Design process

Creativity

Why every designer needs a bit of kindergarten thinking

Creativity thrives in curiosity, not conformity. Inspired by kindergarten thinking, this article explores how play, passion, and shared exploration can help designers unlock better ideas and enjoy the process more along the way.

Jess Eddy Jun 11, 2025 7 min read

Happy and content tiny Buddha with a tiny brief.

Design process

Tiny Brief: A quick-start approach to generating project briefs and clarity

Casual design requests often lack clarity, making it harder for you to do great work. Tiny Brief helps turn vague asks into structured, actionable briefs—so you get the information you need upfront. Use it to bring clarity, focus, and better collaboration to your design process.

Jess Eddy Apr 29, 2025 3 min read

An illustration featuring a wireframe design with an annotation on it.

Figma

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Figma annotations: A workaround for teams without full access (free resource included)

A flexible workaround for Figma’s limited annotations feature, perfect for teams without full access or dev mode. Includes a free, customizable annotations component you can start using right away.

Jess Eddy Apr 15, 2025 4 min read

Storytelling

Why expressing ideas is hard and how outlining makes it easier

Why is expressing ideas so difficult? Learn how outlining helps reduce cognitive load, clarify your thoughts, and improve communication—especially for designers and knowledge workers.

Jess Eddy Apr 1, 2025 5 min read

Creativity

What Flow reveals about the creative process and self-directed learning

Flow is a stunning animated film and a testament to creative independence. Made by a self-taught filmmaker without storyboards or a traditional pipeline, it proves that great work comes from curiosity, experimentation, and trusting the process. Here’s what Flow reveals about the creative journey.

Jess Eddy Feb 27, 2025 5 min read

Design process

The Duolingo handbook: 9 lessons for designing world-class products

Key lessons from Duolingo’s handbook on designing engaging, intuitive, and effective products. Learn how to balance fun, engagement, and long-term impact to create experiences users love—and keep coming back to.

Jess Eddy Feb 20, 2025 12 min read

Why great design still starts in Figma (most of the time)

Design process

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Why great design still starts in Figma (most of the time)

While AI and code-first approaches are on the rise, design tools remain essential for collaboration and iteration. However, not every project requires a design process. Here’s when Figma is worth it—and when jumping straight into code makes sense.

Jess Eddy Feb 13, 2025 9 min read

AI

How o3 is shaping the future of work: opportunities for designers and beyond

o3, the latest iteration from OpenAI, builds on the success of earlier GPT models, with enhanced reasoning, coding, and problem-solving capabilities that are poised to transform design.

Jess Eddy Jan 2, 2025 8 min read

Don’t let the lack of high-fidelity designs slow your team down: try these ways of collaborating

Collaboration

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Don’t let the lack of high-fidelity designs slow your team down: try these ways of collaborating

You don’t need perfect designs to make progress. This article shares practical ways for designers and engineers to collaborate effectively without waiting for pixel-perfect, high-fidelity designs. Learn to overcome bottlenecks, involve engineers early, and align as a team.

Jess Eddy Dec 3, 2024 6 min read

A designer looking at a computer screen and code is reflected in her glasses.

Professional growth

AI tools are creating new opportunities and leveling the playing field for designers

AI coding assistants and no-code platforms unlock new opportunities for designers, making it easier to experiment, prototype, and step into technical roles. As design becomes a key differentiator in a crowded market, now is the perfect time for designers to expand their horizons and skills.

Jess Eddy Oct 23, 2024 5 min read

An illustration of a woman with rose colored glasses looking at where the grass is greener.

Figma

members

A practical guide to design documentation with real examples in Figma

This guide explores how to effectively document design decisions and provide context in Figma, creating transparency and improving collaboration throughout your design process. Discover how to establish a single source of truth, minimize miscommunication, and improve team alignment and efficiency.

Jess Eddy Oct 2, 2024 11 min read

Principles and heuristics

Tesler’s law in design: Why managing complexity matters more than ever

Tesler’s law reminds us that complexity doesn’t vanish—it just shifts. Learn how to design intuitive, user-friendly products by managing complexity instead of offloading it to users.

Jess Eddy Sep 15, 2024 6 min read

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