#42 / Can AI facilitate a design workshop?
Hello my friend! š
Iāve been leading a design workshop this week, bringing together folks from the engineering, product, and design teams. The results were fantastic ā loads of notes and insights, plus we agreed on a list of potential directions. I put a lot of effort into preparing for it and even used AI to streamline some of the communication tasks, which accounted for about 5ā10% of the workload.
It felt like hosting a successful dinner party where everyone left satisfied. And no, at this point, AI isnāt ready to take over my entire job. So for the question,Ā āCan AI facilitate a design workshopā, the answer is no, for now.
However, I aim to uncover more opportunities (and there are plenty) to make the process faster or to free up more of my time and energy for tasks of greater value. Iām considering increasing the portion of work done by AI from 5ā10% to 20ā30% without introducing significant risks. But thatās a hefty subject to dive into, so letās save it for another day :)
Hereāre a few things Iād like to share with you today š
Marques Brownleeās tech videos
Reflecting on Podcast Recording
āSongs of the yearā list
Temuās dark patten UX
UX Design vs. UI Design vs. Product Design: Understanding the Differences
Have a great one and see you soon!
Marques Brownleeās tech videos
My favorite tech videos are by Marques Brownlee. The video quality is top-notch, filled with tons of editing, transitions, and other tech elements. But even if you strip away all these tech aspects, itās his way of expression, speed of speech, and rhythm that I admire the most. His ability to communicate in such a genuine, natural, and persuasive manner, coupled with spot-on opinions, is something I aspire to learn and emulate, especially for tech content.
Reflecting on Podcast Recording
One day, with about forty to fifty minutes to myself at home, I decided to record a podcast episode. After hooking up the sound card and microphone and recording for twenty minutes, I realized only the first ten minutes of audio were usable. Iāve now decided to ditch these complex professional setups, like the Shure microphone with a sound card, and using a DSLR as a camera. Every time I fiddle with this equipment, it zaps at least 50% of my enthusiasm for the project, leading me to hastily finish up.
Being able to hit record anytime without wasting time setting up is my goal. Tweaking equipment in the middle is just a time and energy sink, even if it does result in slightly better quality.
Iām not a professional YouTuber; Iām just doing this for my own learning and growth. Thereās no need for me to fuss over these aspects. Iāve decided to stick to using my iPhone with a Logi camera, coupled with Rodeās wireless microphone, which is more than sufficient. The key is getting set up in ten seconds and diving right into recordingāhow great is that!
āSongs of the yearā list
Do you feel frustrated when seeing your āsongs of the yearā list is occupied by your kidās song? Well, some products know what their customer want: NetEase Musicās annual playlist smartly offers an option to filter out childrenās songs, while my Spotify is still swamped with tunes from the Wiggles and other kiddie hits.
Temuās dark patten UX
I finally became a user of Temu (thanks to all the ads). After downloading the app, I was seamlessly guided to complete my first order. They really understood the consumer psychology: ten-minute flash sales, coupons, and various tactics to stimulate that first purchase.
Their design is evidently data-driven and optimized to the extreme, quite formidable. Itās like we are lab rats, hurried through a ten-minute maze, rapidly placing orders, thinking theyāve snagged a deal.
UX Design vs. UI Design vs. Product Design: Understanding the Differences
In this video, weāll explain the differences between UX Design, UI Design, and Product Design. If youāre considering a career change into UX/UI design but donāt have much knowledge or experience in the industry, this video is for you! By the end of this video, youāll have a better understanding of the different roles within UX/UI design, which will help you make a more informed decision about your career path.
Bear Academy Newsletter
Non-crap tips and thoughts on design, product and technology āØ
š»Ā Bear Who?
Hi there š, Iām Bear, a seasoned Product Designer with 15 years of overall design experience and six years in product design, transforming the user experiences for millions š
As an Apple Award-Winning Podcast Host at BearTalk and a Design Mentor at Springboard and CareerFoundry, I apply my self-taught design skills and science background to solve complicated problems and mentor budding designers š
In my downtime, youāll find me reading, drawing, podcasting, and making videos about everything from tech to design and productivity šØāšØ
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šĀ I also doļ¼Design Mentor at Springboard and CareerFoundry / Founder at Bear Academy
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