grice, is a foundational concept in his pragmatic theory of communication. Grice explored how people derive meaning from language, presenting his ideas in the essay Logic and Conversation (1975)1 and later in the book Studies in the Way of Words (1989)2.

At its core, the Cooperative Principle suggests that in a conversation: say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, and in the way it needs to be said. Or, as Grice himself put it:

"Make your contribution such as is required, at the stage at which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk exchange in which you are engaged." (Logic and Conversation, 1975)

Grice further defined this principle through four key maxims—Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner—that underpin effective communication:

• Quantity: Provide just the right amount of information—neither too much nor too little.

• Quality: Be truthful—don’t mislead or provide unsupported claims.

• Relation: Stay relevant to the conversation at hand.

• Manner: Be clear, avoiding unnecessary complexity or ambiguity.

These maxims reflect the implicit rules we follow in everyday conversation to ensure our contributions are meaningful and cooperative. When applied to AI design, they can guide the creation of conversational systems that feel intuitive, trustworthy, and user-friendly.

Applying the Maxims to AI Conversations

1️⃣ Maxim of Quantity: Be Informative

Imagine asking a chatbot for local restaurant recommendations, and it either lists every restaurant in town or only provides one vague option. Neither extreme works. Users need enough detail to make decisions without feeling overwhelmed.

Design tip: Limit response lengths based on context. Use progressive disclosure to share details only when requested.

2️⃣ Maxim of Quality: Be Truthful

Trust is fragile. A chatbot that delivers incorrect or vague answers quickly frustrates users. For example, if a financial assistant bot provides outdated interest rates, it undermines user confidence.

Design tip: Build fact-checking mechanisms into your system. If your AI can’t provide accurate answers, train it to say, “I don’t know,” and offer next steps.

3️⃣ Maxim of Relation: Be Relevant

Relevance is key to keeping users engaged. If an AI assistant sidetracks or gives irrelevant responses, users lose patience. Imagine asking about the weather tomorrow, but the bot starts explaining historical weather patterns instead. Irrelevance like this frustrates users.

Design tip: Use context-awareness to guide responses. Program your AI to prioritize user intent and follow logical conversation paths.

4️⃣ Maxim of Manner: Be Clear

Clear, concise language is essential for effective communication. Jargon or convoluted phrases can alienate users, especially non-technical audiences.

Design tip: Match the tone and complexity of language to the user’s preferences. Clarity ensures inclusivity.

Evaluating AI with the Cooperative Principle

Testing your chatbot’s performance using the Cooperative Principle ensures that it aligns with user expectations for natural, meaningful conversations. Here’s how you can implement practical benchmarks based on Grice’s maxims:

Simulated Conversations

Create realistic test scenarios that replicate real-world user interactions. Observe how the bot performs under different conditions and evaluate its adherence to the maxims:

• Does it provide just the right amount of information? (Quantity)

• Are its responses accurate and trustworthy? (Quality)

• Are the replies relevant to the user’s query? (Relation)

• Is the language clear and easy to understand? (Manner)

User Feedback

Gather qualitative feedback through usability testing. Ask users to rate the chatbot’s responses against each maxim. Example questions include:

• Did the response meet your informational needs? (Quantity)

• Did the bot feel reliable and accurate? (Quality)

• Was the response aligned with your intent? (Relation)

• Was the response easy to understand? (Manner)

Data-Driven Benchmarks

Leverage analytics to gain insights into the chatbot’s performance:

• Quantity: Analyze response length, follow-up queries, and drop-off rates to ensure responses are neither too brief nor overwhelming.

• Quality: Monitor error rates, fact-check inconsistencies, and track user-reported issues.

• Relation: Review conversation paths to assess whether the bot remains focused on the user’s intent.

• Manner: Use sentiment analysis or readability scores to identify areas of confusion or unclear communication.

By combining qualitative feedback with data-driven insights, you can iteratively refine your chatbot’s design, ensuring it adheres to the Cooperative Principle and delivers a satisfying user experience.

Building Trust Through Better Conversations

When we apply the Cooperative Principle to AI design, we’re doing more than improving conversations—we’re building trust, fostering engagement, and showcasing the intelligence of our systems. These are the hallmarks of a delightful user experience and the foundation of meaningful interactions.

I’d love to hear how you’re applying these ideas to your projects. Have you faced any challenges when designing conversational AI? Let’s keep the conversation going—share your thoughts in the comments or reply to this post. I’m all ears!

This week marks an exciting milestone—we’ve just crossed 100 subscribers! 🎉 I want to take a moment to extend a huge thank you to each of you for your support, encouragement, and engagement. Your enthusiasm fuels this community, and I’m so grateful to have you here.

To celebrate this milestone, I’m launching Substack Chats! My goal is to create a space for more granular and interactive conversations with you all. This is uncharted territory for me, so bear with me as I figure things out in real time! Each week, I’ll pose a question to spark meaningful discussions. But I encourage all of you to share thoughts, questions and ideas let’s make this a place where we can share, learn, and grow together.

With that said, let’s dive into this week’s highlight:

🎙 Podcast Spotlight: Jelena Colak

This week’s episode features Jelena Colak, Associate Director of Information Architecture & UX Design at Fusion 92, the creator of the newsletter, and host of the Na Kavi podcast. Jelena’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and adaptability. From her beginnings in journalism to pivoting to UX and designing for top-tier tech in NYC, Jelena offers a wealth of inspiration and practical insights for navigating the ever-evolving world of UX and technology.

Here’s what we explored in our conversation:

• Jelena’s Career Evolution: How her path from journalism led her to UX design, driven by a passion for storytelling and problem-solving.

• The Intersection of AI and UX: Insights into how AI is reshaping design and what this means for today’s designers.

• Storytelling in Design: The critical role of narrative in creating user-centered experiences and the surprising overlap between journalism and UX.

• Emerging Tech Insights: Jelena’s reflections on trends in information architecture, digital transformation, and seamless end-to-end experiences.

• Advice for Aspiring Designers: Actionable tips for thinking beyond screens and cultivating systems-level thinking.

Jelena’s thoughtful perspective on balancing technical constraints with creative problem-solving is a reminder of why adaptability is every designer’s superpower. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this conversation is packed with insights to inspire curiosity and broaden your perspective.

✨ Relevant Resources and Links

Here are some resources mentioned in this week’s conversation to help you dive deeper:

• Tech Brat Newsletter: Jelena’s take on emerging technologies and UX trends.

• Na Kavi Podcast: Jelena’s podcast featuring rich conversations on design and tech.

• Octopus.do: A tool for creating visual site maps and optimizing IA workflows.

• Phantom.video: A tool that keeps track and takes notes of your your meetings so you can focus on the conversation.

🛠️ Tools for UX Beginners:

Discover foundational tools to help you improve your UX design and information architecture skills.

• Affinity Diagramming: A collaborative method to organize ideas and insights from user research. Visit NNG to learn more↗️.

• Card Sorting: A user-focused technique to structure information intuitively for your audience. Visit NNG to learn more↗️.

📚 Bonus Update

In an offline chat, I asked Jelena for her go-to resource for diving deeper into information architecture. She recommended Information Architecture: For the Web and Beyond by Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville, and Jorge Arango. I’ve added it to our community library—check it out here or visit the library using the link below.

Share Your Thoughts

I’d love to hear from you! Reply to this email or tag me on social media with your key takeaways from this week’s episode. What resonated with you the most?

As always, thank you for being part of this journey. Your support makes these meaningful conversations possible, and I’m excited to bring you even more stories that shape the future of design.

Talk soon,
Cristian

I want to start with a quick note of transparency: this week’s post will be a bit shorter than usual. It’s been a hectic week on my end, and I didn’t quite get the chance to dedicate as much time as I typically do to the newsletter.

That said, I’m excited to share a few updates, resources, and insights that I hope will add some value to your UX journey and maybe even help you accelerate your design career.

What We’ll Cover Today

• Podcast Update: A conversation with Jelena Colak, creator of TechBrat

• Simplifying UX Research: Practical methods and tools for beginners

• Resource Spotlight: A guide to running user interviews

Podcast Guest Incoming: Jelena Colak from TechBrat

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jelena Colak, the creator of the TechBrat Newsletter, about her fascinating journey into UX design, how she’s bridged her background in journalism with her design career, and her deep focus on information architecture. Jelena shared invaluable insights into the importance of designing for the entire user journey and how emerging technologies like AI are reshaping the field.

We explored topics like:

• The overlap between journalism and UX design, and how strong research skills translate into better user experiences and easier career progression.

• Why user experience starts long before someone interacts with a product, making it critical to consider the full journey.

• The role of information architecture in UX design—how designers can think about structuring content and navigation to create seamless experiences and its broader impact on usability.

• The balance between creativity and usability, and why it’s a challenge worth embracing.

• How AI serves as a tool to enhance, not replace, the designer’s role.

Jelena’s approach to staying curious, adapting to trends, and maintaining a focus on usability is both inspiring and practical. We also discussed where design is headed, with a potential blend of minimalism and maximalism on the horizon, while keeping usability front and center.

This conversation left me with so many takeaways, and I can’t wait to share the full episode with you. For now, I hope you enjoy the clip! 😉

Simplifying UX Research: Practical Methods & Tools for Beginners

UX research doesn’t have to be intimidating, especially if you know where to start. Here’s a breakdown of some essential research methods that can help any designer:

User Interviews

Interviews are direct conversations with users or stakeholders to gather qualitative insights about their needs, behaviors, and challenges. They’re a staple in UX research and vary depending on your goals:

• Directed Interviews
  What it is: These are structured, question-and-answer sessions where the researcher asks predefined questions.
  Best for: When you need specific insights from a large group of users, or want to compare answers across participants.
  Why use it: It provides clear, actionable data that’s easy to organize and analyze.

• Non-Directed Interviews
  What it is: These are more conversational and flexible. The interviewer starts with a general topic but allows the participant to steer the discussion.
  Best for: Sensitive or complex topics where direct questioning might limit openness.
  Why use it: Encourages participants to share deeper insights, often uncovering unexpected details.

• Ethnographic Interviews
  What it is: This involves observing users in their natural environments while they perform tasks or go about their day.
  Best for: Understanding real-world behavior, routines, and pain points.
  Why use it: It reveals gaps between what users say and what they actually do, providing context that’s hard to capture in other methods.

Surveys & Questionnaires

What it is: Surveys and questionnaires are tools for collecting a large volume of quantitative data from users in a short amount of time.

Best for: Projects with diverse or large user groups, particularly when anonymity is important or when you need to validate assumptions with a wide sample.

Why use it: They’re scalable and efficient for understanding general trends, preferences, and feedback. Tools like Google Forms, Typeform, and SurveyMonkey make them easy to deploy.

Pro Tip: Write clear, unbiased questions to avoid misinterpretation and ensure meaningful responses.

Usability Testing

What it is: This involves observing users as they interact with your product, asking them to complete specific tasks while identifying friction points. Usability tests come in three forms:

• Moderated Testing
  What it is: A facilitator guides the session, asking questions and encouraging users to think aloud as they perform tasks.
  Best for: Gaining rich insights about user behavior while iterating on complex designs.
  Why use it: It allows for real-time clarification and follow-up questions to understand user decisions.

• Unmoderated Testing
  What it is: Users complete tasks on their own time, often via recorded online platforms like UserTesting or Maze.
  Best for: Fast, budget-friendly testing with remote participants.
  Why use it: It captures authentic user behavior without external influence, but lacks immediate feedback.

• Guerrilla Testing
  What it is: Quick, informal testing done in public places (e.g., coffee shops), where random participants are asked to try out a product in exchange for small incentives.
  Best for: Early-stage feedback for products with broad appeal.
  Why use it: It’s lightweight and budget-friendly but may not provide the most reliable data for niche audiences.

Tree Testing & Card Sorting

These methods are critical for structuring content and improving information architecture (IA):

• Card Sorting
  What it is: Users organize terms or topics into categories that make sense to them.
  Best for: Projects requiring a clear and intuitive site map or navigation.
  Why use it: It helps you understand how users think about content and the relationships between topics.

• Tree Testing
  What it is: Users navigate through a simplified version of your site structure to complete tasks, validating the hierarchy and naming conventions.
  Best for: Testing the usability of your IA before investing in detailed design.
  Why use it: It ensures that users can find information easily, reducing frustration later.

A/B Testing

What it is: A method for comparing two variations of a design (e.g., different layouts, buttons, or headlines) to see which one performs better.

Best for: Projects where data-driven decisions are needed to refine specific design elements.
Why use it: By directly measuring user actions, A/B testing eliminates guesswork and ensures your design choices are supported by real-world results.

Pro Tip: Focus on one variable at a time (e.g., call-to-action text) for clearer results.

Resource Spotlight: Guide to Running User Interviews

By understanding these methods and their best use cases, you’ll be able to approach UX research with confidence and select the tools that align with your project’s goals. If you’re ready to dive into your first user research session, check out this handy resource for crafting effective questions: Starter Questions for User Research.

I hope these resources and ideas inspire your next project. As always, feel free to reach out with feedback, questions, or suggestions—your input helps shape this newsletter into what it is today.

Until next time,
Cristian

Welcome to this week’s issue of Cristian Talks Product Design! I don’t know about you, but for me this past week has been a bit of a roller coaster—from keeping up with the elections to navigating New York’s unpredictable weather (if you know you know).

But despite the craziness, I did have the pleasure of meeting some of you at the Friends First, Designers Second event. Hearing about your backgrounds and passions was inspiring, and I’m already looking forward to the next meetup!

- Cristian P.

Today’s issue is a must-read for product designers, especially those looking to refine their approach to user psychology and AI design. I’ll be diving into five critical cognitive biases that every designer should know about to create experiences that truly resonate with users. By understanding and addressing these biases, you’ll be equipped to make more objective, user-centered design choices.

What We’ll Cover Today

• This Week’s Free Resource 🚀
  The AI Product Evaluation Guide: A guide for designers to assess AI products effectively and ethically.

• 5 Cognitive Biases Every UX Designer Should Know
  Essential biases that impact user decisions.

• 5 Key Considerations for Designing AI Products
  A must-know list for anyone venturing into AI.

Free Resource: The AI Product Evaluation Guide for UX/Product Designers

To help you create responsible, user-centered AI products, I’m excited to share that I've put together a free 15-page guide that'll help you evaluate AI products with a focus on user experience, ethics, and accessibility.

Each page guides you through a specific category, providing a grading scale, self-reflective questions, and quick tips to get your head in the right space. Consider it a heuristic analysis or audit of AI-powered products to help you identify areas of opportunity and advance your skills as a UX/UI or Product designer.

This guide will help you conduct thorough assessments, identify improvement areas, and communicate actionable insights to your team and stakeholders.

Resource: The AI Product Evaluation Guide for UX/Product Designers (link ↗️ )

5 Cognitive Biases Every UX Designer Should Know

1. Anchoring Bias: Users tend to rely heavily on the first piece of information they see, so first impressions count. When designing, be mindful of this by prioritizing information hierarchy and guiding users toward desired actions early on.

2. Confirmation Bias: People often search for or interpret information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs. As designers, it’s crucial to ensure that your product doesn’t unintentionally reinforce this bias, particularly in feedback loops and recommendations.

3. The Framing Effect: How you present information influences decision-making. Reframe content to encourage users to make informed, confident choices – whether it’s choosing a subscription plan or making a purchase.

4. The Availability Heuristic: Users often make decisions based on easily recalled information, especially if it’s visually prominent. By carefully crafting visual cues, you can subtly guide user choices and reduce the likelihood of rushed or uninformed decisions.

5. Loss Aversion: Users are generally more motivated to avoid losses than to achieve gains. Highlight potential losses if users don’t act but avoid being manipulative. This approach can help nudge users toward positive action, such as completing a task or making a selection.

Want to learn more about cognitive biases? Check out these resources:

• UX Planet Top 10 Cognitive Biases in Product Design (Link ↗️)

• sketchplanation.com (Link ↗️)

• Built for Mars UX Psychology Glossary (Link ↗️)

5 Considerations for Designing AI Products

Creating user-centered AI experiences requires special considerations. Here are five foundational principles to guide your process:

1. Transparency and Explainability: Make AI’s functionality and logic visible and understandable to users. Transparency fosters trust and reduces the chance of users feeling uneasy about algorithm-driven decisions.

2. Bias Awareness and Fairness: AI can unintentionally reflect biases present in training data. Proactively check for biases that could alienate or disadvantage users, and strive for an inclusive design that considers a wide range of user experiences.

3. User Control and Feedback: Allow users to intervene or give feedback on AI behavior, especially for recommendations. Giving users a sense of control over AI enhances engagement and trust.

4. Ethical Considerations and Privacy: Collect only the data you genuinely need. Clear privacy policies and data practices ensure users feel secure and respected in AI-powered environments.

5. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: AI design isn’t static; it requires iterative feedback and adaptation to remain relevant and effective. Plan for regular reviews of your AI outputs and allow users to guide improvements.

I hope this week’s issue sparks some new ideas for your projects. If you found it helpful, consider sharing it with your team or another designer who might benefit. I'd also love to hear your takeaways—hit reply and let me know which part stood out to you or how you'll be applying it in your work!

Until next time,
Cristian

What we'll cover today

• Podcast Highlight: Bringing Ideas to life with AI

• Exploring AI Tools for UI/Wireframe Generation

• Community Library Update: New UX Research Books

“In this podcast series, I’m experimenting with a new way to explore how other UX and product designers are integrating AI into their work, while also learning about their journeys and the experiences that have shaped their careers. I hope you find these insights as valuable as I do for expanding our understanding of diverse perspectives in our field so that we can continue to grow together!” — Cristian Pineda

Podcast Highlight: Bringing Ideas to Life with AI

Connecting with Aswin and hearing how his curiosity has shaped his career and approach to integrating AI tools in his design process was inspiring. Rather than sticking to popular tools like ChatGPT, he experiments with platforms like V0 Link ↗️ and Cursor Link ↗️, tools you wouldn’t typically find in a designer’s toolkit. His approach struck a chord with me, showing the possibilities when designers push beyond traditional tools.

What’s more, Aswin actively shares his insights through both his newsletter and community, where he dives into advanced tools and techniques, empowering designers to expand their skillset and discover new possibilities in their work.

• Designing with prompts. Link ↗️

• Modern Designer. Link ↗️

If you’re curious to hear Aswin’s insights firsthand, I encourage you to check out the full podcast episode. But if you’re short on time, here are a few key takeaways for designers:

Key Takeaways for Designers

• Harness AI for Creative Exploration: AI tools empower designers to cover more ground in the early stages of a project—whether that’s generating ideas, gathering inspiration, or organizing plans. By streamlining these initial steps, AI allows designers to focus more on refining and executing their creative vision.

• Adapt to Change: With technology evolving rapidly, new use cases and ways of working are emerging every week. For designers, it’s crucial to stay adaptable and continually expand your skillset to keep pace.

• Being a Technical Designer is a Superpower: The ability to communicate effectively with engineering teams has always been valuable, but understanding coding basics can now transform a designer’s workflow, enabling them to bring ideas from concept to reality and potentially into users’ hands.

• Find Your Community: Learning alongside others in a supportive environment can be transformative, helping you grow faster and build confidence in your abilities.

Exploring AI Tools for UI/Wireframe Generation

I've been cautious about recommending AI tools for generating UIs and wireframes, mainly due to integration concerns with existing design systems. However, here are three promising tools:

1. Galileo.ai: An AI tool that generates high-fidelity UI designs from text prompts, aiming to streamline the design process. link ↗️

2. UXPilot.ai: An AI-powered assistant that helps designers create wireframes and high-fidelity UIs, offering a suite of UX design features compatible with Figma and web platforms. Link ↗️

3. Uizard.io: An AI-driven platform that converts hand-drawn sketches or screenshots into digital designs, facilitating rapid creation of wireframes and prototypes. Link ↗️

Community Library Update: New UX Research Books

AI is transforming the way we work as UX and product designers, it's crucial to strengthen our foundational knowledge in areas like User Experience, and UX Research. To support this, I've added three new books to our community library, focusing on user research learn more about why I added these books by visiting the Community Library by clicking here ↗️ or check them out on amazon by using the links below:

• UX Research: Practical Techniques for Designing Better Products. Link ↗️

• Universal Methods of Design, Expanded and Revised: 125 Ways to Research Complex Problems, Develop Innovative Ideas, and Design Effective Solutions. Link ↗️

• It's Our Research: Getting Stakeholder Buy-in for User Experience Research Projects. Link ↗️

As always, I value your feedback. Feel free to share your experiences with these tools and let me know what you think about the new book auditions!

Until next time!

Cristian P.

What we'll cover today

• Update: We have a podcast guest incoming

• I've launched a community library: Curated Book Collection

• Lean UX & Value Proposition Canvases: Tools for Designers

Podcast guest incoming

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Aswin Ranganathan on my incoming podcast, he is the founder of Designing with Prompts, where he shares tutorials to help designers bring their ideas to life using AI. Aswin’s also educator behind Modern Designer, a resource hub for emerging design practices. Stay tuned—the podcast should be live later this week! (see preview below)

On a side note, I want to mention that this is something I want to continue doing with the channel—bringing on designers who are passionate about AI. I plan to dive into what shaped them into the designers they are today and explore the ways AI tools can enhance our rapidly evolving workflows.

Get access to our community library

Two weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on Unreasonable Hospitality and how it resonated with me, which led to some great offline conversations with some of you on the books that have impacted your careers. This inspired me to create a community library—a curated collection of books that have profoundly influenced my product design and UX journey. Check it our here: The Cristian Talks Product Design Community Library

These titles delve into creativity, user experience, innovation, and personal growth, each selected for their unique insights into design challenges. The library is a growing resource meant to support and inspire your design journey, and I’d love to hear any must-read suggestions you have. Don't forget to book mark it to your reading list! 

Lean UX & Value Proposition Canvases: Tools for Designers

I recently received an exciting update from the Figma community—my FigJam templates are being downloaded and making an impact! I'm stoked to see that they're adding value, and I want to let you know that there are even more templates and Figma resources on the way.

That said, there are already plenty of great assets out there, and today I want to share two that provide incredible value and that every product design/UX designer should have in their toolkit. Let’s dive into the details:

1. Value Proposition Canvas

The Value Proposition Canvas helps ensure a product-market fit by focusing on customer segments and how a company’s products meet their needs. It breaks down into two core sections:

• Customer Profile: Understand your target customers by mapping out their jobs, pains, and gains.

• Value Map: Clarify how your product creates value by identifying products/services, pain relievers, and gain creators.

When should you use it?

When you want to create a compelling value proposition that resonates with customers. This tool helps prioritize user needs and ensures alignment between what users need and what you offer.

Tips for Success:

• Invest in user research: Your canvas is only as strong as your understanding of your customer.

• Prioritize customer needs: Not all jobs, pains, or gains are equal—focus on the most impactful ones.

• Think beyond function: Emotional and social reasons often drive customer decisions, not just functional benefits.

Resource:

• https://www.strategyzer.com/library/the-value-proposition-canvas

• https://miro.com/templates/value-proposition/

• https://www.figma.com/community/file/value-proposition-canvas

2. Lean UX Canvas

The Lean UX Canvas helps teams quickly capture and validate ideas, focusing on user experience and iterative development. It’s particularly effective in environments where speed and collaboration are key.

When should you use it?

Use the Lean UX Canvas when your team needs to align on a problem quickly, validate ideas efficiently, and ensure that you are solving the right problem for users. It is especially helpful in startup environments or projects that prioritize rapid iteration and learning.

Key components include:

• Business Problem & Outcomes: Define what you’re trying to solve and how success will be measured.

• User Outcomes: Identify how users will benefit from your solution and what value they’ll derive.

• Hypotheses & Minimal Work: Frame ideas as hypotheses and determine the least amount of work needed to validate them.

Tips for Success:

• Start with the problem, not the solution.

• Identify assumptions and validate quickly.

• Frame ideas as hypotheses rather than features.

Resource:

• https://jeffgothelf.com/blog/leanuxcanvas-v2/

• https://miro.com/templates/lean-canvas/

• https://www.figma.com/community/file/lean-ux-canvas-2-0

I hope these canvases offer practical ways to support your design thinking journey. Feel free to reach out if you’re using them or if you have questions—I’d love to hear your experiences.

Until next time, Cristian.

Happy Tuesday! Before diving into today’s article, I want to quickly thank each and every one of you for supporting my writing. As of this post, we’ve grown to a community of 75 strong, and I couldn’t be more grateful! A huge thank you for all your support! I figured this would be a great time to mention that I’m planning something big for when we reach our 100-subscriber milestone—maybe a giveaway of sorts! 😉 So stay tuned.

Now, let’s dive into an important topic that often gets overlooked when building AI-powered chatbots, applying a voice and tone to your organization’s chatbot.

There’s a common assumption that because GPT, Gemini, and other AI models are so advanced, there’s no need to worry about defining voice and tone. But this is a big misconception. In reality, it’s something organizations should account for to avoid delivering a generic, impersonal user experience that doesn’t align with their brand. As AI product designers, we’re perfectly positioned to add value in this area.

After all, it’s crucial for us to ensure these AI tools align with our organization’s unique personality. We’re not just creating a tool—we’re crafting an extension of our brand or product. While models like GPT can generate human-like text, it’s up to us to guide how that text sounds. A chatbot with a well-defined voice and tone can enhance user engagement, ensure consistency across platforms, and strengthen your brand’s identity.

With that in mind, today’s post will share three techniques you can use as a designer to apply voice and tone to your AI chatbot, along with some resources to inspire you.

Three Approaches to Applying Voice and Tone to Your AI Chatbot

1. Define Your Chatbot’s Personality

Begin by determining the tone and character traits your chatbot should exhibit. Consider how your brand would communicate if it were a person—would it be professional, playful, empathetic, or witty? Document these attributes in a comprehensive style guide to ensure consistency across all interactions. This guide should detail personality traits, preferred vocabulary, and provide sample conversations for AI engineers to follow.

2. Collaborate with AI Engineers

Engage closely with AI engineers to align the chatbot's technical capabilities with your envisioned personality. Share detailed scenarios and dialogue samples that demonstrate how the chatbot should respond in various contexts, whether addressing customer inquiries or technical requests. This collaboration ensures the chatbot’s tone adapts appropriately to different user needs, keeping interactions consistent and on-brand.

3. Leverage Prompt Engineering and Fine-Tuning

Utilize prompt engineering techniques to guide the AI model’s responses, ensuring they reflect your brand’s voice. By fine-tuning the model with specific prompts, you can maintain a consistent tone and prevent deviations into unintended styles. For example, you might instruct the AI to “respond in a playful yet helpful tone” or “keep responses empathetic and understanding.”

Recommended Readings:

1. How to Design a Chatbot Personality:

   This article offers insights into creating a chatbot persona that aligns with your brand, enhancing user engagement through consistent tone and style.

2. Chatbot Persona: What It Is and How to Create One:
   Learn about the benefits of establishing a chatbot persona and the steps to develop one that resonates with your audience.

3. Tone of Voice Dimensions:
   This resource explores the four dimensions of tone of voice, aiding in defining your brand's communication style.

4. Tone and Voice: What’s the Difference?:

   This article clarifies the distinction between tone and voice, essential for understanding how to communicate effectively through your chatbot.

5. Brand Voice and Tone Building with Prompt Engineering:
   Discover how prompt engineering can help develop and maintain your brand's voice across AI-driven communications.

By thoughtfully defining your chatbot's personality and collaborating with AI engineers, you can create a conversational agent that authentically represents your brand, fostering meaningful connections with users.

Resources to Draw Inspiration From

To help you refine your approach, here are five excellent content style guides that provide examples of voice and tone across various industries. These can serve as inspiration for developing your own brand’s chatbot voice:

1. Duolingo’s Brand Voice Guidelines
   Duolingo is known for its quirky, friendly tone, which makes language learning feel fun and approachable.

2. MetLife’s Tone of Voice Guide
   MetLife’s tone is clear, empathetic, and helpful—qualities that resonate well with users in financial services.

3. NASA’s Content Guide
   NASA’s guide demonstrates how to balance technical accuracy with approachable language, making complex concepts easier to digest.

4. Slack’s Brand Guidelines
   Slack’s tone is conversational and casual, creating a relaxed atmosphere even in a professional setting.

5. Atlassian’s Voice and Tone Principles
   Atlassian focuses on being open, accessible, and helpful—a great resource if you’re designing a product with a collaborative nature.

Voice and tone matter more than ever in AI-powered products. By defining your chatbot’s personality, working closely with AI engineers, and leveraging tools like prompt engineering, you can ensure your chatbot reflects your brand’s voice consistently. It’s not just about how your chatbot answers a question—it’s about how users feel when interacting with it.

I encourage you to experiment with these techniques. Reflect on your brand’s voice, and don’t hesitate to collaborate with your team to bring it to life in your chatbot. And as always, I’d love to hear how you’re applying these ideas in your projects—feel free to share your thoughts!

Until next time, stay creative and keep designing.

Best,
Cristian

Over the past week, I’ve been reflecting on how we, as product designers, balance creativity with the need to demonstrate the value and impact of UX within organizations. This got me thinking—does the way you approach metrics like KPIs and OKRs say something about your maturity as a designer? After considering it, I believe it does. And here’s why:

As a junior designer, you’re often tasked with completing immediate assignments, typically with much of the context already defined by others. Naturally, this focuses your perspective on the 'what' of your work. For example: What are you designing? What’s the deliverable? From this point of view, it might not seem necessary to think about KPIs or OKRs—or so you’d think, right? But I believe it’s important to consider these metrics, even as a junior designer, especially if you want to grow in your career. Here’s why:

As you grow into more senior or principal roles, your perspective shifts. Instead of just asking what, you start asking why and how. Why are you building this? How will it impact the end-to-end experience? And because of this shift, your relationship with KPIs evolves. You begin to see them as more than just measurements—they become strategic tools. They help you move beyond the 'what' and dive deeper into the 'why,' allowing you to connect your design decisions to long-term outcomes and organizational success.

This brings us to the question: Do KPIs limit innovation for product designers?

No, I don’t think so. In fact, I believe that understanding and integrating KPIs into your work can actually help you grow as a designer. When you know how to measure your impact, you don’t stifle creativity—you enhance it. You gain the ability to solve more complex problems, justify your design decisions, and communicate the value of UX in a way that resonates with stakeholders across the organization. Senior designers, for example, don’t just track metrics; they use them to guide long-term vision and ensure their designs have a lasting impact.

With all of this in mind, today I’d like to share 10 KPIs that every product designer should care about. I’ve broken them down into three key categories—User Experience and Usability, Conversion and Engagement, and User Feedback and Satisfaction—to help you focus on how each group impacts different aspects of your work. Let’s break each one down, explore why they matter, and how you can measure them effectively.

User Experience and Usability

User experience (UX) and usability metrics help you understand how effectively users can interact with your design. These KPIs focus on efficiency, ease of use, and error reduction, all of which are crucial for creating a seamless product experience. Let’s explore a few key KPIs in this category.

Task Success Rate (TSR)

• What it is: Task Success Rate measures how effectively users can complete tasks while interacting with your product.

• Why it’s important: TSR is a critical indicator of how intuitive and user-friendly your design is, directly reflecting how well your design helps users achieve their goals.

• How to measure:

  1. Track the number of users who attempt a task.

  2. Categorize their success into tiers: complete success, success with minor issues, success with major issues, or failure.

  3. Calculate the percentage of users in each category to get a clear picture of usability.

For more detailed guidance, I recently wrote this article and created a free to access spreadsheet that you can use to guide your next usability test. check it out here!

Time on Task

• What it is: Time on Task measures how long users take to complete specific tasks within your product.

• Why it’s important: It helps pinpoint where users may face delays or friction, giving insights into how efficient and smooth your design is.

• How to measure:

  1. Define the task: Clearly outline the task you want users to complete.

  2. Set start and end points: Identify what actions mark the beginning and end of the task.

  3. Use tracking tools: Screen recorders or analytics software like UXtweak can capture task completion times.

  4. Analyze the data: Look for patterns, and consider excluding outliers such as pauses or interruptions.

  5. Refine based on findings: Use these insights to adjust the task flow or design to optimize completion times.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “Task completion time” by UXtweak.

User Error Rate

• What it is: The User Error Rate tracks how often users make mistakes while completing tasks.

• Why it’s important: A high error rate signals usability issues, making it easy to spot areas that need improvement.

• How to measure:

  1. Break down errors into categories, such as:

     • Slips: Unintentional actions (e.g., typos).

     • Mistakes: Wrong goals (e.g., entering incorrect data).

     • UI Problems: Errors caused by poor design.

     • Scenario Errors: Mistakes due to artificial test conditions.

  2. Count the total number of errors users make during the task.

  3. Divide that by the total number of task attempts.

  4. Multiply by 100 to get the error rate percentage.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “Measuring Errors in the User Experience” by Jeff Sauro’s

Navigation vs. Search

• What it is: This KPI compares user preferences for using navigation menus versus search functionality to find content or complete tasks.

• Why it’s important: It shows how users prefer to interact with your product, helping you identify whether navigation or search needs improvement.

• How to measure:

  1. Use usability testing tools like UsabilityHub, Hotjar, or Mouseflow to track user clicks and interactions.

  2. Measure task completion rates for both navigation and search.

  3. Divide successful completions by the total number of tasks to identify trends.

  4. Analyze whether users rely more on search or navigation, offering insights into areas that may need improvement.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “The 7 Most Important UX KPIs (and How to Measure Them)” by Emily Stevens.

User Feedback and Satisfaction

User feedback and satisfaction metrics provide direct insights into how users feel about your design. These KPIs are crucial for improving the overall user experience and building customer loyalty.

System Usability Scale (SUS)

What it is: SUS is a standardized questionnaire of 10 items rated on a 5-point scale, designed to assess the overall usability of your product.

Why it’s important: SUS provides a reliable benchmark for understanding how users perceive ease of use. It’s widely used across industries, making it great for comparison and tracking improvements over time.

How to measure:

• Distribute a SUS survey with 10 statements rated from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree."

• Convert scores: subtract 1 from odd-numbered items and subtract even-numbered responses from 5.

• Add up the scores and multiply by 2.5 for a final score out of 100.

• A score above 68 indicates above-average usability, while anything over 85 shows excellent usability.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “System Usability Scale for Data-Driven UX” by Mads Soegaard.

Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)

What it is: A survey-based metric that measures user satisfaction with your product.

Why it’s important: It provides direct feedback on the user experience and highlights areas that may need improvement.

How to measure: Ask users to rate their satisfaction on a scale (typically 1 to 5 or 1 to 7). Calculate the percentage of users who provide positive ratings (4 or 5) out of the total responses to determine your CSAT.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “What is CSAT and how do you measure it?” by Qualtrics.

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

What it is: NPS is a metric that measures user loyalty by asking how likely they are to recommend your product to others.

Why it’s important: A high NPS reflects strong user satisfaction and loyalty, which can drive organic growth through word-of-mouth.

How to measure: Ask users to rate their likelihood of recommending your product on a scale from 0 to 10. Subtract the percentage of Detractors (those who rate 0-6) from the percentage of Promoters (those who rate 9-10) to calculate your NPS score.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “The One Number You Need to Grow” by Frederick F. Reichheld, published on HBR.

Conversion and Engagement

This category focuses on how effectively your design drives user engagement and conversion actions, like purchases or sign-ups. These KPIs provide insights into how well your design supports business goals and user retention.

Conversion Rate

What it is: Conversion Rate measures the percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service.

Why it’s important: It’s a key indicator of how well your design turns visitors into active users or customers, helping you gauge the effectiveness of your product’s engagement and sales funnel.

How to measure: First, identify the specific conversion events you want to track (e.g., signing up, completing a purchase). Then, divide the number of users who complete the desired action by the total number of visitors, and multiply by 100 to get the conversion rate. You can also use A/B testing to compare conversion rates across different designs and see which version performs best.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “What are Conversion Rates?” by the Interaction Design Foundation.

Bounce Rate

What it is: Bounce Rate measures the percentage of visitors who leave after viewing only one page.

Why it’s important: A high bounce rate can signal that users aren’t finding the content or experience engaging, which may need further investigation.

How to measure: Use analytics tools to track the percentage of visitors who leave after a single interaction. Compare bounce rates across different pages or user segments to identify problem areas and opportunities for improvement.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “Bounce rate: what it is and how to improve it” by Hotjar.

Page Views

What it is: Page Views measure the total number of times a page is viewed or reloaded by users.

Why it’s important: High page views, combined with other engagement metrics, can indicate strong interest in your content or design.

How to measure: Use analytics tools to track views. Pair this data with metrics like scroll depth, time on page, and user interactions to understand overall engagement.

For more detailed guidance, check out this article “ What are Page Views?” by Agency Analytics.

Wrapping It All Up

As we’ve explored, KPIs are not just metrics to track—they’re strategic tools that can help you grow as a designer and elevate the impact of your work. By integrating KPIs into your process, you don’t limit creativity, you empower it. Understanding the relationship between design and measurable outcomes allows you to justify your decisions, solve more complex problems, and align your designs with long-term business goals.

Now, you might be wondering if these KPIs are UX-specific—and the truth is, they’re not. Part of your growth as a designer involves realizing that marketing teams, product managers, and other stakeholders might also be using these same metrics to guide their decisions. This highlights an important point: none of these KPIs or metrics should be viewed in isolation. Instead, think of them as adjustable levers—like the knobs on a telescope—that help you sharpen your focus and get a clearer picture of the overall product landscape. The key is learning how to balance and interpret these metrics together to make informed, strategic decisions.

Whether you’re focusing on usability, engagement, or user satisfaction, each of the KPIs we’ve discussed offers a window into how your design is performing and where it can improve. As you continue to refine your approach, remember that embracing these metrics—especially as you transition into more senior roles—can be a game-changer in driving success for both your team and your users.

What do you think about the role of KPIs in product design? Do they help or hinder creativity in your experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts or any experiences you've had—feel free to share in the comments!

Today, I’d like to share five valuable insights I gained from reading "Unreasonable Hospitality" by Will Guidara. A friend recommended this book while we were chatting about our backgrounds in the hospitality industry, and yes if your wondering many years ago I had the opportunity to work at various restaurants and cafe’s, where surprisingly enough I learned a-lot about what it takes to deliver a pleasant and even memorable experience.

It's funny because this 'fun fact' about me often surprises those I meet, though I'm not really sure why. After all, there are many similarities between the general objectives of these industries. With this in mind I decided give Unreasonable hospitality a try to see if there were any bits of gold that incorporate into my professional growth.

Now if your still wondering whether you should read the book, the answer is yes, although "Unreasonable Hospitality" may not be explicitly aimed at product designers, its principles deeply resonate and offer valuable guidance for those of us creating digital experiences. Much of Guidara’s insight apply not only to the design process but also to team collaboration and leadership skills that I think are valuable. With that in mind, here are some carefully curated takeaways from the book that I think will add value to product designers tool set of skills.

Being Intentional

Being intentional in design is all about embedding thoughtfulness and clarity into every aspect of your work. As Will Guidara puts it, "To do something with intentionality means to do it thoughtfully with a clear purpose in mind."

As designers, it’s crucial that we avoid superficial decisions, like relying solely on spontaneous inspiration. While these moments have their place, true intention must underpin every design choice, no matter its size. The sum of these intentional micro-interactions ultimately sculpts the entire user experience, going beyond the core product itself. By being deliberate in every choice, you contribute to crafting more meaningful and impactful experiences.

Fostering Collaboration

Designing collaboratively means cultivating an environment where open communication and mutual respect thrive. Will Guidara highlights the importance of acknowledging and appreciating each team member’s unique talents. Collaboration goes beyond merely working in proximity; it involves integrating diverse viewpoints to fuel innovation.

The way you respond to new ideas can set the tone for future contributions, as Guidara notes, "The first time someone comes to you with an idea, listen closely, because how you handle it will dictate how they choose to contribute in the future." Every interaction sets the stage for future collaborations, emphasizing the need for thoughtfulness and openness. By listening actively and providing a supportive atmosphere, you empower your team and unlock their potential, which leads to more innovative and successful outcomes.

Striving for Excellence

Amid today's competitive landscape, it's tempting to rush to launch and promise enhancements later—we've all been there. However, while iterative improvements are important, designers should advocate for creating exceptional experiences right from the beginning. Guidara wisely says, "It may not be possible to do everything perfectly, but it is possible to do many things perfectly."

I appreciated this because it points to the idea that there needs to be a middle ground rather than chasing perfectionism endlessly, focus on deliberate actions to guarantee high-quality outcomes. In other words delivering excellence doesn't equate to flawlessness in every detail; it's about intentionally honing in on core user interactions that define the product's value. By maintaining high standards and striving for excellence, you craft memorable and impactful user experiences.

Embracing a Creative Process

The creative process might seem like an unrestricted flow where ideas come and go, and to some extent, it is. However, Guidara's perspective adds depth: creativity demands initiative and active engagement. This struck a chord with me, affirming that, as designers, we mustn't wait for inspiration but should actively chase new ideas and perspectives. "Creativity is an active process, not a passive one," says Guidara, underscoring the need for action and continuous discipline. By creating safe environments that foster creativity through structured meetings, teamwork, and intentional open thinking, we nurture a curious mindset that propels innovative solutions. Viewing creativity as an ongoing journey equips us to deliver fresh, dynamic experiences.

Don't Ruin a Story with Facts

While crafting feasible designs that engineers can build is essential, over-focusing on technical constraints early on can stifle creativity. I've been in that situation, yet Guidara's advice is enlightening: "Start with what you want to achieve, instead of limiting yourself to what's realistic or sustainable." Allowing creativity to lead the process from the outset can unveil innovative opportunities and redefine perceived boundaries. By prioritizing exploration of what's possible, designers can transcend limitations and create groundbreaking designs. Embracing this approach fosters creativity and lets us craft meaningful experiences that inspire and elevate our work.

The Power of Hospitality Principles in Product Design

At its core, designing exceptional user experiences requires more than just technical expertise—it demands empathy, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Just as hospitality revolves around making people feel valued and understood, these same principles can guide us in creating thoughtful, user-centered digital experiences. By being intentional, fostering collaboration, and embracing creativity, we can craft products that not only solve problems but resonate deeply with the people who use them.

What do you think about applying hospitality principles to design? I’d love to hear your thoughts or any experiences you've had—feel free to share in the comments!

Thank you for reading today’s post!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s issue of “Cristian Talks Product Design.” Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps me improve and deliver content that matters to you. If you have a minute, it would mean a lot if you could complete this quick 3-question survey!

Start Reader Feedback Survey

Is anyone else still thinking about last week’s Meta announcements?! The progress on Meta AI and those Orion glasses—cool, right? You’ve got to love the innovation.

One moment that really stood out to me was when Zuck introduced Meta AI’s new conversational features. He asked the AI assistant how risky it is to do live demos, and the system responded:

“Live demos can be risky, yes. They can be unpredictable, prone to technical issues, and potentially embarrassing. However, they can also be engaging, memorable, and effective in showcasing products or skills. Preparation is key to managing those risks.”

This got me thinking about UX. A key responsibility of UX designers is to anticipate the edge cases that users might encounter. But with AI being such a unique type of product, how do we handle these edge cases, especially when mistakes are inevitable? Whether with machine learning or traditional systems, errors are part of the learning process. But how we design for those errors is what sets user-friendly systems apart.

With this in mind, I created a FREE Figjam workshop for you and your team. It’s designed to guide you through identifying AI errors, understanding their root causes, and brainstorming actionable solutions. You’ll move from strategy to wireframing, and by the end, you’ll have concrete insights you can turn into product improvements. Dropping the link below—check it out Let me know what you think!

➡️ Designing for AI System Errors: A Whiteboarding Workshop Template

If Figjam isn’t your thing, don’t worry! I’ll be covering much of the same content in today’s post, though at a higher level. So, let’s dive into these techniques and learn how to turn errors into moments that strengthen your AI product’s user experience.

Defining Errors & Failure

Before you can design for errors, it’s important to clarify what counts as an "error" or "failure" in your system. Consider that In probabilistic AI systems, users might see failure in places where the AI is actually functioning as intended and this misalignment can create a significant opportunity for user pain points.

What you can do: Set up a time with as many cross functional stakeholders as you can and dedicate this time to collecting canonical error examples. This will set the stage for you to and your team to have a share understanding of potential errors to work toward solutions.

Identifying the Source of Errors

AI systems are complex, and identifying the root cause of an error can be challenging. As a designer, it’s essential to collaborate with your team to establish a process for recognizing and understanding errors. This approach helps you address issues more effectively and improve error-handling experiences.

What you can do: Define error types like system limitations, context misalignment, or input errors using canonical examples. Once sources are identified, collaborate on a plan to resolve them, focusing on feedback loops and improving user control.

Consider these questions to pinpoint root causes:

• Did the system misinterpret the user’s input or fail to auto-correct?

• Was the user’s habitual action interrupted, causing confusion?

• Is the model working with incomplete or unstable data?

• Is there confusion over which system is in control, especially during integrations?

• Did multiple errors cascade, rendering features unusable?

By addressing these, your team can systematically diagnose errors, create targeted solutions, and improve user control and feedback loops.

Designing a Path Forward

No matter how well-planned, AI systems will experience failure. The goal isn’t to avoid errors but to detect them early and design thoughtful recovery options that improve the system over time.

What you can do: Set up feedback loops that capture and route errors back to your team for refinement. Use multiple sources to track and analyze issues:

• In-product feedback tools to capture real-time issues.

• Customer service reports that describe problems in detail.

• Social media comments highlighting frustrations.

• In-product surveys that prompt users for input after errors.

• User research like interviews and diary studies to uncover patterns.

Decide which feedback channels suit your team’s resources. Not every channel is feasible, but the right ones will provide valuable insights. Ensure the user experience feels supportive, and that feedback continuously improves the system.

Humanizing the Error Experience

Errors aren’t just technical issues—they’re opportunities to humanize your product. Error messages should reflect humanity, not just machine logic. Be transparent about the system’s limitations and encourage users to continue their journey. Explain how the AI learns from mistakes and how users can help improve it.

When users encounter errors, offer recovery options like retrying, adjusting input, or seeking assistance. Every error message should guide users forward, not leave them stuck.

What you can do:

• Return control to the user: Give users intuitive options to regain control and move forward.

• Assume subversive behavior: Design failures that are safe and avoid revealing system vulnerabilities.

• Ensure suggestions are relevant: Make sure error suggestions help users progress, not just respond to the issue.

• Always provide a path forward: Guide users to recovery options without dead ends.

• Be transparent: Explain what went wrong and how the system is improving.

• Take accountability: Use sincere messaging that acknowledges faults and maintains user trust.

By considering these elements, you can turn error states into moments of connection and trust-building.

The Heart of Learning is built from failure

Learning can't happen without making mistakes, and this is a critical concept for designers working with AI systems. When users encounter errors, it’s an opportunity for dialogue, not frustration. By designing your system with errors in mind, you allow users to see that the AI is a work-in-progress, and this transparency helps keep them engaged.

Designing user-centered error experiences for AI products goes beyond just fixing technical issues. It’s about showing users that you’re listening, that the system is learning, and that their feedback matters. By being transparent, human, and thoughtful in how you manage errors, you can turn mistakes into moments that build trust and improve your product.

What do you think about designing for errors in AI systems? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments—I’d love to hear your perspective.

Thank you for reading today’s post!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s issue of “Cristian Talks Product Design.” Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps me improve and deliver content that matters to you. If you have a minute, it would mean a lot if you could complete this quick 3-question survey!

Start Reader Feedback Survey