Today we're diving into how the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, might not be as straightforward for initiating accessibility discussions as one might hope. And we'll hear what the community is saying about where AI leaves designers and why UX feels "rough right now" despite plenty of job openings.
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Welcome to The Feed & The Thread, brought to you by Chicago Camps. Our next UX Camp event is coming up in February. Don’t miss this great opportunity for low-cost, high-value continuing education.
The industry's been busy. Here's what caught our attention.
In a new piece titled "The WCAG problem," Ruben Ferreira Duarte at UX Design.cc argues that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines may not be as straightforward for initiating discussions about accessibility as intended. He suggests that while WCAG is important, it can sometimes complicate rather than simplify the process of making content accessible. The key takeaway here is a call for more intuitive approaches or frameworks to better engage stakeholders and focus on user needs beyond just technical compliance.
Writing for UX Design.cc, Kai Wong's latest article "How can you ensure paying customers don’t worsen the new user experience?" explores the challenge of balancing features designed for paying users without negatively impacting new users in B2B design. The practical insight here is about reframing challenges to find solutions that benefit all groups through inclusive design principles and prioritizing user empathy.
In another piece from UX Design.cc, Martin Tomitsch discusses "The dilemma of agency in design," highlighting the obstacles designers face when trying to drive positive social and environmental change within resistant organizational structures. The article outlines six practical strategies for effective change, emphasizing understanding the organization's DNA and aligning initiatives with KPIs, as seen with Patagonia’s successful sustainability efforts.
Okay, what's the community buzzing about?
So over in the Design subreddit, there’s this thread where designers are talking about their fears about AI taking over jobs. It's got two hundred upvotes, which is a lot of people chiming in. One guy put it really well: "AI can make wireframes, but it can't sit in a room and watch someone struggle with your product." I mean, that’s fair. There’s more to design than just the tech, right?
And here's something interesting - over at the design_critiques subreddit, someone posted about switching from Adobe to a free browser-based stack. The response has been pretty wild. People are sharing their own setups and giving advice on alternatives. It feels like there’s this collective effort to find better solutions that fit different budgets.
Meanwhile, in UX Design, folks are discussing whether UX is "rough right now" despite the apparent job openings. There doesn't seem to be a consensus yet - some think it’s tougher because of market saturation, others say it's just about adapting to new tools and methodologies. It’s a mixed bag out there.
Lastly, over in another Design subreddit thread, people are sharing their pain points with Figma files. Some folks find the interface intuitive but struggle with larger projects, where organization can get messy. And I gotta say, it's not just them; managing large design files is tough no matter which tool you use.
Chicago Camps is hosting UX Camp Winter on Saturday, February 21st. The entire event is online, so you can join from anywhere in the world. It will be a great day of presentations coming from people delivering UX work - out in the field - where it matters most.
Tickets are only thirteen dollars and fifty cents. They also have Pay-What-You-Can tickets, and free passes available to anyone with a need.
Get tickets now at Chicago Camps dot org. And there's still room for additional speakers - submit your idea today!
Whether you're pondering the complexities of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or grappling with AI's impact on design, today’s discussions highlight how guidelines and technology can both inspire and complicate our approach to accessibility and creativity. Something to think about as we continue this journey together. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time.
That's The Feed and The Thread for today. Keep designing with intention!