Jeremy LaCroix

Products like Recraft are like the Perplexity for creating images with #GenAI. They are leaning into the benefits of going beyond a conversational prompt-based interface ONLY and integrating traditional, familiar GUI-based workflows with prompts to provide outcomes that creative people seek. In this example, they've notably improved the experience of creating multiple #images in a consistent style using #AI. In addition, they seem to be among the few (only one?) offering SVG export, making them a great option for #illustration. https://lnkd.in/eiGPqbKU

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Skipping strategy in UX design isn’t just missing a step—it’s missing the chance to lead. My latest post explains why UX strategy is essential to project success and how it transforms designers into strategic partners. https://lnkd.in/gtmnFA7a #userexperience #uxstrategy #businessalignment #productdesign #leadership #designleadership

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“One tool that comes to mind is Origami Studio, which is externally available and open to designers across the industry. Origami Studio was originally created internally in 2014 and has long been a helpful tool for doing high-fidelity design prototyping. Lately we’ve been using it to design AI experiences like Meta AI. We’re exploring ways to make it easier to design prototypes with AI, and I’m excited to see how AI can help us expand access to some of the technical aspects of design work.” https://lnkd.in/gt3NmcSZ

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Learn about how typography can impact the Legibility, Readability, and Comprehension of your designs.

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In my latest podcast interview, Greg Petroff shares insights about the state of design and the opportunities open to designers in these dynamic times. Check it out! https://lnkd.in/gTXpQgjn #UxDesign #Ux #Design #Leadership

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“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou This truth is especially powerful in product and UX/UI design. While creating a beautiful, user-friendly application might seem straightforward—I've had the privilege of doing it for nearly two decades—the real impact lies in the emotions we evoke. It’s those feelings that turn one-time users into loyal advocates. If you’re curious about how emotions shape user experiences or want to know more about neurodesign, check out this article and others written by @jashsak https://lnkd.in/gtj5JpD6

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⚡ AI x Design Thinking⚡ Just before the holidays, I participated in this great workshop series from IDEO U and wanted to give a shout out. Solid intro on how AI/LLMs can be leveraged in brainstorming/ideation > data synthesis/generating insights > storyboarding/prototyping concepts and some of the limitations/pitfalls to watch for. Good overviews, demos, and interactive sessions + opportunity to connect with a large group of multi-disciplinary folks from around the world. Thanks IDEOU - keep them coming 💡 https://lnkd.in/g5BYDV7r

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💡"You have to learn to transmute your love for creating through your designs to a love for creating through a design TEAM. Your creative successes will be shown through how successful your team is. This is the key to leading and managing in the creative space." https://lnkd.in/gHMwbEhT Check out my thoughts on leadership in the creative/UX space, and share your own below! What tips or struggles would you share with up-and-coming creative leaders?

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I just read Longing for Less: Living with Minimalism by Kyle Chayka, and it got me thinking about the power of minimalism—not just in art and architecture that you hear so much about, but in how we experience the world. Chayka's core message is that minimalism isn't just about reducing clutter—it's about creating space for clarity, intentionality, and deeper meaning... principles that really resonate with me and the UX design discipline. Here are some thoughts looking at Minimalism through the lens of user experience design: https://lnkd.in/gnmJGfyM

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I'm thrilled to share that my latest product and design discovery article is live on Mind the Product! As a consultant, I've observed that the term 'Discovery' can have varying interpretations across different teams. It's not uncommon to encounter a team deeply immersed in a solution yet lacking a shared understanding of the customer opportunity they're addressing. At Lab Zero, we meet clients where they are and advocate for discovery while maintaining flexibility. We often employ lightweight methodologies to foster a shared understanding, even when work is already underway. Teresa Torres' book “Continuous Discovery Habits” is a guide to developing the mindset and practices that enable teams to discover and deliver value to their customers throughout the product development process. Her explanation of the 'Opportunity Solution Tree' helped me articulate a process for asking questions and bridging gaps when joining a new team. The first part of this two-part series looks at reversing the 'Opportunity Solution Tree' to establish a connection between the ongoing solution, customer opportunities, and business outcomes. The second part (coming soon!) will explore strategies for identifying gaps in your team's understanding of customer needs and the necessary measures to mitigate risks before launch. This series will help consultants, new team members, or a struggling team connect with that all-important why and launch valuable experiences for their customers and their orgs. Have you tried something like this with your team? Feedback is appreciated! If you haven't explored Mind The Product's extensive content library, I highly recommend it! In addition to articles about discovery and understanding customer needs, the community has shared insightful perspectives on product leadership, business, and teams. It's a great place to see perspectives on processes and theories informed by real-world use.  #ProductDiscovery #Design #Discovery #ContinuousDiscovery #Onboarding #Risk #CustomerOpportunity #Value #BusinessOutcomes

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UX leaders: Better understand what motivates designers and how you can help them thrive by taking 3 minutes to read this excerpt from Scott Berkun’s new book “Why Design Is Hard”: https://lnkd.in/ev6XyMss

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Design magic happens when great minds collide! ✨ In our latest episode of Nodes of Design of Design, we sat down with the legendary Jae Park, a design visionary with over 25 years of shaping the digital landscape. Leading design teams at giants like Google, Amazon, and Ford, Jae shares invaluable insights on fostering collaboration, overcoming challenges, and the future of design. We had discussed the following topics: 🔹The journey of a designer and advice for those starting out 🔹The role of collaboration in a designer’s growth 🔹Building a collaborative environment with diverse teams 🔹The impact of remote work on design collaboration 🔹Balancing individual creativity with team dynamics 🔹Overcoming challenges in collaborative projects 🔹The future of design collaboration with AI This episode is a must-listen for all professionals, design leaders, and anyone interested in unpacking the synergy in design. #design #ai #collaboration Link to the episode: https://lnkd.in/gAU5wYfu

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Design critiques aren’t just about improving designs—they’re an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and build a culture of trust. Create a space where feedback is constructive, focused, and open, and you’ll see your team’s creativity and confidence soar. Great design thrives in an environment of open, respectful critique. Foster a culture where feedback is a gift, not a judgment, and watch your team grow stronger, more aligned, and more innovative. #UXDesign #UXLeadership #DesignCritique #ProductDesign #DesignThinking #DesignLeadership #UXStrategy #UserExperience #Collaboration #DesignProcess #TechLeadership #TeamCulture #CreativeTeams #DesignImpact #LeadershipInTech

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Company website blogs and resources often fly under the radar when it comes to education and inspiration. So I wanted to shine a spotlight on Instacart Design Blog that I unexpectedly dove into. In just a few days, I've delved into 5 articles that hit the nail on the head, covering topics like designing content with purpose, practicing inclusion in your design team and mastering conference talks. If you're looking for valuable insights and practical design advice, check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gseR8hSh (they've also got a Tech Blog). #JuniorFriday #DesignReads #DesignResources #SharingIsCaring #DesignCommunity

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Incredibly excited to be giving a new talk—"Design is 'Connection' Made Manifest"—on Seattle Design Festival 's main stage this August 18th. The themes in this presentation have been congealing for me over the past few years, evolving through my other conference talks, written works, and even business / career decisions. Across "why" we're creating, "how" we're creating, and "where" we're creating, our value is infinitely greater than the sum of our choice of digital tools. I'll (currently) be giving this talk only twice this year, with the second event to be announced soon. The 'formal' talk description: "What is design, if not ‘connection’ made manifest? Given the state of the world over the past few years, with designers navigating the global pandemic, mass layoffs, hybrid / remote work, and a struggling economy, connection is at is apex of relevance. The connection of us to one another, us to our work, and our work to those who engage with it. Be it a concert venue poster, a website, or an app icon, design is solving the problem of engaging people—agnostic of their circumstances—to connect and convey an experience. When we’re in touch with our values, focus on craft evolution over tool loyalty, and create in an environment of support and inclusion: ‘connection’ is the result. Via the power of storytelling with actionable methods, Justin Dauer will show us how to get there." And on the Seattle Design Festival itself, via their website: "The Seattle Design Festival is a platform for bold design conversations. We believe that design is for everyone and that inclusive co-design practices are essential to shaping an equitable Seattle. We are multidisciplinary, socially engaged and civic minded. The Seattle Design Festival was founded in 2011 as a strategic initiative of AIA Seattle to promote public dialogue and community engagement about the role and impact of design in urban life." Seattle Design Festival is a FREE event for the public. My presentation's page: https://lnkd.in/gaQNA5GD The full list of festival programming: https://seadesignfest.org/ #ux #productdesign #uxdesign #creativity #design #culture #seattle #seattledesignfestival

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Most designers are trained to present work to our peers, but as your career matures, your audience expands to include many other departments who don’t speak “design”. This article resonated with me and offers some sage advice about the use of storytelling and a “business lens” to craft more compelling presentations. #ProductDesign #Storytelling #UserResearch #BusinessObjectives

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Switching things up and adding a full colophon at the end of my deck for Front-end Conf later this week. I love seeing the type and color combinations other design presenters use, so why not make it easy to suss this out? #presentation #slides #inspiration #type #color

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I agree with this sentiment as well. Designers cannot be stuck in the past if they also want to be a part of the future. On top of that, this is actually one of the nicer examples of how practically GenAI can help (and enhance) some of the creative processes and executions and imho doesn't deserve the backlash it's getting. #thefutureofdesign #ai

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