There are several anime available to watch that focus on family bonds and relationships. These dynamics can range from endearingly obnoxious to downright toxic and everything in between. After all, anime is a medium full of colorful characters, where even the simplest of family gatherings can turn into engrossing watches due to how boisterous and in-your-face some of these interactions can be.

I've made a binding generator for AngelScript at https://github.com/HenryAWE/asbind20.The basic feature is almost complete. The library is preparing for its first release. I think it is worth to share this library here, as well as asking for suggestion & feedback.Although the interface of AngelScript is very friendly to C++ comparing to most binding APIs from other script languages, it still needs many additional proxy functions (e.g. when binding a constructor). However, mo

Hi GameDev community!My name is Steve McSilver, and Im a passionate music composer from France specializing in creating immersive soundtracks for video games. With expertise in Logic Pro X and experience in various music genres, I love to craft unique atmospheres that enhance gameplay and bring stories to life.Im excited to expand my work in the game industry and am currently looking for opportunities to collaborate with game developers, designers, and teams who want custom, h

From on-track Ray Tracing to unprecedented detail with 8K, discover how EA Sports and Codemasters utilize the groundbreaking PS5 Pro technology to make F1 24 look and play better. Si Lumb, Technical Producer at Codemasters, shares insight into what players can expect when playing F1 24 on PS5 Pro plus, more details about Season 4 and an upcoming Free-Play trial.Enhanced for PS5 Pro, F1 24 takes full advantage of the consoles exclusive technologies and improved graphical capabilities depending on the display option players choose in the settings menu.PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) allows us to push a Ray Traced image to 4K without sacrificing image quality in Quality Mode, says Si. The increased power in the PS5 Pros GPU gives us the ability to double the 120Hz resolution in Performance Mode, and with some clever re-ordering of the frame, we have even managed to put the 32 Million pixels of 8K at 60Hz in Resolution Mode.Whilst Ray Tracing is available on PS5 in F1 24 race replays, the power of the PS5 Pro enables this technology during on-track racing when selecting Quality Mode.Ray Tracing allows us to simulate light to enhance realism, making reflections, shadows, and lighting more lifelike. These enhancements result in a more photorealistic experience, especially on the glossy and mirror-like chassis of the cars, the undulating and detailed track terrain, or the varied circuit surroundings. This is even more prominent in wet conditions, where reflections from puddles or shiny surfaces play a significant role in the immersion.In a first for EA Sports, the PS5 Pro F1 24 enhancements enable 8K/60Hz support when using a compatible display in Resolution Mode. All 25 circuits in the game are improved both on and off the track, and with variable weather and time of day options for each, players are bound to discover a new favorite in 8K/60Hz.For the ultimate showcase of 8K visuals, Id recommend Spa Francorchamps at sunset in clear weather. The elevation changes and dense foliage at Spa, combined with the incredible detail and depth offered by 8K, make for a visually stunning experience. The tracks sweeping corners and long straights will show off the high pixel count, while the dynamic lighting and shadows give you a real sense of immersion as the light shifts across the circuit.By leveraging the power of the PS5 Pro to work in harmony with F1 24s EGO Engine, the development team plans to push the limits of graphical performance for future releases.Weve learned a lot from this release, and the groundwork laid in F1 24 will help us take even greater advantage of the PS5 Pros power in the future. Were especially interested in expanding our use of technologies like PSSR across more modes and further optimizing our Ray Tracing and high frame rate features. As we continue to push the limits of the EGO engine, we look forward to delivering even more groundbreaking advancements in upcoming F1 titles.No matter which graphical mode players choose, the PS5 Pro enhancements result in noticeable differences throughout the game when you load up F1 24 for the first time.Whether its increased clarity in the Performance Mode, the sharper details and more immersive visuals of our new 8K Resolution Mode, or the dramatic improvements to lighting and reflectionsthanks to Ray Tracingin Quality Mode, each adds to the realism, immersion, and scale in bringing the sport of F1 to life on your screen.For F1 24s Season 4, players across all PlayStation platforms can race to unlock a number of new customization items, with one such item being fit for a champion. Plus, a new Pro Challenge at Austins Circuit of the Americas featuring Oscar Piastri, and a selection of Race Scenarios, including a pair from Abu Dhabi 2021, each with rewards usable throughout the game. Keep an eye out for the full reveal on November 19.For those yet to pick up F1 24, theres no better time, as from November 21-24, F1 24 will be free to download and play, with the opportunity to test drive the entire game, including its PS5 Pro features alongside a double XP period for Podium Pass. Everything from the revamped Career mode through to the thrilling multiplayer will be available, with all progress made carrying over to the full game.

Hello, Stellar Blade fans! Thank you for your continued love and support. Stellar Blades journey was fueled by your passion, and our fans motivated us to face every challenge. We are excited to share two special announcements with you today.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageCollaboration with Nier:AutomataThe moment youve been waiting for has finally arrived! A fantastic collaboration where the worlds of Stellar Blade and Nier:Automata meet.Nier:Automata significantly inspired Stellar Blade. The collaboration between Director Kim Hyung Tae and Director Yoko Taro, marked by mutual respect and creativity, led to this successful outcome.In the center of all this is Emil (voiced by Maii Kadowaki), the strange character from Nier:Automata. Emils Shop makes a surprise appearance in the world of Stellar Blade where eleven different collaboration-special items will be available. Items that intertwine the best of both games, leading you to a more enriched world.Click! More fun with Photo ModeView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageYou can now transform each moment in the game into your personal masterpiece. Beautiful landscape, thrilling battles, those emotional moments with the characters Capture these moments to your hearts content. Meticulous camera work and various filters allow you to create unique looks.Go through different poses to discover new looks that you never knew Eve and her comrades had. Share these photographs of special moments to enjoy a new kind of amusement.Patch updates you shouldnt missFour new costumes and one new accessory are added to bring more personality to the characters.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageThe new accessory, Symbol of Legacy changes the appearance and presentation of the Tachy Mode when equipped. Revitalize your gaming experience with updated cosmetics.Also, lip-sync support for six additional languages (French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Latin American Spanish) will let you enjoy the vivid dialogues even more.Your camp break just got more funyou can now pick a specific song from the turntable to listen to.We also expanded character customization for Eve and added a No Ponytail feature to the list from Ponytail Length.More fun is added to battle. Auto-targeting and ballistics correction features will be applied to the enemy insta-kill skills. This will make the already intense and dynamic battles even more exciting.Paying back for all your supportThis DLC and patch updates were prepared by our dev team with one heart and one mind, and we are absolutely delighted to share this with you. We hope that the Nier:Automata collaboration items and the new Photo Mode will bring more joy to your gameplay. We will continue to do our best to keep up with the anticipation and love our players show us.Stellar Blade updates arrive on PlayStation 5 on November 20, 2024. Prepare for an exciting new adventure.

Wizards of the Coast announced its new virtual tabletop, Maps, is entering public beta after a year of alpha testing. This new phase of Maps takes all of the virtual tabletops original features which includes rolling digital dice, character tokens, and integration of maps and monsters from a users D&D Beyond library and adds the ability for players to run combat encounters and track initiative directly in the virtual tabletop.However, there was no mention of Wizards of the Coasts shiniest new toy, Project Sigil, a 3D virtual map that is currently in closed beta. Sigil premiered at Gen Con earlier this year to mixed reviews in a live actual play starring Baldurs Gate 3 actors Samantha Bart and Neil Newbon alongside actual play titans Brennan Lee Mulligan, Aabria Iyengar, and Anjali Bhimani.Among those low-prep features are easy integration of player and enemy tokens, real-time encounter balancing based on the updated Dungeon Masters Guide, and a flexible initiative without interrupting the encounter. For bigger encounters or multi-stage dungeons, monsters can be hidden until the time is right, giving Dungeon Masters a tool to always up the drama (or take away some extra monsters if things arent looking good for the party).Over the last year, theres been a lot of buzz about Wizards push to make Dungeons & Dragons a digital-native game. In the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown and the ongoing pandemic, more people than ever are using virtual tools to play the worlds most famous tabletop role-playing game, with the D&D Beyond platform claiming over 10 million users during Hasbros initial acquisition of the digital toolset in April 2022.Parent company Hasbro has faced a number of challenges with D&D Beyond since shifting to the new version of D&Ds 5th edition ruleset, prompting some issues with the virtual integrations. Public backlash forced WotC to clarify and walk back some of its statements regarding the new editions backward compatibility, but this update seems to prioritize making playing the game easier, not harder.This Maps update, oddly enough, makes Wizards a powerful competitor in a digital landscape full to bursting with competing products, including popular solutions like Alchemy and Foundry. But it also puts it into direct competition with its own partners, including officially licensed VTTs like Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds. The advantage for harried game masters, of course, is that after having players roll up a character digitally, they can just hit a button in the web browser to seamlessly take the action out of the theater of the mind and into a 2D, visually immersive digital combat experience. According to the post on the D&D Beyond blog, the goal of Maps has always been to allow Dungeon Masters to prep less [and] play more.According to the D&D Beyond announcement, only Master Tier subscribers will be able to host game sessions in Maps, but all users with a free account and browser-based internet access can join a hosted game.

The best AS VAL loadout in Black Ops 6 is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to lie low and stay off the radar. This is because it comes with an integrated suppressor, and while the gun has other trade-offs to account for this and keep it balanced, it basically means you have six attachments.The AS VALs biggest drawback is its magazine size, because it only has 20 bullets before you need to reload. However, if you dedicate one attachment slot to improving that aspect, you can focus the rest of the build on managing the recoil and buffing the damage range, because this is a gun you want to play fairly slowly with, and will undoubtedly be in our best guns list before too long. It goes toe-to-toe with both the XM4 and AMES 85, two assault rifles near the top of the list right now.Heres the best AS VAL loadout in Black Ops 6, the best class to use alongside it, and how to unlock the gun.How to unlock the AS VAL in Black Ops 6To unlock the AS VAL in Black Ops 6, you must reach level 55. Thats right: The AS VAL is the very final gun youll unlock before reaching prestige in Black Ops 6, so youve got something of a grind in front of you if youve solely got your sights set on using it. Of course, if you do decide to prestige, youll lose access to the AS VAL because hitting that rank resets all of your unlocks. So to keep using it, be prepared to sit at level 55 for a while.Best AS VAL loadout in Black Ops 6Here is the best AS VAL loadout in Black Ops 6:Optic: Accu-Spot Ultra HoloBarrel: Suppressed Reinforced BarrelUnderbarrel: Vertical ForegripMagazine: Extended Mag IIFire Mods: Recoil SpringsFirst and foremost, the AS VAL isnt a gun you want to be running around and sliding all over the place with. It fires too slow for that sort of playstyle; instead, youll want to move tactically, pre-aiming round corners and using cover to your advantage. Its a great gun for Search & Destroy for this reason, although it can still be used in respawn modes if needed.The optical sight you choose is largely personal preference but weve found the Accu-Spot Ultra Holo to be the best, as it has more magnification than the red dot sights and youll be fighting mostly at mid-long range. Feel free to switch this out for something else, if youd rather, however the rest of the attachments are more crucial.All the barrel attachments here are suppressed thanks to the aforementioned in-built suppressor, and the Reinforced Barrel is by far the best choice as it buffs both the damage range and the bullet velocity. The latter isnt as important in multiplayer as opposed to Warzone because the distances youll be fighting at arent long enough for it to make a big difference, but the bonus is still helpful. Then the Vertical Foregrip is a huge help for reducing the horizontal recoil, because while the AS VAL isnt terrible for weapon control, its also not the best.As mentioned, the AS VAL has an incredibly small magazine by default with only 20 bullets in, so wed suggest equipping either the Extended Mag I or II. Weve gone for the latter because the cons arent too severe if youre playing slowly debuffs to the reload, aim down sight, and sprint to fire speeds but if you do find they hinder you too much, opt for the Extended Mag I. Finally, the Recoil Springs do what they say on the tin: buff the recoil control.Best AS VAL class in Black Ops 6Here is the best class to use with the AS VAL in Black Ops 6:Pistol: GrekhovaMelee: KnifeTactical: FlashbangLethal: FragField Upgrade: Spring MinePerk 1: GhostPerk 2: TrackerPerk 3: Cold-BloodedSpecialty: ReconWildcard: Perk GreedPerk 4: Tac MaskThe Grekhova is the best choice for your sidearm because its fully automatic and can be reliably switched to whenever you need to deal with enemies up close, while the Knife is nearly always the best melee choice. Then go for the Flashbang, which is by far the strongest tactical grenade in the game right now thanks to how long the blinding effect lasts for. As for a lethal option, you can never go wrong with the ol reliable Frag Grenade.In the Field Upgrade slot, opt for a Spring Mine. As youre playing slowly, you can use this to protect a path behind you or on the flank, or you can just drop it where enemies will least expect it.( However, if you find yourself dying to grenades often, switch this out for a Trophy System.)Go for the blue perks to enhance this stealth playstyle: Ghost protects you from enemy UAVs when moving, Tracker allows you to see enemy footprints and aiming at an enemy pings them automatically, while Cold-Blooded prevents you from being targeted by enemy scorestreaks. (This is more effective in respawn-based modes, though, so switch out for Vigilance if youre playing Search & Destroy.) Even though its been nerfed slightly, the Recon specialty that briefly gives you x-ray vision is still very strong.Finally, rounds out with the Perk Greed wildcard and the Tac Mask. Since youre not running a Trophy System, however, this can be switched out for Flak Jacket if youd prefer, or if you are running with a Trophy System, consider either Scavenger or Fast Hands in respawn modes.Elsewhere, we have multiplayer explainers on thebest guns,maps, andDouble XP, campaign guides forsafehouse puzzlesandsafe code locations, and theLiberty Falls vault codein Zombies.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Czech Republics Central Bohemian Regions hillsides, Villa Sidonius presents an innovative architectural feat by Stempel & Tesar architekti. The villa stands out in ernoice, a historic area known for its distinctive blend of Art Nouveau, early 20th-century villas, and contemporary architectural experiments. The home challenges conventional building methods, opting instead for a hanging bridge-like structure that rises high on one of the steepest plots in the area. This design uniquely engages with the natural environment while optimizing views, functionality, and sustainability.ernoice has long attracted visionary architects, and Villa Sidonius builds on this tradition while charting new territory in both form and function. Elevated on reinforced concrete pillars, the villas bridge-like design effectively elevates it above the slope, bringing residents closer to sweeping views of the Berounka Valley, the Bohemian Karst hills, and even Pragues skyline in the distance. By positioning the structure high on the north-facing slope, the architects could harness the most direct sunlight while creating a seamless connection with the upper garden.The villas construction is an engineering marvel, utilizing a prefabricated steel framework that combines durability with flexibility. The external load-bearing structure relies on HEB 300 profiles, which provide stability for the buildings long, horizontal form. Inside, IPE 160 profiles serve as a supportive framework for windows, floors, and roof elements, allowing the villa to span an impressive 18 meters (approximately 59 feet) between its reinforced pillars. This choice in materials exemplifies the architects focus on creating a low-maintenance structure capable of withstanding the demands of the terrain while integrating seamlessly into the landscape.Inside, Villa Sidonius embraces the latest in architectural technology, including Swiss-engineered air-lux windows that incorporate patented air-sealing technology to ensure airtight closures even in fluctuating temperatures. The villas heating and cooling system employs heat pump technology, creating a comfortable indoor climate that adapts to seasonal variations with minimal environmental impact. Combined, these elements make Villa Sidonius a low-thermal-mass building that balances temperature regulation with energy efficiency a noteworthy achievement in a structure where large expanses of glass bring nature indoors.Access to the villa begins in an unexpected way: via an underground tunnel that connects the garage to the main living area. Leading residents to the foot of one of the villas towering pillars, the tunnel opens into an elevator, providing a private and practical entryway that is both elegant and efficient. The elevator stops at an intermediate level with access to the homes service rooms before reaching the primary living spaces.Landscape architect Vladimr Sitta collaborated closely with the design team to integrate Villa Sidonius into its natural surroundings. Inspired by the rugged beauty of the Bohemian hillsides, they envisioned a slope covered in slate, softened by clusters of birch trees. This approach lends the landscape a serene, organic quality, contrasting beautifully with the villas steel structure and sharp angles. Together, the architectural and landscape design create a harmonious environment that celebrates the regions natural character while bringing new life to the historic district.Once on the residential level, the villas layout unfolds with a sense of openness and warmth. A central living space features a cozy yet expansive living room, dining area, and kitchen that flow together, inviting residents and guests to move naturally through the home. This main area opens onto a south-facing terrace, which transitions into a lush, vegetated hillside where a swimming pool offers a retreat under the sun. The villas unique bridge design allows for additional separation between spaces, with childrens rooms situated on one side and the primary bedroom and bath, complete with views, on the other.For more information on Stempel & Tesar architekti, visit stempel-tesar.com.Photography by Filip lapal.

Holiday season is somehow upon us and end-of-year to-do lists continue to grow by the gift, but theres no need to fret! Weve rounded up 10 unique gifts for those looking to spend up to $100 on a thoughtful present for the design-inclined. From something simple like Obakkis Sumac Candle Gift Set made by traditional Japanese candle-makers to the snazzy Ofelia Pro Micro table lamp by Zafferano, these selections will surely shine from under the tree, in a stocking, or from whatever traditions you celebrate. Continue reading to learn more and shop our selections that will surely satisfy.Sumac Candle Gift Set by the Candlemakers of Nanao for Obakki \\\ $88A centuries-old, time-honored tradition imbues this contemporary candle set with an inimitable organic quality. The complete package includes a cast iron candle stand, one sumac candle, and a reusable wooden box. Japanese candles are especially poetic with their torchy flames that burn large and bright.Tear Vase by Mud Australia \\\ $73Consider this handmade sculptural piece made by the carbon neutral Sydney-based studio, which celebrates craft and conservation. The style is named after its teardrop glaze that appears to trickle down the vases matte body. And the conical silhouette appears as romantic with a floral arrangement as it does an empty vessel.Nappula White Short Plant Pot by Matti Klenell for Iittala \\\ $74 (Sale)This planter gets its silhouette from a peculiar-shaped table, from the same designer, with exaggerated legs translated into a fresh, singular form. The pedestal-like pot is iconic of Nordic sensibilities with light hues and a streamlined shape that makes light of its substantial form. Realized in neutral colors, green vines and floral arrangements growing from within the bowl are articulated with richness.Ofelia Pro Micro by Zafferano America \\\ $99Its all about the light with this tiny but mighty wireless portable lamp that is the perfect blend of utility and decor. A head touch dimmer, which remembers its last program, allows users to toggle between three color temperature settings to achieve the desired ambiance for indoor and outdoor spaces. And its slim, die-cast aluminum form carries the weight of something well-built with a silhouette slim enough to blend in.Kaolin Brass Utensil Holder by Light + Ladder for Tortuga Forma \\\ $88Every tabletop deserves to be adorned just as one might accessorize an outfit with jewelry. These meticulously crafted objects are made with solid brass and can be arranged in a variety of positions to accommodate any type of dining utensil. From intimate dinners to jubilant gatherings, these are sure to fuse fun with function for any occasion.Quiet Town Lost Coast Rug \\\ $82Often the textile industrys unsung hero, bath rugs bear the responsibility of keeping floors dry, preventing slip, and providing something fuzzy underfoot. This high-pile piece, made using sustainably sourced cotton, is designed with an undulating shape to provide visual interest on approach and a straight back edge to butt up against a rectilinear tub, shower tray, or wall edge. Its truly groovy.Special Edition Rock and Roll Love Blueprint Poster by Dorothy \\\ $65For those in search of something giftable and music related and an alternative to electronics should consider ephemera like this special edition poster. The Rock and Roll Love Blueprint features a gold foil design that unfurls across the page to reveal an intricate infographic. The print weaves through pioneers in an homage that celebrates the people and places that have influenced the genre.Contemporary Living Book by McClean Design \\\ $75Not all coffee table objects are created equal. This books striking cover is as captivating as the 15 ultra-modern residences featured within its pages. The author explores rigorous architectural projects that are elegant, highly-detailed, and representative of Californias best livable modernism. The survey of works includes floor plans, explanatory essays, and notes from the architects themselves for a look into the designers minds.New York XXV Print by Trevor Parker at 1114 unframed \\\ $45Art is perhaps one of the most personal gifts to be given and shared. An example of this is architectural photography, which can capture the raw emotion or wonder of awe-inspiring spaces that captivate a public audience. Best given unframed, the receiver can personalize the print according to their tastes and interior design needs.HOVE wood salt & pepper mill \\\ $60From rich hues and textures to the final plating, what we eat has a lot more in common with the elements of design than most might realize. These wooden mills showcase a graphic form, available in an array of color combinations, that add flair to tabletops for those that lean into the theater of food. Each is constructed from sustainably sourced wood and outfitted with a ceramic grinding mechanism to ensure quality and longevity.Follow along so you dont miss any of our2024 Gift Guidesthis year!This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

A comic illustration of Jean-Claude Van Damme performing the splits between two eighteen wheelers careening down the highway, all while eating poptarts. Credit:Me.How to choose the right career path foryou.You are Jean-Claude Van Damme. Youre straddling two 18-wheelers careening through space while doing the splits. Its very difficult, your groin hurts, and you could really use a strawberry Pop-tartHeres the question that has brought on all the pain and Pop-tart cravings: Do I continue the path of individual contributor or turn towards management?As designers, this is a decision that we all need to face eventually. As soon as we become competent in our craft, we start to realize that we cant straddle the gapforever.Im still asking myself thequestionWe all start our careers as ICs. But its around the time of Senior Designer that were confronted with the diverging path of IC and Manager. This is a challenging question, as both paths require totally different skillsets. Ive often seen people move into management ill-equipped to teach, mentor, and lead their teams well. They were just good at design and wanted to move forward in theircareers.I dont want this to happen toyou.Over the last three years, I have been managing a steadily growing team. I now have 5 designers and 3 engineers reporting to me. Ive been learning a lot about what being a manager is (and what it isnt). Ive steadily been answering the questions that Ive had about the transition from individual contributor to manager. And Ive learned a lot about what it means to lead and influence others.Maybe youre in a similar position I was, questioning what the next step in your career holds. Here are a few things that Im learning:Lets bethankfulDo you know how many people would have killed to be in our position 20 or 30 years ago? Its only been relatively recently that growth in our careers as designers does not necessarily include management. Companies are realizing the importance of employing and incentivizing expert IC talent in their organization. Thats a really cool opportunity for us as UX designers.We dont have to become managers to move forward in our careers. We can keep designing. We can keep doing the thing that welove.This was not always the case. I think its important that we take some time to appreciate it. Were not in a rush, and we shouldnt make any decisions toorashly.Leadership is not just formanagersIn the book, The Servant, Hunter identifies two levers you can use as a manager to get people to do what you want: power and authority.Leadership: The skill of influencing people to work enthusiastically toward goals identified as being for the commongood.Power: The ability to force or coerce someone to do your will, even if they would choose not to, because of your position or yourmight.Authority: The skill of getting people to willingly do your will because of your personal influence.He spends the book communicating that while using the lever of power may be necessary in some situations (firing a bad employee for instance), as leaders, we need to be practicing authority and influence in order to lead the people aroundus.When I read this for the first time, I found it incredibly empoweringI didnt need a particular position tolead.If were to advance in our design careers, our craft, and our influence, whether were an individual contributor or manager, we still need to learn to lead other people well. Managers are not leaders. ICs are not leaders. Leaders are leaders. And the core of leadership is influence. That means that anyone, in any position can be aleader.Management is what you do; leadership is the person you are and the influence and impact you have upon the people you come into contact with. Management is not synonymous with leadership. Leadership is synonymous with influenceEveryone is a leader because everyone influences other people every day, for good or not so good, which is why you dont have to be the boss to be aleader.James C Hunter, TheServantThis world needs better leaders. It needs people who can change the culture around them, people who know how to make work better (in a whole lot of different ways). We are surrounded by poor leaders, and if were not thoughtful and intentional with how we engage with our teams, well become the part of theproblem.The way that we grow in our careers as UX designers is by increasing our ability to solve complex problems, but our capacity to solve problems individually only gets us so far. It is our ability to lead and influence people around us that allows us to have a bigimpact.Leadership is a skill, and we can start developing itnow.Lets take a look at how leadership shows up (or doesnt) in the two career paths that we have as UX designers.The Individual Contributors RoleThe Job: Solve problems.ICs make things. Their primary output is some kind of artifact. They have trained hands and minds to build things that assist in the software development process. And as more skills and experience are acquired, more leadership and influence can be exercised.UX Collective has an amazing series of interviews with Individual Contributors, Leading with Craft (with some terrific illustrations by Shreya Damle). Id like to focus on this one interview with Madhavi Jagdish. Shes asked about the difference between lead, staff, and principal designer.The differences in my mind are mostly those of scope, responsibility and visibility.As a lead designer, your focus is the project, and your responsibilities are to ensure that you work cross-functionally with PM and Engineering to deliver high-quality work that meets deadlines and expectations.Staff designers have a broader scope, their work reaches beyond their immediate functional and cross-functional teams. They contribute to design strategy at the company, and have more visibility with leadership and executives than lead designers do.Principal designers have even more responsibility outside their teams and functions. They are seen as design leaders at the company, contributing to strategic growth not just technically, but also along the lines of team culture and growth. They use systems thinking to ensure their work can have far-reaching impact, and set the vision for the team and companys creative work. They are also expected to have a deeper understanding of the business impact of their work and to communicate the value of research and design to executives.The level of a designer is directly related to the complexity of the problems that theyre solving. And their ability to solve complex problems is directly related to their influence over other people. A design lead influences the immediate people on their project. A staff designer influences people cross functionally. And a principal designer influences people across an entire organization.The Managers RoleThe Job: Protect yourteam.Its the managers job to teach, equip, and block for the people on their team. They are responsible for their teams output. They should be supporting and mentoring the career development of theirteam.This means less design, less making, and more meetings. It means learning how to understand people (and a wide variety of different types of people), and putting them into places or giving them the resources they need to be successful. That could be education and training, it could be additional experience. It could also be strategic insight so that the team member can solve the problem accurately.In my role as a manager, I view myself as a shield, protecting my team members so that they can do their best work. And while I still get the odd chance to build a component or perform user research, most managers dont. That is their blessing and their curse. They are communicating with everyone around them so that the men and women on their teams dont haveto.This can lead to a few pitfalls. Work for a manager is meetings. Its communication. Its coordination. If they get caught up in that work, they may start to believe that other people have similar responsibilities. They may forget that the bulk of the work that needs to be done requires human beings to bring forth something from nothing, spending a great deal of time and effort in the creation of something new.Christopher Nguyen has some great, practical tips for being a UXmanager.Meetings are not work for a designer who is making things. Theyre mostly distractions. At best, a meeting is an opportunity for quick relational connection, and information sharing. The real work happens when the designer is free to think, make, andbuild.Similarly to an Individual Contributor, the level of a manager is directly related to the complexity of the problems theyre solving. The difference is that a manager leverages the people on their team, while an IC is able to make a much more direct contribution.Lead, No Matter YourRoleWe need more leaders. Not enough people are doing the good work of leading. And I think that too many people are waiting around to be given a title. Dont wait for someone to hand you the mantle of leadership. Start rightnow.Care about the people youre surrounded by. Influence the culture of the people and work around you. Cast vision for a way to make thingsbetter.You do not need to be a manager to do that. Most managers dont do that anyway. Lead now. Do it with humility. Be genuinely interested in the people around you. Identify ways to make the culture of your workbetter.ResourcesThe Servant, James C.HunterYou dont need to be the boss to be a leader by Matt Mayberry, Harvard BusinessReviewLeading with Craft, UX CollectiveIndividual Contributor designers are cross-functional leaders by Caio Bruga, UX CollectiveHow to be a better UX manager by Christopher NguyenAffiliate Disclosure: Any Amazon links are affiliate links and help support my writing anddrawing.An illustration of the author waving. Credit:Me.Hey yall! Im Trip Carroll, a design leader at Cisco and aspiring cartoonist.I write and publish a new article on design, leadership, and software development every other Monday. You can see more of my work on my website, check out my drawings on Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter on Substack.Lets make workgreat!The split decision: IC or manager? was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.