Published in MockVisual·PinnedForm design best practicesLearn how to improve the design of digital forms — These best practices serve to provide a shorthand when designing forms. Make sure to always keep in mind your context to determine the best presentation. Like most things in design, there are often exceptions to best practices. Use a label Labels are imperative for accessibility. Screen readers communicate each label to users…Forms6 min read
Published in MockVisual·Nov 30, 2021Sneak peek of the future of visual communication and iterationBefore I officially launch MockVisual, the new visual feedback and rapid iteration platform, I’d like to share it with you on Medium. MockVisual is built for makers, PMs, and digital creators who want to speed up idea generation and feedback. It’s perfect for when sharing a screenshot isn’t enough…Product2 min read
Published in MockVisual·Jun 8, 2021Why do “design” tools still exist?The development process evolved many years ago but design tools are still rooted in waterfall development — When I started my career in design and web development, people still debated waterfall vs. agile. Agile development promised a more adaptive and responsive workflow and was largely adopted. But the underlying nature of design tools never caught on. Design tools became faster, cheaper, and easier to use over the…Development3 min read
Jun 3, 2021A new web UX editor and feedback tool for product teamsEasy-to-use design tool for non-designers — This write-up originally appeared in a HackerNews post that was featured on the front page last weekend. I added new images in this Medium post. I’m Andrew, a solo founder building a free, easy-to-use visual editing app called MockVisual.Design4 min read
Published in MockVisual·Jun 3, 2021The secret problem creators faceNo matter how user-centered a creator is, they interject some amount of bias when conducting and interpreting the research they use to inform what they build. Any flaws in understanding the needs and goals of the user will be reflected in the design of the product. The same people studied…Product Development1 min read
Published in MockVisual·Jun 1, 2021Get started with UX research — A quick how-to guideLearn how to conduct user observation and interview sessions — Why conduct research? UX research is a vital part of the design process. Without conducting and evaluating user research, your product or service is flying blind. Intuition can only get you so far. This article covers how to think about user research and how to get started with the most impactful forms of…Research4 min read
Jun 1, 2021The future of the global economyThe implications of peaking working-age populations — If workers drive the world’s economic output, many of the largest economies *might* be nearing their peak—especially in high-income countries. This dynamic hasn’t ever occurred in modern times and the global financial system might be in peril. The primary working and consuming ages are from around 25–64, which I used…Economics6 min read
Published in MockVisual·May 25, 2021Not another design tool!I’ve noticed it is often engineers or product managers who embrace new design tools first. Designers reluctantly follow and eventually fully embrace and defend the app. Then another tool comes out, and the process repeats itself. Design tools get more specific, break up bundled offerings, and then get more and…Design Tools2 min read
Published in MockVisual·May 24, 2021Determining the economic value of designThere is no model to determine the value of design accurately. And no process can be employed to guarantee that design will create value. Because of this dynamic, designers and design teams have difficulty quantifying the value they create. The difficulty of determining the ROI of…Product Design2 min read
Published in MockVisual·May 18, 2021Why some products succeed while most failLearn the main contributing factors of startup success — Listen to this article instead. I’ve been on the founding teams of 2 wildly successful startups, one independent and another incubated within a large tech company. I’ve also worked on products that failed and provided guidance to countless others in the works. Behind every successful tech startup is a…Product2 min read
