User Experience

Instead of setting up a variant for every breakpoint, we can use boolean variables in Figma to drastically reduce the number of components needed. For instance, if we're working on a navigation menu that switches between a burger menu and links, here's what you can do: 1. Set up a variable collection with a mode for each screen size. 2. Create boolean variables to control when elements are shown or hidden in per mode 3. Place all your elements in a single component 4. Connect them with the created variables Note that boolean variables in Figma are a somewhat hidden feature; you need to right-click the eye icon to access them. Once linked, your instances will automatically inherit the settings when used on different screen sizes (ensure the frames are set to the correct mode). I would always recommend adding a documentation sheet to avoid confusion as per default, only the first mode will be displayed, and in development mode, hidden elements are not highlighted. You can find a complete tutorial on working with responsive design and variables in Figma here: https://lnkd.in/dfiZJv9x

🔎 How To Redesign Complex Navigation: How We Restructured Intercom’s IA (https://lnkd.in/ezbHUYyU), a practical case study on how the Intercom team fixed the maze of features, settings, workflows and navigation labels. Neatly put together by Pranava Tandra. 🚫 Customers can’t use features they can’t discover. ✅ Simplifying is about bringing order to complexity. ✅ First, map out the flow of customers and their needs. ✅ Study how people navigate and where they get stuck. ✅ Spot recurring friction points that resonate across tasks. 🚫 Don’t group features based on how they are built. ✅ Group features based on how users think and work. ✅ Bring similar things together (e.g. Help, Knowledge). ✅ Establish dedicated hubs for key parts of the product. ✅ Relocate low-priority features to workflows/settings. 🤔 People don’t use products in predictable ways. 🤔 Users often struggle with cryptic icons and labels. ✅ Show labels in a collapsible nav drawer, not on hover. ✅ Use content testing to track if users understand icons. ✅ Allow users to pin/unpin items in their navigation drawer. One of the helpful ways to prioritize sections in navigation is by layering customer journeys on top of each other to identify most frequent areas of use. The busy “hubs” of user interactions typically require faster and easier access across the product. Instead of using AI or designer’s mental model to reorganize navigation, invite users and run a card sorting session with them. People are usually not very good at naming things, but very good at grouping and organizing them. And once you have a new navigation, test and refine it with tree testing. As Pranava writes, real people don’t use products in perfectly predictable ways. They come in with an infinite variety of needs, assumptions, and goals. Our job is to address friction points for their realities — by reducing confusion and maximizing clarity. Good IA work and UX research can do just that. [Useful resources in the comments ↓] #ux #IA

Nostalgia-driven design, leading GenZ luxury. Over 73% of Gen Z consumers say they find comfort in content and design that echo the past. This trend is surging, especially within lifestyle and fashion brands eager to capture Gen Z’s attention. But it’s more than just a vibe → it’s a calculated strategy backed by cultural data, behavioral insights, and shifting consumer expectations. Brands are using these nostalgic illustration styles across packaging, social channels, and product design. This isn’t about living in the past → it’s about creating emotional stability in an overstimulated digital world. +120% YoY growth in searches for “vintage cartoon art” and “retro aesthetic outfit.” +58% of Gen Z shoppers prefer brands with “a strong aesthetic identity built on storytelling and nostalgia.” >> Nostalgia-driven design is here to stay << Reports forecast that “neo-nostalgia” will shape aesthetic strategies through 2026, fueled by Gen Alpha entering the market while Gen Z influence peaks. AI and generative tools now make vintage illustration scalable, letting brands customize retro looks for seasonal launches or limited drops, while staying cost-efficient. Drivers of this shift: +Digital Burnout → Analog, tactile-inspired visuals stand out in screen-heavy lives. +Sustainability → Vintage aesthetics align naturally with thrift and upcycling culture. +Anti-Overdesign → Consumers crave imperfect, hand-drawn, human art after years of hyper-polished branding. >> Illustration styles to explore << +Rococo Fashion Plates +Toile de Jouy Patterns +Chinoiserie +Scientific & Botanical Illustration +Neoclassical Engravings Bottom line: Vintage illustration isn’t retro-for-retro’s sake, it’s a future-proof strategy to connect with Gen Z’s blend of irony, emotion, and aesthetic intelligence. It signals authenticity in a crowded market. Explore my curated set of luxury illustrations for inspiration and growth. Featured brands: Aerthen Be.a.man Byredo Chanel Christian Dior Dr. Cory Fiore Gucci Loewe Poes #beautybusiness #beautyprofessionals #luxurybusiness #luxuryprofessionals

🧠 Your Brain Is Quietly Paying a Price for Using ChatGPT We spend hours with LLMs like ChatGPT. But are we fully aware of what they’re doing to our brains? A new study from MIT delivers a clear message: The more we rely on AI to generate and structure our thoughts, the more we risk losing touch with essential cognitive processes — creativity, memory, and critical reasoning. 📊 Key insight? When students wrote essays using GPT-4o, real-time EEG data showed a significant decline in activity across brain regions tied to executive control, semantic processing, and idea generation. When those same students later had to write without AI assistance, their performance didn’t just drop — it collapsed. 🔬 What they did: 54 students wrote SAT-style essays across multiple sessions, while high-density EEG tracked information flow between 32 brain regions. Participants were split across three tools: → Solo writing (“Brain-only”) → Google Search → GPT-4o (LLM-assisted) In the final round, the groups switched: GPT users wrote unaided, and unaided writers used GPT. (LLM→Brain and Brain→LLM) ⚡ What they found: Neural dampening: Full reliance on the LLM led to the weakest fronto-parietal and temporal connectivity — signaling lighter executive function and shallower semantic engagement. Sequence effects: Writers who began solo and then layered on GPT showed increased brain-wide activity — a sign of active cognitive engagement. The reverse group (starting with GPT) showed the lowest coordination and overused LLM-preferred vocabulary. Memory failures: In their very first AI-assisted session, no GPT users could recall a single sentence they had just written — while most solo writers could. Cognitive debt: Repeated LLM use led to narrower idea generation and reduced topic diversity — making recovery without AI more difficult. 🌱 What does this mean for us? LLMs make content creation feel frictionless. But that very convenience comes at a cost: Diminished engagement. Lower memory. Narrower thinking. If we want to preserve intellectual independence and the ability to truly think, we need to use LLMs with intention. →Use them too soon, and the brain goes quiet. →Use them after thinking independently — and they amplify our output. ✨ Hybrid workflows are the way forward: Start with your own cognition, then apply LLMs to sharpen, not replace. The most irreplaceable kind of AI will always be Actual Intelligence. 👉 Full study (with TL;DR + summary table): https://zurl.co/0hnox

In many Chinese schools, students pause class for 1–3 minutes and move together — inside the classroom. Are you taking breaks during your office hours? Not a dance. Not military. System design. It’s called 广播体操 (Radio Calisthenics) and it’s been used nationally for decades to reset posture, circulation, and attention. • Prolonged sitting reduces cognitive performance after 30–40 minutes • Short movement breaks improve focus and working memory by 10–15% • Light physical activity increases blood flow to the brain by up to 20% • Even 2 minutes of movement measurably reduces mental fatigue Now apply this to tech and business. Knowledge workers sit 9–11 hours/day, live in back-to-back video calls, and are expected to make high-quality decisions at speed. That’s not a productivity issue. It’s a human-system mismatch. As AI scales execution, human attention becomes the bottleneck. The next performance upgrade may not be more software — but movement designed into workflows. China implemented it at national scale. Optimize the human. Then optimize the system. #FutureOfWork #AI #Productivity #Leadership #HumanPerformance #Neuroscience #TechLeadership #DigitalTransformation #WorkplaceDesign #CognitivePerformance

Cyber Threats: The Hidden Dangers Every Professional Must Know In our hyper-connected world, cybersecurity isn't just for IT professionals anymore. Whether you're a CEO, marketer, or small business owner, understanding these 8 common cyber attacks could save your career - or your company. Let's break down these digital dangers and look at some recent, eye-opening examples: 1. Phishing: The digital bait-and-switch Example: In 2023, a sophisticated phishing campaign targeted Microsoft 365 users, affecting thousands of organizations worldwide. 2. Ransomware: Your data held hostage Example: The 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack disrupted fuel supplies across the US East Coast, resulting in a $4.4 million ransom payment. 3. Denial-of-Service (DoS): Crashing the system Example: In 2022, Microsoft reported mitigating a record-breaking 3.47 Tbps DDoS attack targeting Azure customers. 4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM): The invisible eavesdropper Example: In 2020, researchers uncovered a MitM attack on EU diplomatic communications, exposing sensitive discussions. 5. SQL Injection: Exploiting database vulnerabilities Example: In 2021, hackers used SQL injection to breach Codecov, potentially affecting thousands of customer networks. 6. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Injecting malicious scripts Example: In 2022, a XSS vulnerability in Zoom would have allowed attackers to potentially take over user accounts. 7. Zero-Day Exploits: Attacking unknown weaknesses Example: The 2021 Microsoft Exchange Server zero-day vulnerabilities impacted over 250,000 servers globally. 8. DNS Spoofing: Misdirecting web traffic Example: In 2020, a major DNS spoofing attack affected Amazon users, redirecting them to phishing sites. These aren't just headlines - they're wake-up calls. In our digital age, cybersecurity awareness is as crucial as any other professional skill.

𝟔𝟔% 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧. What does that tell us? Trust isn’t just a feature - it’s the foundation of AI’s future. When breaches happen, the cost isn’t measured in fines or headlines alone - it’s measured in lost trust. I recently spoke with a healthcare executive who shared a haunting story: after a data breach, patients stopped using their app - not because they didn’t need the service, but because they no longer felt safe. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 - 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. Consider the October 2023 incident at 23andMe: unauthorized access exposed the genetic and personal information of 6.9 million users. Imagine seeing your most private data compromised. At Deloitte, we’ve helped organizations turn privacy challenges into opportunities by embedding trust into their AI strategies. For example, we recently partnered with a global financial institution to design a privacy-by-design framework that not only met regulatory requirements but also restored customer confidence. The result? A 15% increase in customer engagement within six months. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭? ✔️ 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Privacy isn’t just about compliance. It’s about empowering customers to own their data. When people feel in control, they trust more. ✔️ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲: AI can do more than process data, it can safeguard it. Predictive privacy models can spot risks before they become problems, demonstrating your commitment to trust and innovation. ✔️ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Collaborate with peers, regulators, and even competitors to set new privacy standards. Customers notice when you lead the charge for their protection. ✔️ 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲: Techniques like differential privacy ensure sensitive data remains safe while enabling innovation. Your customers shouldn’t have to trade their privacy for progress. Trust is fragile, but it’s also resilient when leaders take responsibility. AI without trust isn’t just limited - it’s destined to fail. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 👇 #AI #DataPrivacy #Leadership #CustomerTrust #Ethics

I've been reflecting on one major trend from last year that I feel will be hard to ignore in 2025: Gen Z’s relationship with brands and social media. This generation doesn’t just consume content, they drive it. And they do so with a level of authenticity and transparency that demands our attention. For Gen Z, brand loyalty isn’t built on flashy ads or influencer endorsements alone. It’s about values. It’s about knowing what the brand stands for and aligning with causes they care about: be it sustainability, inclusivity, or social justice. Here’s how I’ve been thinking about this shift as an entrepreneur: For Gen Z, being true to themselves is really important. They want brands that embrace uniqueness and support personal expression. To connect with them, we need to be authentic and offer products and messages that let them express who they really are. Social Media is the New Word of Mouth: If you’re not engaging in the conversations Gen Z is having on social media, you’re missing out. They trust their peers and online communities more than traditional advertising, and their feedback is immediate and powerful. Experience Over Projection: For this generation, it’s not just about seeing an ad but engaging with a brand in a meaningful way. Whether through personalized experiences, interactive campaigns, or exclusive content, creating a connection is more valuable than ever. Gen Z is not just shaping the future of business but is redefining what it means to build loyalty and trust. Is your brand ready for this shift?

Gen Z seems to have a trust problem. They don't trust institutions, corporations, or experts. Research shows: Gen Z consistently reports lower trust in institutions than any other generation. And it's framed as a flaw, like something went wrong with them. But they do trust. Just not the way older generations did. They trust the person who builds in public over the one who speaks from authority. A YouTuber who shows how to do it over a professor who lectures about it. A creator using it on camera over a brand claiming it works. A founder they've watched build over a CEO they've only read about. There's a pattern here. They trust people who show their work. Researchers call this "distributed trust". Instead of placing confidence in a single authority, they triangulate across sources. They cross-reference. They check the comments. They look for patterns before deciding what's real. They put their trust in people who can be held accountable, who show their proof of work, whose claims are verifiable. Authority alone is not enough anymore. This generation learned something older generations are still catching up to: transparency is the new credential. You can't buy their trust. You can't inherit it from your title. You earn it by building where people can see you. #rajshamani #figuringout

🚨New year, new scam on LinkedIn I had just hit post this morning when a “LinkedIn security” comment appeared under my post minutes after it went live. It looked official (see screenshot) It said my post violated policy and my account might be deactivated permanently. And it hits a very real fear for many of us: 👉 “What if my account gets taken down?” I clicked 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ It took me to what looked like a LinkedIn page… but it wasn’t. If you click on Verify your identity, it leads to a phishing page designed to steal passwords. That’s how they hack into your accounts. 🚩 What to look out for ❌ Links that are NOT linkedin.com ❌ Threats like “immediate deactivation” ❌ Accounts called “LinkedIn security” with 0 followers ❌ Urgent / fear-based language ❌ Claim they represent LinkedIn in the comments If you see this appear under your posts: 1. Don’t click 2. Report the comment If you DID click and entered your password, do this immediately: 1. Change your LinkedIn password 2. Check that no new email was added: Settings → Account preferences → Email addresses 👉 Remove any email you don’t recognise 3. Check who’s logged into your account and sign them out: Settings → Sign in & security → Where you’re signed in 👉 End any session that isn’t you (“Sign out of all sessions” if unsure) 4. Turn on two-step verification: Settings → Sign in & security → Two-step verification 5. Take other necessary steps to secure your device such as running a scan Scammers are getting smarter, and they know active LinkedIn users care about protecting their accounts. Stay safe out there in 2026 💙 🔄 Save this for future reference and repost to spread awareness to your network