Apple’s New Liquid Glass Design: Practical Guidance for Designers
The Liquid Glass language introduces a translucent, adaptive UI material across Apple’s 2025 OS releases and now ships in Figma’s latest effect update. When used thoughtfully, it can enrich hierarchy, but it carries real performance and accessibility costs if over-applied. The sections below summarise the design’s strengths and pitfalls, show how to recreate it in Figma, and outline best-practice patterns to keep products inclusive.
The European Accessibility Act: A Strategic Opportunity for UK Businesses
The EAA, which came into force on 28 June 2025, mandates that digital products and services offered in the EU must meet specific accessibility standards. Despite Brexit, UK businesses selling products or services to EU consumers must comply with the EAA regardless of where they are headquartered. This affects companies with more than 10 employees and annual turnover exceeding €2 million.
UX isn’t a department, it’s a culture
When scaling a product, it's easy to treat UX as a design step, something to layer in once the roadmap is set and the screens are ready to be polished.
In the most successful start-ups we work with, UX isn't a phase or a team. It's a way of thinking that cuts across product, engineering, comms and leadership. It’s a culture of curiosity, clarity, and co-creation, from the first idea to the final release.
AI Needs a Better Interface, and Fast
Remember When Search Was Simple?
Back when Google ruled the digital world, the interface was brilliantly simple: a single box, a blinking cursor, and instant results. It felt easy. Fast forward to today, and many so-called innovative tools have kept that same box, but the experience feels anything but simple.
Why so many start-ups struggle with simple - and how to get it right
When you're building your first product or gearing up for launch, one piece of advice is always relevant: “Just make it simple.”
Sounds easy, right? But in reality, simplicity is one of the hardest things to design, especially when you’re a start-up trying to prove value, ship fast, and impress investors. Find out how Designed for Humans helps start-ups to simplify their product.
When brand gets in the way: Rethinking consistency and clarity in UX
Two of the most commonly misunderstood design principles are consistency and cleverness. Ironically, both are often applied in the name of branding but they can quietly undermine the user experience when left unchecked.
Find out why it’s more important to focus on the user's best interest.
Innovating Digital Products for Real Humans
This article is for product managers, UX/UI designers, and innovation leaders who find their digital products aren't resonating with their intended audience. If you're noticing high churn rates or low engagement despite having advanced tech, this post is your guide.
From launch to lag: What happens when UX is treated as complete?
One of the most persistent misunderstandings about UX is the belief that it has a finish line. A sprint ends, a prototype gets signed off, the feature goes live—and it’s ticked off as “done”.
The illusion of “done” is comforting, but dangerous. Read more to find out why.
Why more data doesn’t always mean better UX
Product teams often rely heavily on analytics to drive UX decisions—bounce rates, click-throughs, session durations. These are all useful signals. But I’ve noticed a growing trend: we’re drowning in data and starving for insight.
Find out why more data doesn’t always mean better UX.
When UX crosses the line: The new face of dark patterns
The conversation around dark patterns hasn’t gone away it’s just evolved. What I’m seeing more frequently now is this: the most manipulative UX tactics no longer look obviously deceptive. Instead, they hide behind the language of personalisation, nudging, or even growth experimentation.
Good UX is persuasive, not manipulative. There’s a meaningful difference—and your users can feel it. The strongest products aren’t just optimised for clicks, they’re built for credibility.
From tooltip tours to true journeys: Rethinking product onboarding
Onboarding is one of the most misunderstood stages of the product journey. There’s a trend where teams equate onboarding with a series of pop-ups, hotspots, or a guided tour that’s more style than substance.
Find out why you need to design your onboarding as an evolving, embedded part of the user journey.
Clash of the UX Titans: Stitch vs Figma vs Penpot vs Webflow
Comparing modern UX tools. Which tool’s best for your workflow?
A look at Google’s new AI tool for UX, Stitch, Pen Pot, Figma and Webflow.
Accessibility isn’t just compliance - it’s good design
Accessibility isn't only about checking off legal boxes. It's about creating interfaces that are clear, usable, and respectful to everyone. If your product isn’t accessible, it’s not fully usable—and that’s a failure in user experience, not just a risk in regulation.
Stop treating UX like paint: It’s your blueprint for growth
UX can be treated like a final coat of paint—something to apply once the product works. However, the most successful products aren’t polishing the experience at the end—they’re building it into the core from day one. Read on to find out why good UX needs to deliver.
UX isn't just about users – it's about business needs too
UX conversations often orbit around the user alone. Empathy maps, personas, journey flows are all vital but here's the reality - brilliant UX without business impact is just decoration.
You can pour energy into delighting users, but remember to ask the tougher questions to meet the needs of the business.
Transforming UX design with AI and ML
The fusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) with User Experience (UX) design is revolutionising the way we create and interact with digital products. This integration is not just a trend but a fundamental shift towards more personalised, efficient, and intuitive user experiences.
UX fail: Are you designing for yourself or your users?
One of the biggest mistakes in UX? Designing based on assumptions rather than real user behaviour. It’s easy to think, “This makes sense to me, so it must make sense to everyone.” But here’s the thing—you are not your user.
UX myth: Simplicity = Minimalism
Ever heard "good UX is just making things minimal"? It’s a common misconception! Stripping away elements can make an interface look clean, but does it actually make it easier to use?
Why good UX is invisible
From our experience, the best UX often goes unnoticed. If users don’t think about your design, it’s usually because it just works. No frustration, no confusion—just a seamless experience.
Designing responsibly with AI: 4 principles every UX professional should follow
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a powerful tool shaping how users interact with products today. From personalised recommendations to predictive search and intelligent interfaces, AI has woven itself into the fabric of modern UX design. Yet, with great capability comes great responsibility.
To truly harness AI’s power without compromising user trust or ethical standards, designers must adopt a principled approach.