Today we're covering a compelling argument against aiming for perfection in complex systems like AI and biotechnology, instead advocating for resilience to account for human limitations; and we'll hear what the community is saying about feeling exhausted by one-size-fits-all career advice in design. Is it time for a more personalized approach?

Welcome to The Feed & The Thread, brought to you by Chicago Camps. Our next UX Camp event is coming up in February. We're still accepting presentations for the event - submit your talk today!

The industry's been busy over the past day. Here's what's catching our attention and worthy of yours.

In a new piece titled "Against cleverness," Michael Parent at UX Design.cc argues that as we enter an era of complex systems like AI and autonomous vehicles, good design must focus on resilience rather than perfection. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing human limitations and system complexities to prevent failures, introducing concepts such as latent errors and Rasmussen’s Conundrum.

Amit Sheen at Smashing Magazine just published "Rethinking ‘Pixel Perfect’ Web Design," challenging the legacy concept from print media that no longer aligns with modern web practices. The piece highlights how responsive design and technological advances have made fluidity over rigidity a necessity in today's multi-device environment.

Over at UX Design.cc, Kai Wong's latest "How a 2,500-year-old story explains why UX findings get ignored" uses an ancient tale to explain why user experience insights are often overlooked within organizations. He highlights the need for better storytelling skills among UX professionals and fostering more inclusive environments where diverse perspectives are valued.

Also worth noting – new pieces recently from UX Planet, Jeff Gothelf, and Curious Squid. Go check them out!

Let's check in with the practitioners today for their hot topics.

Over at the UX Design subreddit, there’s some frustration brewing. A poster says they’re tired of career advice that assumes every designer works the same way has really struck a nerve – 13 upvotes and counting. It’s tough when you feel like the advice out there doesn’t fit your reality.

Meanwhile, in the Design subreddit, the mood is much more positive with discussions on simple, creative, minimal design approaches. People are sharing their work and giving shoutouts to minimalist designs they find inspiring. Worth checking out if that’s your thing!

And speaking of minimal things, the UX Research subreddit has a thread questioning whether user journey mapping might be getting too complicated. Are we missing obvious friction points by trying to map everything? It's a debate that can’t help but make you reflect on how much analysis is really necessary before you start solving problems.

Finally, over in Design Systems, there’s an ongoing conversation about favorite design systems and what makes them stand out. People are sharing their picks and the reasons behind them. You might want to look into that if you’re thinking of adopting a new system for your projects.

That's what folks are buzzing about today! Lots to chew on!

Chicago Camps is hosting UX Camp Winter on Saturday, February 21st. The event is online, so you can join from anywhere in the world. Catch presentations coming from people delivering UX work - out in the field - where it matters most.

Tickets are only thirteen dollars and fifty cents. 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!

Today, we explored how good design in complex systems like AI should prioritize resilience over perfection. And as designers, the tired advice that doesn’t acknowledge individual work styles still rings true. Something to reflect on next time you’re tweaking your approach. Thanks for listening - catch you next time!

That's The Feed and The Thread for today. Keep designing with intention!