User journey maps are a remarkably effective way to visualize the users experience for the entire team. Instead of pointing to documents scattered across remote fringes of Sharepoint, we bring key insights together in one single place.Lets explore a couple of helpful customer journey templates to get started and how companies use them in practice.This article is part of our ongoing series on UX. You might want to take a look at Smart Interface Design Patterns and the upcoming live UX training as well. Use code BIRDIE to save 15% off.AirBnB Customer Journey BlueprintAirBnB Customer Journey Blueprint (also check Google Drive example) is a wonderful practical example of how to visualize the entire customer experience for two personas, across eight touch points, with user policies, UI screens and all interactions with the customer service all on one single page.Now, unlike AirBnB, your product might not need a mapping against user policies. However, it might need other lanes that would be more relevant for your team. For example, include relevant findings and recommendations from UX research. List key actions needed for the next stage. Include relevant UX metrics and unsuccessful touchpoints.Whatever works for you, works for you just make sure to avoid assumptions and refer to facts and insights from research.Spotify Customer Journey MapSpotify Customer Journey Blueprint (high resolution) breaks down customer experiences by distinct user profiles, and for each includes mobile and desktop views, pain points, thoughts, and actions. Also, notice branches for customers who skip authentication or admin tasks.Getting Started With Journey MapsTo get started with user journey maps, we first choose a lens: Are we reflecting the current state or projecting a future state? Then, we choose a customer who experiences the journey and we capture the situation/goals that they are focusing on.Next, we list high-level actions users are going through. We start by defining the first and last stages and fill in between. Dont get too granular: list key actions needed for the next stage. Add the users thoughts, feelings, sentiments, and emotional curves.Eventually, add users key touchpoints with people, services, tools. Map user journey across mobile and desktop screens. Transfer insights from other research (e.g., customer support). Fill in stage after stage until the entire map is complete.Then, identify pain points and highlight them with red dots. Add relevant jobs-to-be-done, metrics, channels if needed. Attach links to quotes, photos, videos, prototypes, Figma files. Finally, explore ideas and opportunities to address pain points.Free Customer Journey Maps Templates (Miro, Figma)You dont have to reinvent the wheel from scratch. Below, you will find a few useful starter kits to get up and running fast. However, please make sure to customize these templates for your needs, as every product will require its own specific details, dependencies, and decisions.User Journey Map Template (Figma), by Estefana Montaa B.Customer Journey Mapping (PDF), by Taras BakusevychEnd-To-End User Experience Map (Figma), by Justin TanCustomer Journey Map Template (Figma), by Ed BidenCustomer Journey Map Template (Miro), by Matt AndersonCustomer Journey Map (Miro), by Hustle BadgerCustomer Experience Map Template (Miro), by EssenseThe Customer Journey Map (Miro), by RSPRINTWrapping UpKeep in mind that customer journeys are often non-linear, with unpredictable entry points and integrations way beyond the final stage of a customer journey map. Its in those moments when things leave a perfect path that a products UX is actually stress-tested.So consider mapping unsuccessful touchpoints as well failures, error messages, conflicts, incompatibilities, warnings, connectivity issues, eventual lock-outs and frequent log-outs, authentication issues, outages, and urgent support inquiries.Also, make sure to question assumptions and biases early. Once they live in your UX map, they grow roots and it might not take long until they are seen as the foundation of everything, which can be remarkably difficult to challenge or question later. Good luck, everyone!Meet Smart Interface Design PatternsIf you are interested in UX and design patterns, take a look at Smart Interface Design Patterns, our 10h-video course with 100s of practical examples from real-life projects with a live UX training later this year. Everything from mega-dropdowns to complex enterprise tables with 5 new segments added every year. Jump to a free preview. Use code BIRDIE to save 15% off.Meet Smart Interface Design Patterns, our video course on interface design & UX.Jump to the video course100 design patterns & real-life examples.10h-video course + live UX training. Free preview.

For many of us, July is the epitome of summer. The time for spending every free minute outside to enjoy the sun and those seemingly endless summer days, be it in a nearby park, by a lake, or on a trip exploring new places. So why not bring a bit of that summer joy to your desktop, too?For this months wallpapers post, artists and designers from across the globe once again tickled their creativity to capture the July feeling in a collection of desktop wallpapers. They all come in versions with and without a calendar for July 2024 and can be downloaded for free as it has been a Smashing tradition for more than 13 years already. A huge thank-you to everyone who submitted their artworks this month this post wouldnt exist without you!As a little bonus goodie, we also compiled a selection of July favorites from our wallpapers archives at the end of this post. So maybe youll discover one of your almost-forgotten favorites in here, too? Have a fantastic July, no matter what your plans are!You can click on every image to see a larger preview,We respect and carefully consider the ideas and motivation behind each and every artists work. This is why we give all artists the full freedom to explore their creativity and express emotions and experience through their works. This is also why the themes of the wallpapers werent anyhow influenced by us but rather designed from scratch by the artists themselves.Submit a wallpaper!Did you know that you could get featured in our next wallpapers post, too? We are always looking for creative talent.Diving Among CoralsThe long-awaited vacation is coming closer. After working all year, we find ourselves with months that, although we dont stop completely, are lived differently. We enjoy the days and nights more, and if we can, the beach will keep us company. Therefore, well spend this month in Australia, enjoying the coral reefs and diving without limits. Designed by Veronica Valenzuela from Spain.previewwith calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 1024x768, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1440, 2560x1440without calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 1024x768, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Level UpJoin gamers worldwide on National Video Game Day to honor the rich history and vibrant culture of gaming. Enjoy exclusive discounts on top titles, participate in exciting online tournaments, and dive into special events featuring your favorite games. Whether you're a casual player or a dedicated enthusiast, theres something for everyone to celebrate on this epic day! Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.previewwith calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Bigfoot And The Little GirlThis heartwarming moment captures an unlikely friendship of a gentle Bigfoot and an adorable little girl set against the backdrop of a magical and serene evening in nature. Designed by Reethu M from London.previewwith calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Good NightDesigned by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.previewwith calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160without calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160Floral Elegance Of JulyThe inspiration came from the lush gardens and floral landscapes that thrive in the height of summer. I wanted to bring the elegance and tranquility of these blooming flowers into a calendar that people can enjoy throughout the month of July. Designed by Hyfa K from India.previewwith calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440No More HugsDesigned by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.previewwith calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160without calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160Olympics StadiumWe have been waiting for it for many months: The Paris 2024 Olympics Games are coming in July! My drawing is a vision of the joyful activity of athletes in the stadium, with only colored tracks. I chose to use the colors of the Olympics rings. Lets go to Paris or watch it on TV. Designed by Philippe Brouard from France.previewwith calendar: 1366x768, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1600, 2880x1800, 3840x2160without calendar: 1366x768, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1600, 2880x1800, 3840x2160Full Buck MoonJuly is the month of the full buck moon, named after the fact that many deer regrow their antlers around this time. It is also when the United States celebrate their Independence Day with fireworks and fun. I decided to combine these aspects into a magical encounter during the fourth of July. It takes place in a field of larkspur which is a flower associated with July. Designed by Quincy van Geffen from the Netherlands.previewwith calendar: 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440without calendar: 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Celebrating World Chocolate DayWorld Chocolate Day, celebrated on July 7th, invites chocolate lovers worldwide to indulge in their favorite treat. Commemorating chocolates introduction to Europe, this day celebrates its global popularity. Enjoy dark, milk, or white chocolate, bake delicious desserts, and share the sweetness with loved ones. Designed by Reethu M from London.previewwith calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440without calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Birdie JulyDesigned by Lvi Lnrt from Hungary.previewwithout calendar: 800x600, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 2560x1440Summer CannonballSummer is coming in the northern hemisphere and what better way to enjoy it than with watermelons and cannonballs. Designed by Maria Keller from Mexico.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 640x1136, 750x1334, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1242x2208, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 2880x1800In SpaceDesigned by Lieke Dol from the Netherlands.previewwithout calendar: 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440A Flamboyance Of FlamingosJuly in South Africa is dreary and wintery so we give all the southern hemisphere dwellers a bit of color for those gray days. And for the northern hemisphere dwellers a bit of pop for their summer! Designed by Wonderland Collective from South Africa.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x960, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1440Eternal SummerAnd once you let your imagination go, you find yourself surrounded by eternal summer, unexplored worlds, and all-pervading warmth, where there are no rules of physics and colors tint the sky under your feet. Designed by Ana Masnikosa from Belgrade, Serbia.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Day Turns To NightDesigned by Xenia Latii from Germany.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Tropical LiliesI enjoy creating tropical designs. They fuel my wanderlust and passion for the exotic, instantaneously transporting me to a tropical destination. Designed by Tamsin Raslan from the United States.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Road Trip In JulyJuly is the middle of summer, when most of us go on road trips, so I designed a calendar inspired by my love of traveling and summer holidays. Designed by Patricia Coroi from Romania.previewwithout calendar: 640x1136, 1024x768, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440The Ancient DeviceDesigned by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.previewwithout calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160Taste Like SummerIn times of clean eating and the world of superfoods there is one vegetable missing. An old, forgotten one. A flower actually. Rare and special. Once it had a royal reputation (I cheated a bit with the blue). The artichocke this is my superhero in the garden! I am a food lover you too? Enjoy it dip it! Designed by Alexandra Tamgnou from Germany.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Island RiverMake sure you have a refreshing source of ideas, plans and hopes this July. Especially if you are to escape from urban life for a while. Designed by Igor Izhik from Canada.previewwithout calendar: 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Cactus HugDesigned by Ilaria Bagnasco from Italy.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 800x600, 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2560x1600Under The Enchanting MoonlightTwo friends sat under the enchanting moonlight, enjoying the serene ambiance as they savoured their cups of tea. It was a rare and precious connection that transcended the ordinary, kindled by the magic of the moonlight. Eventually, as the night began to wane, they reluctantly stood, their empty cups in hand. They carried with them the memories and the tranquility of the moonlit tea session, knowing that they would return to this special place to create new memories in the future. Designed by Bhabna Basak from India.previewwithout calendar: 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440DJ Little BirdDesigned by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.previewwithout calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160Heated MountainsWarm summer weather inspired the color palette. Designed by Marijana Pivac from Croatia.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440July FlavorDesigned by Natalia Szendzielorz from Poland.previewwithout calendar: 540x960, 600x800, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2880x1800Summer HeatDesigned by Xenia Latii from Berlin, Germany.previewwithout calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Mason JarMake the days count this summer! Designed by Meghan Pascarella from the United States.previewwithout calendar: 1280x800, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 2560x1440, 2880x1800Summer EssentialsA few essential items for the summertime weather at the beach, park, and everywhere in-between. Designed by Zach Vandehey from the United States.previewwithout calendar: 1024768, 1440900, 16001200, 19201200, 25601440Captain AmphicarMy son and I are obsessed with the Amphicar right now, so why not have a little fun with it? Designed by 3 Bicycles Creative from the United States.previewwithout calendar: 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440HotdogDesigned by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.previewwithout calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160Less Busy Work, More Fun!Designed by ActiveCollab from the United States.previewwithout calendar: 1080x1920, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440, 3840x2160Sweet SummerIn summer everything inspires me. Designed by Maria Karapaunova from Bulgaria.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440Fire CampWhats better than a starry summer night with an (unexpected) friend around a fire camp with some marshmallows? Happy July! Designed by Etienne Mansard from the UK.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1440x1050, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2048x1536, 2560x1440Riding In The DrizzleRain has come, showering the existence with new seeds of life. Everywhere life is blooming, as if they were asleep and the falling music of raindrops have awakened them. Feel the drops of rain. Feel this beautiful mystery of life. Listen to its music, melt into it. Designed by DMS Software from India.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 640x480, 800x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1400x1050, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1680x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1200, 1920x1440, 2560x1440An Intrusion Of CockroachesEver watched Joes Apartment when you were a kid? Well, that movie left a soft spot in my heart for the little critters. Dont get me wrong: I wont invite them over for dinner, but I wont grab my flip flop and bring the wrath upon them when I see one running in the house. So there you have it three roaches bringing the smack down on that pesky human ZZZZZZZAP!! Designed by Wonderland Collective from South Africa.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x960, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1440July Rocks!Designed by Joana Moreira from Portugal.previewwithout calendar: 320x480, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1920x1080Frogs In The NightJuly is coming and the nights are warmer. Frogs look at the moon while they talk about their day. Designed by Veronica Valenzuela from Spain.previewwithout calendar: 640x480, 800x480, 1024x768, 1280x720, 1280x800, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1080, 1920x1440, 2560x1440

Throughout my UX writing career, Ive held many different roles: a UX writer in a team of UX writers, a solo UX writer replacing someone who left, the first and only UX writer at a company, and even a teacher at a UX writing course, where I reviewed more than 100 home assignments. And oh gosh, what Ive seen.Crafting microcopy is not everyones strong suit, and it doesnt have to be. Still, if youre a UX designer, product manager, analyst, or marketing content writer working in a small company, on an MVP, or on a new product, you might have to get by without a UX writer. So you have the extra workload of creating microcopy. Here are some basic rules that will help you create clear and concise copy and run a quick health check on your designs. Ensure Your Interface Copy Is Role-playableWhy its important:To create a friendly, conversational experience;To work out a consistent interaction pattern.When crafting microcopy, think of the interface as a dialog between your product and your user, where:Titles, body text, tooltips, and so on are your phrases.Button labels, input fields, toggles, menu items, and other elements that can be tapped or selected are the users phrases.Ideally, you should be able to role-play your interface copy: a product asks the user to do something the user does it; a product asks for information the user types it in or selects an item from the menu; a product informs or warns the user about something the user takes action.For example, if your screen is devoted to an event and the CTA is for the user to register, you should opt for a button label like Save my spot rather than Save your spot. This way, when a user clicks the button, its as if they are pronouncing the phrase themselves, which resonates with their thoughts and intentions.Be Especially Transparent And Clear When It Comes To Sensitive TopicsWhy its important: To build trust and loyalty towards your product.Some topics, such as personal data, health, or money, are extremely sensitive for people. If your product involves any limitations, peculiarities, or possible negative outcomes related to these sensitive topics, you should convey this information clearly and unequivocally. You will also need to collaborate with your UX/UI Designer closely to ensure you deliver this information in a timely manner and always make it visible without requiring the user to take additional actions (e.g., dont hide it in tooltips that are only shown by tapping).Heres a case from my work experience. For quite some time, Ive been checking homework assignments for a UX writing course. In this course, all the tasks have revolved around an imaginary app for dog owners. One of the tasks students worked on was creating a flow for booking a consultation with a dog trainer. The consultation had to be paid in advance. In fact, the money was blocked on the users bank card and charged three hours before the consultation. That way, a user could cancel the meeting for free no later than three hours before the start time. A majority of the students added this information as a tooltip on the checkout screen; if a user didnt tap on it, they wouldnt be warned about the possibility of losing money. In a real-life situation, this would cause immense negativity from users: they may post about it on social media, and it will show the company in a bad light. Even if you occasionally resort to dark patterns, make sure you can afford any reputational risks.So, when creating microcopy on sensitive topics:Be transparent and honest about all the processes and conditions. For example, youre a fintech service working with other service providers. Because of that, you have fees built into transactions but dont know the exact amount. Explain to users how the fees are calculated, their approximate range (if possible), and where users can see more precise info.Reassure users that youll be extremely careful with their data. Explain why you need their data, how you will use it, store and protect it from breaches, and so on.If some restrictions or limitations are implied, provide options to remove them (if possible).Ensure That The Button Label Accurately Reflects What Happens NextWhy its important:To make your interface predictable, trustworthy, and reliable;To prevent user frustration.The button label should reflect the specific action that occurs when the user clicks or taps it.It might seem valid to use a button label that reflects the users goal or target action, even if it actually happens a bit later. For example, if your product allows users to book accommodations for vacations or business trips, you might consider using a Book now button in the booking flow. However, if tapping it leads the user to an order screen where they need to select a room, fill out personal details, and so on, the accommodation is not booked immediately. So you might want to opt for Show rooms, Select a rate, or another button label that better reflects what happens next.Moreover, labels like Buy now or Book now might seem too pushy and even off-putting (especially when it comes to pricey products involving a long decision-making process), causing users to abandon your website or app in favor of ones with buttons that create the impression they can browse peacefully for as long as they need. You might want to let your users Explore, Learn more, Book a call, or Start a free trial first.As a product manager or someone with a marketing background, you might want to create catchy and fancy button labels to boost conversion rates. For instance, when working on an investment app, you might label a button for opening a brokerage account as Become an investor. While this might appeal to users egos, it can also come across as pretentious and cheap. Additionally, after opening an account, users may still need to do many things to actually become investors, which can be frustrating. Opt for a straightforward Open an account button instead.In this regard, its better not to promise users things that we cant guarantee or that arent entirely up to us. For example, in a flow that includes an OTP password, its better to opt for the Send a code button rather than Get a code since we cant guarantee there wont be any network outages or other issues preventing the user from receiving an SMS or a push notification.Finally, avoid using generic Yes or No buttons as they do not clearly reflect what happens next. Users might misread the text above or fail to notice a negation, leading to unexpected outcomes. For example, when asking for a confirmation, such as Are you sure you want to quit? you might want to go with button labels like Quit and Stay rather than just Yes and No.Tip: If you have difficulty coming up with a button label, this may be a sign that the screen is poorly organized or the flow lacks logic and coherence. For example, a user has to deal with too many different entities and types of tasks on one screen, so the action cant be summarized with just one verb. Or perhaps a subsequent flow has a lot of variations, making it hard to describe the action a user should take. In such cases, you might want to make changes to the screen (say, break it down into several screens) or the flow (say, add a qualifying question or attribute earlier so that the flow would be less branching).Make It Clear To The User Why They Need To Perform The ActionWhy its important:To create transparency and build trust;To boost conversion rates.An ideal interface is self-explanatory and needs no microcopy. However, sometimes, we need to convince users to do something for us, especially when it involves providing personal information or interacting with third-party products.You can use the following formula: To [get this], do [this] + UI element to make it happen. For example, To get your results, provide your email, followed by an input field.Its better to provide the reasoning (to get your results) first and then the instructions (provide your email ): this way, the guidance is more likely to stick in the users memory, smoothly leading to the action. If you reverse the order giving the instructions first and then the reasoning the user might forget what they need to do and will have to reread the beginning of the sentence, leading to a less smooth and slightly hectic experience. Ensure The UI Element Copy Doesnt Explain How To Interact With This Very ElementWhy its important:If you need to explain how to interact with a UI element, it may be a sign that the interface is not intuitive;Risk omitting or not including more important, useful text.Every now and then, I come across meaningless placeholders or excessive toggle copy that explains how to interact with the field or toggle. The most frequent example is the Search placeholder for a search field. Occasionally, I see button labels like Press to continue.Mobile and web interfaces have been around for quite a while, and users understand how to interact with buttons, toggles, and fields. Therefore, explanations such as click, tap, enter, and so on seem excessive in most cases. Perhaps its only with a group of checkboxes that you might add something like Select up to 5.You might want to add something more useful. For example, instead of a generic Search placeholder for a search field, use specific instances a user might type in. If youre a fashion marketplace, try placeholders like oversized hoodies, womens shorts, and so on. Keep in mind the specifics of your website or app: ensure the placeholder is neither too broad nor too specific, and if a user types something like youve provided, their search will be successful.Stick To The Rule 1 Microcopy Item = 1 IdeaWhy its important:Not to create extra cognitive load, confusion, or friction;To ensure a smooth and simple experience.Users have short attention spans, scan text instead of reading it thoroughly, and cant process multiple ideas simultaneously. Thats why its crucial to break information down into easily digestible chunks instead of, for example, trying to squeeze all the restrictions into one tooltip.The golden rule is to provide users only with the information they need at this particular stage to take a specific action or make a decision.Youll need to collaborate closely with your designer to ensure the information is distributed over the screen evenly and you dont overload one design element with a lot of text.Be Careful With Titles Like Done, Almost There, Attention, And So OnWhy its important:Not to annoy a user;To be more straightforward and economical with users time;Not to overuse their attention;Not to provoke anxiety.Titles, written in bold and larger font sizes, grab users attention. Sometimes, titles are the only text users actually read. Titles stick better in their memory, so they must be understandable as a standalone text.Titles like One more thing or Almost there might work well if they align with a products tone of voice and the flows where they appear are cohesive and can hardly be interrupted. But keep in mind that users might get distracted.Use this quick check: set your design aside for about 20 minutes, do something else, and then open only the screen for which youre writing a title. Is what happens on this screen still understandable from the title? Do you easily recall what has or hasnt happened, what you were doing, and what should be done next?Dont Fall Back On Abstract ExamplesWhy its important:To make the interface more precise and useful;To ease the navigation through the product for a user;To reduce cognitive load.Some products (e.g., any B2B or financial ones) involve many rules and restrictions that must be explained to the user. To make this more understandable, use real-life examples (with specific numbers, dates, and so on) rather than distilling abstract information into a hint, tooltip, or bottom sheet.Its better to provide explanations using real-life examples that users can relate to. Check with engineers if its possible to get specific data for each user and add variables and conditions to show every user the most relevant microcopy. For example, instead of saying, Your deposit limit is $1,000 per calendar month, you could say, Until Jan 31, you can deposit $400 more. This relieves the user of unnecessary work, such as figuring out the start date of the calendar month in their case and calculating the remaining amount. Try To Avoid NegativesWhy its important:Not to increase cognitive load;To prevent friction.As a rule of thumb, its recommended to avoid double negatives, such as Do not unfollow. However, Id go further and advise avoiding single negatives as well. The issue is that to decipher such a message, a user has to perform an excessive logical operation: first eliminating the negation, then trying to understand the gist.For example, when listing requirements for a username, saying Dont use special characters, spaces, or symbols forces a user to speculate (If this is not allowed, then the opposite is allowed, which must be). It can take additional time to figure out what falls under special characters. To simplify the task for the user, opt for something like Use only numbers and letters.Moreover, a user can easily overlook the not part and misread the message.Another aspect worth noting is that negation often seems like a restriction or prohibition, which nobody likes. In some cases, especially in finance, all those donts might be perceived with suspicion rather than as precaution.Express Action With Verbs, Not NounsWhy its important:To avoid wordiness;To make text easily digestible.When describing an action, use a verb, not a noun. Nouns that convey the meaning of verbs make texts harder to read and give off a legalistic vibe.Here are some sure signs you need to paraphrase your text for brevity and simplicity:Forms of be as the main verbs;Noun phrases with make (e.g., make a payment/purchase/deposit);Nouns ending in -tion, -sion, -ment, -ance, -ency (e.g., cancellation);Phrases with of (e.g., provision of services);Phrases with process (e.g., withdrawal process).Make Sure You Use Only One Term For Each EntityWhy its important: Not to create extra cognitive load, confusion, and anxiety.Ensure you use the same term for the same object or action throughout the entire app. For example, instead of using account and profile interchangeably, choose one and stick to it to avoid confusing your users.The more complicated and/or regulated your product is, the more vital it is to choose precise wording and ensure it aligns with legal terms, the wording users see in the help center, and communication with support agents.Less Oopsies In Error MessagesWhy its important:Not to annoy a user;To save space for more important information.At first glance, Oops may seem sweet and informal (yet with an apologetic touch) and might be expected to decrease tension. However, in the case of repetitive or serious errors, the effect will be quite the opposite.Use Oops and similar words only if youre sure it suits your brands tone of voice and you can finesse it. As a rule of thumb, good error messages explain what has happened or is happening, why (if we know the reason), and what the user should do. Additionally, include any sensitive information related to the process or flow where the error appears. For example, if an error occurs during the payment process, provide users with information concerning their money.No Excessive PolitenessWhy its important: Not to waste precious space on less critical information.Im not suggesting we remove every single please from the microcopy. However, when it comes to interfaces, our priority is to convey meaning clearly and concisely and explain to users what to do next and why. Often, if you start your microcopy with please, you wont have enough space to convey the essence of your message. Users will appreciate clear guidelines to perform the desired action more than a polite message they struggle to follow.Remove Tech JargonWhy its important:To make the interface understandable for a broad audience;To avoid confusion and ensure a frictionless experience.As tech specialists, were often subject to the curse of knowledge, and despite our efforts to prioritize users, tech jargon can sneak into our interface copy. Especially if our product targets a wider audience, users may not be tech-savvy enough to understand terms like icon.To ensure your interface doesnt overwhelm users with professional jargon, a quick and effective method is to show the interface to individuals outside your product group. If thats not feasible, heres how to identify jargon: its the terminology you use in daily meetings among yourselves or in Jira task titles (e.g., authorization, authentication, and so on), or abbreviations (e.g., OTP code, KYC process, AML rules, and so on).Ensure That Empty State Messages Dont Leave Users FrustratedWhy its important:For onboarding and navigation;To increase discoverability of particular features;To promote or boost the use of the product;To reduce cognitive load and anxiety about the next steps.Quite often, a good empty state message is a self-destructing one, i.e. one that helps a user to get rid of this emptiness. An empty state message shouldnt just state theres nothing here thats obvious and therefore unnecessary. Instead, it should provide users with a way out, smoothly guiding them into using the product or a specific feature. A well-crafted empty message can even boost conversions.Of course, there are exceptions, for example, in a reactive interface like a CRM system for a restaurant displaying the status of orders to workers. If there are no orders in progress and, therefore, no corresponding empty state message, you cant nudge or motivate restaurant workers to create new orders themselves. Place All Important Information At The BeginningWhy its important:To keep the user focused;Not to overload a user with info;Avoid information loss due to fading or cropping.As mentioned earlier, users have short attention spans and often dont want to focus on the texts they read, especially microcopy. Therefore, ensure you place all necessary information at the beginning of your text. Omit lead-ins, introductory words, and so on. Save less vital details for later in the text.Ensure Title And Buttons Are Understandable Without Body TextWhy its important:For clarity;To overcome the serial position effect;To make sure the interface, the flow, and the next steps are understandable for a user even if they scan the text instead of reading.Theres a phenomenon called the serial position effect: people tend to remember information better if its at the beginning or end of a text or sentence, often overlooking the middle part. When it comes to UX/UI design, this effect is reinforced by the visual hierarchy, which includes the bigger font size of the title and the accentuated buttons. Whats more, the body text is often longer, which puts it at risk of being missed. Since users tend to scan rather than read, ensure your title and buttons make sense even without the body text. Wrapping upTrying to find the balance between providing a user with all the necessary explanations, warnings, and reasonings on one hand and keeping the UI intuitive and frictionless on the other hand is a tricky task. You can facilitate the process of creating microcopy with the help of ChatGPT and AI-based Figma plugins such as Writer or Grammarly. But beware of the limitations these tools have as of now.For instance, creating a prompt that includes all the necessary details and contexts can take longer than actually writing a title or a label on your own. Grammarly is a nice tool to check the text for typos and mistakes, but when it comes to microcopy, its suggestions might be a bit inaccurate or confusing: you might want to, say, omit articles for brevity or use elliptical sentences, and Grammarly will identify it as a mistake.Youll still need a human eye to evaluate the microcopy &mdahs; and I hope this checklist will come in handy. Microcopy ChecklistGeneral Microcopy is role-playable (titles, body text, tooltips, etc., are your phrases; button labels, input fields, toggles, menu items, etc. are the users phrases).Information presentation & structure The user has the exact amount of information they need right now to perform an action not less, not more. Important information is placed at the beginning of the text. Its clear to the user why they need to perform the action. Everything related to sensitive topics is always visible and static and doesnt require actions from a user (e.g., not hidden in tooltips). You provide a user with specific information rather than generic examples. 1 microcopy item = 1 idea. 1 entity = 1 term. Empty state messages provide users with guidelines on what to do (when possible and appropriate).Style No tech jargon. No excessive politeness, esp. at the expense of meaning. Avoid or reduce the use of not, un-, and other negatives. Actions are expressed with verbs, not nouns. Syntax UI element copy doesnt explain how to interact with this very element. Button label accurately reflects what happens next. Fewer titles like done, almost there, and attention. Oopsies in error messages are not frequent and align well with the brands tone of voice. Title and buttons are understandable without body text.Headings The main article heading is an h1 a level 1 heading. Use level 2 and level 3 headings to break up your text.Images Standard images need to be at least 800px wide. We also have the option of full-width images for very detailed views. If using Dropbox Paper or Google Docs, add your images inline, but please also add them to the list at the end of this template so we can be sure we have them all in high-resolution format.

Getting support for accessibility efforts isnt easy. There are many accessibility myths, wrong assumptions, and expectations that make accessibility look like a complex, expensive, and time-consuming project. Lets fix that!Below are some practical techniques that have been working well for me to convince stakeholders to support and promote accessibility in small and large companies.This article is part of our ongoing series on UX. You might want to take a look at Smart Interface Design Patterns and the upcoming live UX training as well. Use code BIRDIE to save 15% off.Launching Accessibility EffortsA common way to address accessibility is to speak to stakeholders through the lens of corporate responsibility and ethical and legal implications. Personally, Ive never been very successful with this strategy. People typically dismiss concerns that they cant relate to, and as designers, we cant build empathy with facts, charts, or legal concerns.The problem is that people often dont know how accessibility applies to them. There is a common assumption that accessibility is dull and boring and leads to unexciting and unattractive products. Unsurprisingly, businesses often neglect it as an irrelevant edge case.So, I use another strategy. I start conversations about accessibility by visualizing it. I explain the different types of accessibility needs, ranging from permanent to temporary to situational and I try to explain what exactly it actually means to our products. Mapping a more generic understanding of accessibility to the specifics of a product helps everyone explore accessibility from a point that they can relate to.And then I launch a small effort just a few usability sessions, to get a better understanding of where our customers struggle and where they might be blocked. If I cant get access to customers, I try to proxy test via sales, customer success, or support. Nothing is more impactful than seeing real customers struggling in their real-life scenario with real products that a company is building.From there, I move forward. I explain inclusive design, accessibility, neurodiversity, EAA, WCAG, ARIA. I bring people with disabilities into testing as we need a proper representation of our customer base. I ask for small commitments first, then ask for more. I reiterate over and over and over again that accessibility doesnt have to be expensive or tedious if done early, but it can be very expensive when retrofitted or done late.Throughout that entire journey, I try to anticipate objections about costs, timing, competition, slowdowns, dullness and keep explaining how accessibility can reduce costs, increase revenue, grow user base, minimize risks, and improve our standing in new markets. For that, I use a few templates that I always keep nearby just in case an argument or doubts arise.Useful Templates To Make A Strong Case For Accessibility1. But Accessibility Is An Edge Case! But accessibility is an edge case. Given the state of finances right now, unfortunately, we really cant invest in it right now. I respectfully disagree. 1 in 6 people around the world experience disabilities. In fact, our competitors [X, Y, Z] have launched accessibility efforts ([references]), and we seem to be lagging behind. Plus, it doesnt have to be expensive. But it will be very expensive once we retrofit much later.2. But There Is No Business Value In Accessibility! We know that accessibility is important, but at the moment, we need to focus on efforts that will directly benefit business. I understand what you are saying, but actually, accessibility directly benefits business. Globally, the extended market is estimated at 2.3 billion people, who control an incremental $6.9 trillion in annual disposable income. Prioritizing accessibility very much aligns with your goal to increase leads, customer engagement, mitigate risk, and reduce costs. (via Yichan Wang)3. But We Dont Have Disabled Users! Why should we prioritize accessibility? Looking at our data, we dont really have any disabled users at all. Seems like a waste of time and resources. Well, if a product is inaccessible, users with disabilities cant and wont be using it. But if we do make our product more accessible, we open the door for prospect users for years to come. Even small improvements can have a high impact. It doesnt have to be expensive nor time-consuming.4. Screen Readers Wont Work With Our Complex System! Our application is very complex and used by expert users. Would it even work at all with screen readers? Its not about designing only for screen readers. Accessibility can be permanent, but it can also be temporary and situational e.g., when you hold a baby in your arms or if you had an accident. Actually, its universally useful and beneficial for everyone.5. We Cant Win Market With Accessibility Features! To increase our market share, we need features that benefit everyone and improve our standing against competition. We cant win the market with accessibility. Modern products succeed not by designing more features, but by designing better features that improve customers efficiency, success rate, and satisfaction. And accessibility is one of these features. For example, voice control and auto-complete were developed for accessibility but are now widely used by everyone. In fact, the entire customer base benefits from accessibility features.6. Our Customers Cant Relate To Accessibility Needs Our research clearly shows that our customers are young and healthy, and they don't have accessibility needs. We have other priorities, and accessibility isnt one of them. I respectfully disagree. People of all ages can have accessibility needs. In fact, accessibility features show your commitment to inclusivity, reaching out to every potential customer of any age, regardless of their abilities.This not only resonates with a diverse audience but also positions your brand as socially responsible and empathetic. As you know, our young user base increasingly values corporate responsibility, and this can be a significant differentiator for us, helping to build a loyal customer base for years to come. (via Yichan Wang)7. Lets Add Accessibility Later At the moment, we need to focus on the core features of our product. We can always add accessibility later once the product is more stable. I understand concerns about timing and costs. However, its important to note that integrating accessibility from the start is far more cost-effective than retrofitting it later. If accessibility is considered after development is complete, we will face significant additional expenses for auditing accessibility, followed by potentially extensive work involving a redesign and redevelopment.This process can be significantly more expensive than embedding accessibility from the beginning. Furthermore, delaying accessibility can expose your business to legal risks. With the increasing number of lawsuits for non-compliance with accessibility standards, the cost of legal repercussions could far exceed the expense of implementing accessibility now. The financially prudent move is to work on accessibility now.You can find more useful ready-to-use templates in Yichan Wangs Designers Accessibility Advocacy Toolkit a fantastic resource to keep nearby.Building Accessibility Practices From ScratchAs mentioned above, nothing is more impactful than visualizing accessibility. However, it requires building accessibility research and accessibility practices from scratch, and it might feel like an impossible task, especially in large corporations. In How Weve Built Accessibility Research at Booking.com, Maya Alvarado presents a fantastic case study on how to build accessibility practices and inclusive design into UX research from scratch.Maya rightfully points out that automated accessibility testing alone isnt reliable. Compliance means that a user can use your product, but it doesnt mean that its a great user experience. With manual testing, we make sure that customers actually meet their goals and do so effectively.Start by gathering colleagues and stakeholders interested in accessibility. Document what research was done already and where the gaps are. And then whenever possible, include 512 users with disabilities in accessibility testing.Then, run a small accessibility initiative around key flows. Tap into critical touch points and research them. As you are making progress, extend to components, patterns, flows, and service design. And eventually, incorporate inclusive sampling into all research projects at least 15% of usability testers should have a disability.Companies often struggle to recruit testers with disabilities. One way to find participants is to reach out to local chapters, local training centers, non-profits, and public communities of users with disabilities in your country. Ask the admins permission to post your research announcement, and it wont be rejected. If you test on site, add extra $25$50 depending on disability transportation.I absolutely love the idea of extending Microsoft's Inclusive Design Toolkit to meet specific user needs of a product. It adds a different dimension to disability considerations which might be less abstract and much easier to relate for the entire organization.As Maya noted, inclusive design is about building a door that can be opened by anyone and lets everyone in. Accessibility isnt a checklist its a practice that goes beyond compliance. A practice that involves actual people with actual disabilities throughout all UX research activities.Wrapping UpTo many people, accessibility is a big mystery box. They might have never seen a customer with disabilities using their product, and they dont really understand what it involves and requires. But we can make accessibility relatable, approachable, and visible by bringing accessibility testing to our companies even if its just a handful of tests with people with disabilities.No manager really wants to deliberately ignore the needs of their paying customers they just need to understand these needs first. Ask for small commitments, and get the ball rolling from there.Set up an accessibility roadmap with actions, timelines, roles and goals. Frankly, this strategy has been working for me much better than arguing about legal and moral obligations, which typically makes stakeholders defensive and reluctant to commit.Fingers crossed! And a huge thank-you to everyone working on and improving accessibility in your day-to-day work, often without recognition and often fueled by your own enthusiasm and passion thank you for your incredible work in pushing accessibility forward! Useful ResourcesMaking A Case For AccessibilityHow To Make The Business Case For Accessibility, by R Gregory WilliamsHow Weve Built Accessibility Research at Booking.com, by Maya AlvaradoDesigners Accessibility Advocacy Toolkit, by Yichan WangMaking The Case for Accessibility, by Susanna ZarayskyMaking A Strong Case For Accessibility, by Todd LibbyAccessibility Case Studies and Success Stories, by DequeInclusive Design Toolkits and Templates, by yours trulyAccessibility TestingA Comprehensive Guide to Accessible UX Research, by Brian Grellmann Inclusive User Research: Recruiting Participants, by Ela Gorla Testing With Blind Users: A Cheatsheet, by Slava Shestopalov Mobile Accessibility Research with Screen-Reader Users, by Tanner Kohler How To Conduct UX Research With Participants With Disabilities, by Peter McNally How To Conduct Accessibility UX Research, by AnswerLabMeet Smart Interface Design PatternsIf you are interested in UX and design patterns, take a look at Smart Interface Design Patterns, our 10h-video course with 100s of practical examples from real-life projects with a live UX training later this year. Everything from mega-dropdowns to complex enterprise tables with 5 new segments added every year. Jump to a free preview. Use code BIRDIE to save 15% off.Meet Smart Interface Design Patterns, our video course on interface design & UX.Jump to the video course100 design patterns & real-life examples.10h-video course + live UX training. Free preview.

Amidst the urban clamor of Chengdu, China, Natural Villa offers a serene escape that seamlessly blends the tranquility of nature with modern living. The villa presented obstacles from the onset for GROWTO DESIGN, who were met with a three-story building with only one floor above ground. This resulted in two subterranean floors lacking natural light and ventilation, as well as lower height ceilings making it feel more claustrophobic.The first step in transforming this space was reimagining the main living areas. By relocating the living room, dining room, kitchen, and study to the mezzanine level, the GROWTO DESIGN optimized the use of space. The inclusion of two strategically placed skylights floods the lower floors with much-needed natural light, creating an open, airy atmosphere that belies the structures underground nature. This clever design element not only enhances illumination but also fosters a stronger connection between the levels, promoting a sense of unity throughout the home.The design ethos of Natural Villa is rooted in simplicity and elegance. Eschewing superfluous decoration, the space relies on the interplay of light, shadow, color, and texture to tell its story. This minimalist approach transforms the home into a tranquil haven, where every detail is thoughtfully curated to evoke calm and comfort. The fusion of rigid and soft lines throughout the villa orchestrates a unified rhythm, bringing a poetic quality to the living experience.A neutral color palette and use of natural materials keeps the interior feeling cozy while also put together, with shades of gray and green offering soothing sights throughout.An open wooden staircase and light well keep the main living room, dining room, and kitchen feeling like theyre above ground and not located on the mezzanine level.On the top floor, a sitting room with an adjacent tea room, features expansive windows framing picturesque views of the outdoor scenery. The light-filled space offers a quiet space for contemplation and relaxation, embodying a luxurious simplicity.The minimalist tea area appears as a desk or dining table but upon closer glance, it becomes clear that a cleverly placed sink is built right into the design. The handy addition allows for quick and convenient tea making, preventing multiple trips back and forth between the kitchen and the lounge.The primary bedroom suite epitomizes refined living with smooth, unadorned details create a sanctuary of peace. The childrens room is a vibrant, playful space, outfitted with warm wood tones and cheerful lemon yellow accents. This area fosters a sense of wonder and exploration, providing a magical environment where they can thrive. The choice of materials and the minimalist design cultivate a natural, inviting atmosphere, perfectly suited for imaginative play.Photography by Shifang, courtesy of GROWTO DESIGN.

Its about to get a whole lot easier to brew your own kombucha. KOMBU has announced the new KOMBU Fermenstation brewing system, a first-of-its-kind appliance thats built to allow home kombucha brewers to more easily create their favorite brews.The system is designed to address all the challenges typically associated with DIY kombucha, all while offering an elegant design with user-friendly controls. And it could save you a whole lot of money too. KOMBU argues that while store-bought kombucha typically costs $3.99 per bottle, you can brew your own with the Fermenstation for only 39 cents. Think of it like the Sodastream of kombucha.KOMBU Fermenstation is not just a device, its a game-changer for home-brewers. By reimagining DIY kombucha, we started from a clean sheet to make brewing easy and accessible to everyone, making it a must-have for all kombucha enthusiasts and new beginners to the craft, says Michael Churchill, CEO and Co-Founder at KOMBU.The Fermenstation is higher tech than it might look at first glance. It offers a low heating temperature-controlled system to keep the desired warmth steady for a pre-set number of days. It also has an ambient air sensor built in to control the heating pads and maintain the perfect warmth during that time. The appliance is relatively compact, measuring 7.4 inches wide, 10.5 inches high, and 14 inches long.Its also designed to allow for continuous brewing. After you fill the bottles to 80% with kombucha, the spigot built into the appliance will stop pouring, keeping 20% of your starter SCOBY in the jar for your next brew. The system comes with four bottles, and theres a convenient storage compartment for the bottles in the Fermenstation itself.The Fermenstation has simple controls and it connects to Wi-Fi, allowing you to keep track of your brew using a dedicated mobile app, which you can use to set timers, monitor the temperature, and get notifications about your brews status.You can pre-order the KOMBU Fermenstation for yourself straight from the Fermenstations Kickstarter page. It comes at a list price of $499, however Kickstarter funders will be able to get it for $359 starting today.

Our planet is a hot mess right now, but there are artists making powerful work for change, while its on fire. Rose McAdoo is one of these artists. Whether crafting a cake atop a glacier or whipping up treats onboard an Arctic ship, each of her tasty creations tell a story. Her goal is to communicate the heavy topic of climate change and execute her sweet artform out in the field. Its clever. Through playful and hopeful desserts, she is helping introduce and explain the science behind bigger ideas to as many people she can reach.For Rose McAdoo, the challenge lies not just in the logistical hurdles of baking in remote locations but also in translating dense scientific data into digestible narratives. Her projects range from Ice Core Lollipops that mirror glacial records to Ocean Acidification Eclairs, sparking conversations on climate impacts.Crevasse Lollipops Champagne extract and blue Pop Rocks (to mimic the flavor, feeling, and sound effects of bubbles that get trapped in glacier ice) \\\ Photo: Rose McAdooShe is a dynamic, courageous, curious, and informative human, my favorite kind. Her close connection to the wild is one most of us will only experience through VR. She is the real deal.The first time I spoke with Rose McAdoo about how she bakes cakes to raise awareness around global issues, she called me from the front seat of her (parked) car while adventuring in Coober Pedy. She was on a mission to bake a dessert in this magically weird little Australian town located underground an opal mine.Rose McAdoo at Long Duration Balloon facility on the Ross Ice Shelf \\\ Photo: Laura CassRose went from fours years of making glamorous wedding cakes in New York, to guiding other humans on glaciers in Alaska, to running a NASA research camp on Antarcticas ice sheet. Rose makes desserts in the wild to connect her career skills with her artistic curiosity about our planet.Rose initially took a job offer in Antarctica at the Long Duration Balloon facility on the Ross Ice Shelf, as the camps sous chef in 2019. After only a few years, she now manages this facility supporting NASA research and launches and is responsible for facility maintenance and operations; cargo, fuel, and water deliveries, not to mention the initial camp construction and end-of-season takedown.Antarctica, picture the view and now, the cold and the gear. Besides the admiration of just getting there, living there, and working a strenuous food service job, she makes the time to learn and create.Sugar process \\\ Photo: Freddie GluckAs I learn, Ive found that my brain explains topics to me by quickly visualizing new information as desserts. Making that intersection between food and science is really fulfilling to me despite its dramatic challenges in the field.Sugar process I boiled sugar with a bit of water from Exit Glacier. Cooking that mixture to 300 F six times that of Sewards average summer temperature, says McAdoo. \\\ Photo: Rose McAdooGlacier Crystals Fresh water, elderflower, bergamot \\\ Photo: Rose McAdooRose enjoys living in her community made up of the support teams and scientists. The knowledge shes acquiring while living and working in Antarctica drives her art form further. While attending a lecture at LDB, she couldnt help but make a comparison to tempering chocolate, the science of her wheelhouse. Or understanding biodiversity/extinction affects by imagining removing an ingredient, like flour or baking soda from a cake recipe.She explains: In the same way, if you move one species from an environment or if you remove one piece of the glacier formation equation, it doesnt necessarily still work. Every ingredient must be present in nature to maintain homeostasis.Sign made me damn popular on Denali as every pilot, climber, and rescue ranger asked do you *really* have cake in there?' \\\ Photo: Rachel HeckermanGiven the seriousness of the environments Rose works in, she appreciates the levity of cake, and how it allows people to let their guard down and be more receptive to scientific ideas.Tiered cake \\\ Photo: Rose McAdooRose had the guts to take her little cake sketches and ask I wonder if I can pull this off? This is weird, and absurd, but Im gonna make them anyway and see what happens. Of course, while talking to her, I couldnt take my catering hat off. I kept imaging all the improvisational problem-solving moments. There are no re-runs at that altitude. You must have multiple back up plans plus carry all the gear. The rush from pulling something together in our planets wildest places makes me feel more alive than anything else, McAdoo says.Imagine how difficult it must be to execute that level of culinary muscle on an Antarctic ice shelf. Where are your prepping, assembling? What are you passing it on? Is the cake good at that temperature? But more importantly I wanted to know: Who eats the cake? IS everyone eating the cake? Picture a climber hearing that someone just unveiled a 4-tiered salted juniper cake with evergreen buttercream made with glacier water. Brilliant!Before onboarding a triple-masted ship for her recent Arctic Circle residency departing from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Rose and I discussed her latest edible art collection. Eating Away shows the relationship, loss, and change in the high Arctic and the resulting impacts on humans and wildlife in our polar regions. She addresses consumption of information, loss of habitat, and human destruction, while celebrating our environment and making data digestible.Here is a glimpse into her process from cake and dessert sketches to photographs:Photo: Edme Van RijnPhoto: Rose McAdooPhoto: Rose McAdooRose McAdoo making, assembling, and decorating the cake onboard the Antigua tall ship. \\\ Photo: Rose McAdooMcAdoo and her dark rye malted cake with Norwegian brown cheese buttercream, a lingonberry soak, crispy stroopwafel crumble, and salted edible rocks made with charcoal, cardamom, poppy seeds, black sesame, and dark chocolate Wasa biscuit. \\\ Photo: Meg RoussosRose aims to expand her impact with upcoming exhibitions and a feature-length documentary. With help from grants and self-financing, her work continues to bridge the gap between art, science, and public awareness, aiming to make daunting topics like climate change more accessible through the universal language of food. The upcoming release of her Denali project documentary, Creative Approach, is making its way through the film festival submission world. Rose shared a sneak peek trailer with us here:Creative Approach documents the two-week collaborative art residency at Denali Base Camp between McAdoo, painter Klara Maisch, and filmmaker Rachel Heckerman. Each pushing their creativity higher, bigger, and harder than ever before at 7,200 feet.Mountaineering Knots White chocolate and local snowmelt \\\ Photo: Rose McAdooRose produced a bunch of desserts that communicated various aspects of glacier science in a Jet boil camp stove on top of the 44-mile-long glacier. Klara painted a 7-foot-tall oil landscape, and Rachel filmed and photographed the whole project while snow camping for the first time.Elevating passed bites of Crevasse Candy Bars Blue ginger caramel, macadamia nut nougat, Alaskan sea salt \\\ Photo: Rachel HeckermanRose McAdoos life journey is a testament to the power of creativity in facing global challenges. As she navigates between icy landscapes and pop-up kitchens, Rose exemplifies how art can inspire change one delicious creation at a time.To learn more, head to rosemcadoo.com.

HABITUS is an experimental project by Foscarini created with artist and designer Andrea Anastasio, along with Arun Jothi and Natalie Frost of Amal, who specialize in embroidery made by hand for the world of haute couture. The trio played with absolute creative freedom through the lens of art and design, allowing the world of lighting to be investigated without the typical limits imposed by production.For a company, it is a true privilege to be able to take the time to reflect, to weave connections, and attempt creative incursions into other worlds. It is also a natural choice; for us: getting out of our comfort zone is a part of who we are, says Carlo Urbinati, president of Foscarini. Habitus is therefore a gift we make to ourselves but also a necessity, the outcome of our need to listen and to share visions with people who belong to other worlds, to create new imaginaries of light, and to explore different meanings to assign to what we do.HABITUS is about the research and possibilities that lie between the idea and the product. Here, embroidery is explored as a venerated ancient art thats been given a contemporary update by Amal. Foscarini doesnt consider the projects 11 pieces as lamps, rather theyre artistic light objects that bring together refined skills combining different eras of craftsmanship.Classic materials, such as glass beads, as well as paillettes, plexiglass, and strips of laser-cut PET, were used with the goal of observing the reactions of the light displays when it hits these unpredictable textures. The resulting pieces that comprise HABITUS include semi-finished metal parts with multicolored beads, curtains made using thousands of strung glass beads, and installations with curls of heat-processed PET. What they all have in common is the light and a slightly digital visual effect.HABITUS draws the gaze and the attention to these manual skills whose origins are lost in time, explains Anastasio. The modular character of the architecture underpinning embroidery and the reiteration of the gesture that produces it form the basis of this project, formulated to dress the light and to summon it to underscore the richness of the heritage of gestures layered in time that set the tone of the artifacts that are the designs inspiration.To learn more about HABITUS, visit foscarini.com.