Many design leaders find themselves in an impossible situation. On one side, senior management have read articles trumpeting the incredible ROI of user experience design. McKinsey tells us that design-led companies achieve 56% higher returns to shareholders. Forrester reports that every dollar invested in UX brings 100 dollars in return.Yet the reality I encounter when talking to design leaders is very different. Most are desperately under-resourced, with tiny teams expected to support hundreds of projects across their organizations. The result? Were spread so thin that we can barely scratch the surface of what needs doing.The problem isnt just about resources. Its about expectations and how we define our role. Too often, we position ourselves (or are positioned by others) as implementors the people who do the user research, create the prototypes, and run the usability tests. But with the scale of digital touching every corner of our organizations, thats simply not sustainable.Time For A New ApproachWe need to stop trying to do everything ourselves and instead focus on empowering others across the organization to improve the user experience. In other words, we need to become true leaders rather than just practitioners.This isnt about giving up control or lowering standards. Its about maximizing our impact by working through others. Think about it: would you rather be directly involved in 10% of projects or have some influence over 90% of them?What Does This Look Like In Practice?First, we need to shift our mindset from doing to enabling. This means:Offering targeted services rather than trying to be involved in everything;Providing coaching and mentoring to help others understand UX principles;Creating resources that empower others to make better UX decisions;Setting standards and guidelines that can scale across the organization.Lets break down each of these areas.Targeted ServicesInstead of trying to be involved in every project, focus on providing specific, high-value services that can make the biggest impact. This might include:Running discovery phases for major initiativesBy strategically initiating discovery phases for critical projects, you ensure that they start with a strong, user-focused foundation. This can involve tools like the Strategic User-Driven Project Assessment (SUPA), which helps validate ideas by assessing audience value, user needs, feasibility, and risks before committing to major investments. SUPA ensures projects are not just built right but are the right ones to build.Project-Specific UX GuidanceRegular feedback on design assets throughout a project keeps UX principles front and center. This can be achieved by offering UX audits, periodic check-ins to assess progress, or design reviews at key milestones.Facilitating workshops and problem-solving sessionsLeading targeted workshops or brainstorming sessions empowers teams to overcome design challenges on their own with your guidance. These tailored sessions help teams understand how to make better user-centered decisions and solve issues themselves, spreading UX capabilities beyond your team.The key is to be strategic about where you spend your time, focusing on activities that will have the greatest ripple effect across the organization.Coaching And MentoringOne of the most effective ways to scale your impact is through coaching. This could include:UX Office HoursDesignate times where anyone in the organization can drop in to get quick UX advice. This informal setting can solve small issues before they snowball and helps stakeholders learn as they go.One-on-One or Group CoachingScheduled check-ins with individuals or teams are great opportunities to address challenges directly, mentor those who need extra support, and ensure alignment with best practices. Regular 1:1 or group coaching keeps UX priorities on track and provides valuable guidance when and where its needed most.Tailored Problem-Solving SessionsProviding bespoke guidance for specific challenges that teams encounter empowers them to tackle design obstacles while internalizing the principles of good UX. These problem-solving sessions can be invaluable in ensuring teams can autonomously address future problems.The goal isnt to turn everyone into UX experts but to help them understand enough to make better decisions in their daily work.Its also important to recognize that others might not initially deliver work at the same level of quality that you would. This is okay. The primary goal is to get people engaged and excited about UX. If we criticize them every time they fall short of perfection, we risk undermining their enthusiasm. Instead, we need to foster a supportive environment where improvement happens over time.Creating ResourcesDevelop tools and resources that help others apply UX principles independently. For example:Design SystemsCreate and maintain a comprehensive design system that integrates UX best practices into the UI across the organization. A well-crafted design system ensures that everyone, from developers to designers, aligns on consistent best practices, making it easier for teams to work independently while still maintaining high standards. This includes reusable code components, clear documentation, and alignment between design and development.UX Tool SuiteProviding teams with pre-selected tools for user research, prototyping, and user testing helps maintain quality and saves time. With tools for everything from user research to usability testing, you provide the resources teams need to conduct UX activities on their own without extensive onboarding.Research RepositoryMaintain a centralized repository of user research findings that can be accessed by anyone across the organization. A well-organized research repository can reduce duplication of effort, provide insights across different initiatives, and allow teams to learn from each others findings. This promotes consistent application of user insights across projects.Supplier ListsProviding a vetted list of suppliers and external agencies helps ensure consistency when work is outsourced. It provides quick access to high-quality resources, mitigates risk, and builds trust with suppliers who understand your standards.Self-Service Training ResourcesCreate a library of on-demand training materials that teams can access when needed. This should include video tutorials, interactive exercises, case studies, and step-by-step guides for common UX tasks like conducting user interviews, creating personas, or running usability tests. Unlike scheduled workshops, self-paced learning allows people to access knowledge exactly when they need it, leading to better retention and practical application.These resources should be practical and accessible, making it easy for teams to do the right thing.Setting StandardsCreate a framework that guides UX decisions across the organization:Design PrinciplesEstablish core design principles that align with your organizations values and user-centered goals. These principles help ensure consistency and clarity in decision-making. For example, define around six to ten principles that stakeholders across the organization have voted on and agreed upon, ensuring broader buy-in and consistent decision-making.Policies for UXDevelop clear policies that standardize processes like work requests, user research and testing, and stakeholder involvement. These policies help set expectations, keep efforts aligned with organizational goals, and make it easier for non-UX professionals to understand and comply with best practices.Project Prioritization PoliciesHaving clear guidelines on how projects are prioritized ensures that UX gets the attention it needs in the planning stages, preventing it from being overlooked or marginalized. Establish policies that align project value to user needs and organizational priorities.The key is to make these standards helpful rather than bureaucratic they should enable better work, not create unnecessary obstacles.Bringing It All TogetherAll of these elements should come together in what I call a UX Playbook a single source of truth that contains everything teams need to deliver better user experiences. This isnt just another document to gather dust; its a living resource that demonstrates your value as a leader and helps others get started on their UX journey.The shift from practitioner to leader isnt easy. It requires letting go of some control and trusting others to carry forward UX principles. But its the only way to create lasting change at scale.If youre struggling with this transition, I am running a workshop on design leadership in February. I would love to discuss your situation there.

In the heart of Prague, where historic facades tell tales of centuries past, a unique rooftop apartment has emerged as a modern ode to the citys layered history. Conceived by the team at OBLIQO, this 1,808-square-foot home blends classical elegance and contemporary functionality, nestled atop a building dating back to 1893.This project began with an evocative question posed by its new occupants, a couple transitioning into retirement: how can a home embody the emotions and memories of a lifetime, while embracing the future? Their answer lies in a space that masterfully intertwines the grandeur of Pragues architectural heritage with sleek modernity and artisanal touches.Upon entering, the apartments design welcomes visitors into a light-filled, open-concept living area. Here, the entryway effortlessly transitions into dining and lounging spaces, underscoring a sense of expansiveness and unity. Anchoring the aesthetic are works by Alina Shupikov, whose textured pieces incorporate soil and sand from places significant to the homeowners a poignant reminder of their shared journey.The kitchen occupies a central position in both layout and narrative. Its stone countertops and oxidized steel panels create a striking dialogue between old-world charm and cutting-edge design. Functionality remains paramount, with a concealed butlers pantry offering additional practicality. From this nucleus, a staircase ascends to the rooftop terrace, an outdoor haven complete with bespoke furniture and a customized kitchen ideal for hosting gatherings for family and friends.Throughout the home, an eclectic yet cohesive palette of materials tells a story of times passage. Oxidized steel and stone juxtapose with ceramic tiles that echo traditional stoves, while local artisans from TON and Javorina contributed wooden elements like chairs, tables, and the primary bed. These collaborations underscore the apartments deep connection to its cultural and geographical context.The apartments private quarters are a study in serenity, where soft gradients of color contrast with clean, white surfaces to evoke calm. A walk-in closet connects to the primary bedroom, which features a custom-designed jewelry cabinet crafted with painted veneer. Beyond, two bathrooms and a multifunctional home studio designed for both jewelry-making and as a guest room illustrate the thoughtful versatility of the space.To see more work by OBLIQO, visit obliqo.cz.Photography by Vclav Beran.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.I am working from a hotel today because I traveled for the holidays, but I didn't wake up groggy for work this morning even though I spent the last three days running around an unfamiliar city. That's because when it comes to my sleep, I'm a militant little freak. Even being in a hotel bed in a strange place can't stop me from getting the rest I know I deserve. From hotels to motels, Airbnbs to friends' couches, and even on a plane or in a car, I am always prepared to shut my eyes blissfully and effectively. Here's what to pack so you rest well no matter where you are in the world. What I packed to sleep well this weekA big part of getting a good night's sleep is maintaining a routine, so the first things I packed weren't necessarily sleep aids so much as the tools I use to wind down and signal to my body that it's time for bed when I'm home. Taking the same steps, smelling the same smells, and preparing the same way I would if I were in my own bed helps trick my brain into settling down when I'm in an otherwise unfamiliar spot. On this particular trip, that meant packing a mini version of my usual skincare routine. I picked up a new COSRX Favorites set ($36) a few days before I left. I also added a mini version of one of my go-to lotions, a gua sha tool, undereye patches, whitening strips, and a silk bonnet to protect my hair while I slept, perfectly mirroring all the actions, flavors, and smells of my normal nighttime routine. In addition to all of those being $20 or less, the key here is that all of them are small; they fit right in my carry-on. Two tips: I took everything I could out of its original packaging, so my undereye patches and white strips weren't in bulky boxes that took up too much space, and I recommend buying a set of travel bottles so you can decant favorite lotions, shampoos, conditioners, mouthwash, and skincare products without having to pack giant containers. A good set runs about $10 but makes packing a lot easier. Vipop 20 pack of travel bottles $9.99 at Amazon $12.99 Save $3.00 Shop Now Shop Now $9.99 at Amazon $12.99 Save $3.00 As for the products that actually help me sleep well, I started by packing my chin strap. I somewhat dubiously picked this thing up about a month ago and have noticed an improvement to my sleep quality because it forces me to sleep with my mouth closed by wrapping firmly under my chin and attaching behind my ears. A lot of people use mouth tape for this purpose, but that feels claustrophobic to me and this is less wasteful than single-use tapes and folds up plenty small for packing, too. I always sleep with this on now, but I've found it especially useful in the hotel, where I don't have a humidifier or much control of the air quality in general, because it stops me from waking up with a sore throat after mouth-breathing the air in an unfamiliar place. I am deeply committed to sleeping in darkness and silence, so I also always have tools on hand to help me with that. For this trip, instead of my bulky foam eye cover, I opted to pack single-use steam eye masks. They're not quite as effective at blocking out light compared to my big mask (though they definitely still do), but because they're paper-thin and individually packaged, they take up a lot less space in my bag. Plus, they heat up and give off a soothing lavender scent, which I think is helpful for relaxing into a sleepy state in an unfamiliar room. As ever, don't forget earplugs, either. One thing I didn't pack but wish I did is a combo of both: Sleep headphones with an attached mask, so you can listen to white noise and block out light. MUSICOZY Bluetooth sleep headphones $29.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $10.00 Learn More Learn More $29.99 at Amazon $39.99 Save $10.00 As for pajamas, I get particular. You can't know the exact thermostat situation in advance before you check into a hotel, so you can't predict if it will be too cold or too warm in the roomand that's to say nothing of the compromises you might have to make if you're traveling with another person. (I'm a little freak and love cranking the heat up all the way, but no one ever agrees with me.) The pajamas I packed for this trip are actually one piece: A Funziez onesie. This is ideal because it's not too fluffy or hot, but has a long zipper that can be undone if you overheat. With its thin but warm fabric, this is the best travel pajama I've found by far and eliminates the need for packing multiple pajama pieces. Finally, I try not to be too fussy about sleeping in unfamiliar linens because, but there is a little comfort that comes with knowing I'm sleeping in bedding I washed, certain of its cleanliness and smelling the comforting scent of my own detergent, so I usually pack my Tan Fan sleep sack, too. Essentially, it's a very thin, silky sleeping bag that puts some fabric between your body and your sheets. It's designed to stop you from getting self-tanner on your bedding (which is why I got it in the first place), but it's actually turned out to be a pretty invaluable travel tool for me, too, whether I'm tanned up or not.

Game subscriptions make a lot of sense: Instead of spending $60 or $70 on a single game, you spend a certain amount per month or year to access a huge list of titles. Nothing lasts forever, though, including subscription service offerings, and Sony's PS Plus is no exception. Unless you're on top of things, you may miss out on playing certain games before they leave the service. What's more, Sony doesn't make it totally obvious what's set to leaveunless you go looking for it. As it happens, True Trophies has dug into the PlayStation Store, looking for the games that are set to leave in January. The outlet found 11 titles currently scheduled to depart next month: You have until Jan. 14 to play eight of them, and only until Jan. 6 for the other three. This list isn't necessarily set in stone, and more games could be added as time goes on. Plus, True Trophies is pulling data from a PSN account based in the EU, so there could be some discrepancies for those of us in other regions: I've corrected the three PS Plus Essential titles below to reflect when they'll leave for North American users. The list itself should be unchanged, however. Here's what's set to leave next month, including specific dates:It Takes Two (PS4/PS5, PS Plus Essential): Jan. 7Temtem (PS5, PS Plus Essential): Jan. 7Aliens Dark Descent (PS4/PS5, PS Plus Essential): Jan. 7Resident Evil 2 (PS4/PS5, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14Dragon Ball FighterZ (PS4/PS5, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14Life is Strange (PS5/PS5, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14Life is Strange: Before the Storm (PS4, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14Just Cause 3 (PS4, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14 Just Cause 4 (PS4, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14Hardspace Shipbreaker (PS4/PS5, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14Pure Hold'em (PS4, PS Plus Extra): Jan. 14Legend of Mana (PS4, PS Plus Premium): Jan. 14Secret of Mana (PS4, PS Plus Premium): Jan. 14Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (PS4, PS Plus Premium): Jan. 14While the PS Plus Extra and Premium titles will be gone for good once they leave, you can keep playing the three Essential titles so long as you claim them before the deadline. For those of us in North America, that appears to be Jan. 7 by 12 p.m. ET. For the EU, that's Jan. 6, according to True Trophies.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.As is the case with most people who stay loyal to their tech ecosystem, the best user experience will come when pairing gadgets of the same brand. Apple just happens to have one of the best headphones and seamless experiences you can get. The AirPods Max offers one of the highest-tier listening experiencesbut it is also one of the most expensive headphones you can buy, normally at half a grand. Since an updated version was released in September, the "older" AirPods Max have dropped significantly in price, but never to its current $170 discountyou can get them for $379.99 at Best Buy right now. That's a record-low price, according to price-tracking tools, and you can pick them up today or have them shipped by tomorrow. Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio $379.99 at Best Buy $549.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Get Deal $379.99 at Best Buy $549.99 Save $170.00 When the AirPods Max came out in 2020 (yes, they're old now), there wasn't a lot of competition for headphones that could do active noise-cancelling (ANC) and ambient awareness and provide top-tier audio as well. These days, there's stiff competition in all of those categories, especially at this price point. However, buying AirPods Max is a statement. Even though they don't have the Apple logo, you're paying a premium price for the recognition. If that's what you're after, these headphones are it.When it comes to features, the AirPods Max aren't jam-packedbut the few they do have are very good quality, which is on-brand for Apple's minimalist standard. They are one of the best ANC headphones you can buy (they don't give you that weird pressure sensation when you turn them on), have very good ambient awareness to hear your surroundings well, have adaptive EQ and spatial audio, which adjusts the audio automatically to you and your environment, and hands-free Siri, according to PCMag's "excellent" review. Some of the downsides are that they are heavier than regular headphones at 13.6 ounces. This comes from the choice to use metal for the material of the design. You also can't manually adjust the EQ to your liking, so if you don't like the sound signature, you're out of luck. Finally, the smart case it comes with is, well, ugly and doesn't protect the mesh that rests on your head (a delicate part of the headphones). You also need that smart case to put your headphones in "sleep" mode so your 20 hours of battery aren't drained.

If you've found your TV to be too slow to stream its built-in apps, here's a decent deal that can help fix things on the cheap: The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is once again on sale for $29. This offer has been available for much of the holiday season, and it's not an all-time low the dongle previously fell to $25 toward the end of 2023 but it does match the largest discount we've tracked this year. For reference, Roku normally sells the device for $50, though in recent months it's often retailed for $34 at third-party retailers like Amazon. Either way, you're saving a bit more than usual. The discount is available at several stores, including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Roku.com. If you're hoping to grab the device as a Christmas gift, that'll be more of a hassle: Most listings we could find say that it won't ship until after the holidays, so you'll likely have to order with in-store pickup at Walmart, Best Buy or another retailer with physical locations. We recommend the Streaming Stick 4K in our guide to the best streaming devices. It's not as fast or fluid as a premium set-top box like the Apple TV 4K, but it's still quick to load up apps and menus, and its tiny design plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port. It supports just about all of the major HDR formats and streaming services (Twitch aside), plus it works with Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol, so you can beam content to it from an iPhone. While it can't decode Dolby Atmos audio on its own, it can pass that audio through to a compatible sound system from apps that support the tech. Like other Roku devices, the Streaming Stick 4K is dead-simple to navigate, with a home screen made up from a basic grid of apps. Google's TV Streamer (the top pick in our guide) is much more proactive about recommending content you might like and getting you back to shows you've watched recently, but you might find Roku's interface easier to take in if you don't mind surfing for things to watch yourself. The UI makes a host of free content easily accessible as well, and we found searching to work fine, even if it's not quite as robust as Google's OS. We also like Roku's mobile app, which lets you control the device and listen in privately with a pair of headphones. As with every other streaming player, there are ads scattered throughout the UI, though Roku is at least a little less aggressive about them than Amazon is with its Fire TV devices. A few other Roku devices are still available for their Black Friday prices as well, including the Roku Express 4K+ (which lacks Dolby Vision HDR) for $24 and the Roku Ultra (which has a larger box design, full Atmos support and a more advanced remote) for $79. For most people looking to visit Roku City, though, the Streaming Stick 4K should be the best value. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-roku-streaming-stick-4k-is-back-on-sale-for-29-175310234.html?src=rss

A group of talented fans have made a native PC port of Star Fox 64, which they are calling Starship. Even better? Its technically legal. Harbour Masters, the team behind the project, used a tool that converts the original game ROM into PC executable code, so it doesnt actually use any proprietary Nintendo code.This is the same method used to create the native PC port of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and that ones still available for download. Members of this crew also ported Majoras Mask and Super Mario 64 using the same conversion tool. There is one major caveat here. Youll need your own legally-sourced Star Fox 64 game ROM to play.Star Fox 64: now on PC, thanks to an unofficial port.https://t.co/YZULlJdrqw pic.twitter.com/q684NpU49p Andy Robinson (@Andy_VGC) December 23, 2024 Just like previous ports, Starship features all kinds of modern bells and whistles to set itself apart from the 1997 original. The frame rate is higher and the port includes frame smoothing technology for better visuals. There are custom-made textures and the ability to run on widescreen monitors, as seen above.Theres also another major benefit. This port is moddable, so who knows what well see in the future once people get their hands on it. The teams Ocarina of Time port has received plenty of love from the modding community. Some mods allow for abilities sourced from newer Zelda games and one even throws functioning Pikmin into the mix because, well, why not?According to Redditors, the Star Fox 64 port is easy to get going on a Steam Deck, if thats your bag. It requires Proton and some light hurdle-jumping, as the code isnt Linux-based. Its been a while since weve gotten a legitimate Star Fox game from Nintendo, and it was a weird one, so this could sate that neverending urge to do barrel rolls.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/fans-made-a-native-star-fox-64-pc-port-with-some-modern-flourishes-174612229.html?src=rss

It looks like Meta is preparing to add displays to its popular line of Ray-Ban smart glasses, according to a report by Financial Times. These screens could show up in a future iteration of the device as early as next year. The likely release window is the second half of 2025.According to folks familiar with Metas plans, the screens will be on the smaller side and will likely be used to display notifications or responses from Metas AI virtual assistant. Its highly unlikely that the company is planning on making this a full mixed-reality device just yet.For that, Meta has the recently-unveiled Orion AR glasses, which are still several years out. The same report indicates that the positive response to the Orion glasses has likely accelerated development and possibly ensured a commercial release. It was uncertain if those glasses would remain an in-house prototype.The Ray-Ban smart glasses have been a surprise hit for Meta, and its easy to see why. They look great and perform admirably. The current model includes in-ear speakers, cameras, microphones and access to Metas virtual assistant.I quite enjoy the simplicity of the current design, particularly when taking photos and videos. My hope is that screens do not get in the way of that simplicity and that they dont come at the expense of, say, improvements to the camera system.Ray-Ban Meta glasses, after all, are the perfect device for snapping quick photos of a pet. Have you ever tried to will an animal to keep still so you can dig your phone out of a bag to take a photo? Those darned cuties never do. The Ray-Bans solve that problem.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-is-reportedly-adding-displays-to-its-ray-ban-smart-glasses-162634427.html?src=rss

High-ranking US officials have been urged by CISA to enable advanced security features.

More than five million people had sensitive data exposed, including healthcare and payment info.