# Anton Sten articles

> Complete Markdown archive of Anton Sten's writing about product design, UX, leadership, and AI.

## 2026

- [Designing voice first, without the answers](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designing-voice-first-without-the-answers.md): I'm in the middle of designing a voice-first product and have more questions than answers. On the parity problem, live transcripts, and trusting the model.
- [The Tools I Use to Run My Business](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/tools.md): A curated list of software and hardware I rely on daily, from Figma and Claude to my Herman Miller chair.
- [Working backwards](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/working-backwards.md): Visiting a friend at an art school, I watched students deconstruct finished paintings layer by layer. As we go from prompt to shipped app in days, that habit might be exactly what design is losing.
- [Designing for trust](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designing-for-trust.md): Everyone says we need designers for taste. But there's a second thing tangled up in there, trust, and it's the part of the job that doesn't transfer to a tool.
- [The feature conversation](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-feature-conversation.md): Three pieces from three different corners of the industry all landed on the same conclusion within a few weeks: features have stopped being what sets you apart. The rooms I'm in haven't caught up.
- [The 2–7 problem](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-2-7-problem.md): AI is bad at making things that are great. It's also bad at making things that are bad. The second half is the part worth talking about.
- [The basement firm](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-basement-firm.md): There's a Mac mini in my basement running five AI agents named after TV characters. Here's how the team actually works, and why playing with this stuff matters more than the productivity claims suggest.
- [What a UX strategy is, and why most teams should write one](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/uxstrategy.md): A UX strategy is a short document that says what good looks like for your users and how you'll deliver it. One page is enough. Here's what goes in it.
- [Taste isn't a screenshot](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/taste-isnt-a-screenshot.md): Everyone can build now. But collecting screenshots of apps you admire is curation, not taste. Real taste is the thousand no's, not the one yes.
- [Onboarding is a transaction](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/onboarding-is-a-transaction.md): Onboarding is one of the few moments where you have a user's complete attention and their clear intent. That is not a moment to rush through.
- [Build something silly](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/build-something-silly.md): The most important thing non-technical people can do right now is build something with AI, not just learn about it.

## 2025

- [2025 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2025.md): A look back at 2025.
- [Vibe coding for designers: my actual process](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/vibe-coding-for-designers.md): An honest breakdown of how I built and maintain antonsten.com using AI. What actually works, where I've hit walls, and why designers should embrace this approach.
- [The hidden cost of shipping too fast](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-hidden-cost-of-shipping-too-fast.md): Speed often gets treated as progress even when no one has agreed on what progress actually means. Here's why clarity matters more than velocity.
- [When execution gets easy, taste gets harder](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/when-execution-gets-easy-taste-gets-harder.md): As AI blurs the lines between design and development, the designer's role is expanding, not disappearing. But only if you're willing to fill the new space.
- [Henry Ford's horse problem wasn't about imagination](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/henry-ford-horse-problem.md): The famous "faster horses" quote is wrong not because users can't imagine solutions, but because it defends lazy research.
- [From powerful to personal: Where design is heading](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/from-powerful-to-personal-where-design-is-heading.md): Design has shifted from showcasing what technology can do to helping people get exactly what they need. Personalization is becoming the baseline, and AI is accelerating this shift toward hyper-customized experiences.
- [AI will happily design the wrong thing for you](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ai-will-happily-design-the-wrong-thing-for-you.md): AI tools are incredible leverage, but they amplify whatever you bring to them. If you don't understand the problem you're solving, AI just helps you build the wrong thing more efficiently.
- [How to stand out when anyone can build anything](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-to-stand-out-when-anyone-can-build-anything.md): When AI tools have democratized product creation, standing out is about fundamentally different skills that most people skip entirely, not better tools or flashier features.
- [Leading as an introvert](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/leading-as-an-introvert.md): Why introversion is a leadership strength, not a liability, and how to lead authentically as an introvert.
- [From 'Maybe 6 months' to 3 years](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/from-maybe-6-months-to-3-years.md): Reflections on three years at Summer Health and how meaningful work can change your relationship with your career.
- [Tiny frictions, better ideas](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/tiny-frictions-better-ideas.md): Reflections on how working outdoors and introducing small frictions can lead to better ideas and deeper thinking.
- [Why great design managers are usually great designers first](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/great-design-managers.md): Exploring why the best design managers are often seasoned individual contributors first, and how staying hands-on builds trust, sharpens leadership, and deepens impact. Inspired by insights from Mig Reyes on the Dive Club Podcast.
- [Designing less to learn more](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designing-less-to-learn-more.md): How slowing down the design sprint, focusing on real user feedback, and embracing rough prototypes led to deeper learning and better outcomes.
- [Why prompting feels so hard (and why that's a good sign)](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why-prompting-feels-hard.md): Exploring why prompting AI effectively is challenging and how this difficulty actually signals an opportunity for better design thinking.
- [Designers don't need to code. They need to learn to prompt.](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designers-prompt.md): Exploring how AI tools are changing the design landscape, and why learning to prompt effectively is becoming more important than learning to code for designers.
- [The product design process](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-product-design-process.md): A comprehensive guide to the product design process, from research to launch.
- [The solo designer: lessons from a startup journey](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-solo-designer.md): Reflections on being the first designer at a startup, sharing insights about daily work, valuable skills, and the unique challenges and rewards of being a startup designer.

## 2024

- [2024 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2024.md): A look back at 2024.
- [The moral dilemma of platform choice](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-moral-dilemma.md): An exploration of the ethical considerations creators face when choosing digital platforms, and how these choices reflect our values and shape the future of the internet.
- [Designing for anyone: the power of accessible products](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designing-for-anyone.md): A reflection on the importance of accessible design, moving beyond technical guidelines to create products that work for anyone, in any situation.
- [The power of adaptability](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-power-of-adaptability.md): Reflections on the importance of being adaptable and open to change, exploring how this mindset applies to both personal growth and professional development.
- [Understanding your core values through reflection](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/core-values.md): A personal exploration of how core values evolve over time, reflecting on life changes and their impact on personal values and decision-making.
- [Can you be creative just by creating?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/can-you-be-creative.md): Exploring what creativity really means for designers and why well-functioning designs are innovative in their own right.
- [Write when you have something to say](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/write-when-you-have-something-to-say.md): Answering reader questions on UX research value, wearing multiple hats as a designer, and future career plans.
- [A question never asked is never answered](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-portfolio.md): Exploring the importance of asking questions in design and development, with practical examples and strategies for effective communication.
- [After 15 years, change is coming](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/change-is-coming.md): A personal announcement about transitioning from freelance consulting to a new role at a design agency, reflecting on past experiences and future aspirations.
- [Print design principles in a digital world](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/print-design-principles-in-a-digital-world.md): Examining how traditional print design principles and practices can inform and improve modern digital design, with insights from my early career in print advertising.
- [Digital tools may create life long relationships](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/digital-tools-may-create-life-long-relationships.md): Exploring how digital platforms and tools can foster meaningful, long-lasting professional relationships, with personal examples from my career.
- [Writing’s gift? Better design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/writings-gift-better-design.md): How writing before designing clarifies thinking and leads to better design systems and more intentional work.
- [Trying out no-code tools](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/trying-out-no-code-tools.md): My frustrations with Framer for blogging and the search for a better tool that supports RSS, formatting, and content export.
- [Freelancing: three values that change everything](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/freelancing-three-values.md): Three principles for freelance success: avoiding drama, being self-sufficient, and knowing when to delegate.
- [Resolving to be a 'better form' of ourselves in 2024](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/resolving-to-be-a-better-form-of-ourselves-in-2024.md): Why I set one simple resolution each year: to be in better form than today. No specific numbers, just meaningful growth.

## 2023

- [2023 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2023.md): A look back at 2023.
- [Why carousels don't work](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why-carousels-dont-work.md): After 25 years in UX, I steer clients away from carousels. If everything is important, nothing is. Prioritize your message instead.
- [One Question Changed Feedback for Me](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/one-question-changed-feedback-for-me.md): Asking 'What's working well?' transformed how I give and receive feedback. Balance the what with the how in your creative process.
- [How I write for design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-i-write-for-design.md): My writing-first design process: start by documenting what you know versus what you don't, then let the words guide your exploration.
- [The power of product principles](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-power-of-product-principles.md): Product principles are your guiding light through complexity. Real examples from Zabka and Summer Health show how they shape decisions.
- [Unreasonable hospitality](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/unreasonable-hospitality.md): Will Guidara's restaurant book sparked more design inspiration than any UX book. Getting something in front of users fast matters.
- [The Importance of Kindness and Alignment in Building Exceptional Teams](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-importance-of-kindness-and-alignment-in-building-exceptional-teams.md): Do good work and be a nice person. Great teams produce great work, and over time great work nurtures teams into exceptional ones.
- [My newsletter list is getting smaller, just as I intended.](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/my-newsletter-list-is-getting-smaller-just-as-i-intended.md): A reflection on intentional growth and maintaining meaningful connections.
- [Consequences in design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/consequences-in-design.md): Every design decision has consequences. Documenting them helps make smarter choices, and user research reduces their severity.
- [How to sell design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-to-sell-design.md): The best way to sell design is through storytelling. Start by writing what you know versus what you assume, then find the patterns.
- [Working with Anton](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/working-with-anton.md): An honest look at my work style, personality traits, and collaboration preferences to help future clients and colleagues understand how to work effectively with me.
- [Why I write](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why-i-write.md): Personal insights into how writing helps organize thoughts and connect with readers, while exploring its importance for designers.
- [AI: Do we really 'get it'?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ai-do-we-really-get-it.md): Exploring our understanding and misconceptions about artificial intelligence and its impact on society.
- [New year, new brand, same Anton](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/new-year-new-brand-same-anton.md): Taking my own advice, I worked with a brand designer to create a new visual identity that reflects my adaptive, collaborative approach.
- [Creating Meaningful Design Systems: Embracing the Box and Reaping the Benefits](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/creating-meaningful-design-systems-embracing-the-box-and-reaping-the-benefits.md): Design systems can speed up problems just as easily as solutions. Embrace constraints and build them in parallel with your product.

## 2022

- [2022 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2022.md): A look back at 2022.
- [Curiosity drives us forward](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/curiosity-drives-us-forward.md): Feeling like you never know enough? That curiosity is a gift. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.
- [Interview: Matthew, Head of Product](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/head-of-product.md): An interview with Matthew Woo, Head of Product at Summer Health, on vision, alignment, and what makes a great product leader.
- [Just write](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/justwrite.md): Want to become a better writer? Just start writing. Designers need to communicate their work, and writing is the best practice.
- [Buying a car online? Polestar does it right](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/buying-a-car-online-polestar-does-it-right.md): Polestar nails the online car buying experience by building trust and keeping excitement high through thoughtful email updates.
- [Ask the right questions: Company Culture](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/company-culture.md): Evaluating company culture is like dating. Questions to ask, red flags to watch for, and why your gut is often your best guide.
- [Website refresh](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/website-refresh.md): Updates to my website including a new work section, fresh testimonials, a redesigned coaching page, and a hint of color.
- [Airbnb may be mapping out the future of work](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/airbnb-may-be-mapping-out-the-future-of-work.md): Airbnb's work-from-anywhere policy and biannual release schedule may define how tech companies operate in the next decade.
- [Imposter Syndrome](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/imposter-syndrome.md): Every successful creative I know has regular self-doubt and creative dry spells. You're not alone in feeling like you've 'lost it.'
- [Did UX designers ruin fun for efficiency?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/did-ux-designers-ruin-fun-for-efficiency.md): Remember when websites made you excited? By demanding everything justify itself, we UX designers may have killed some joy along the way.
- [Connecting the dots](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/connecting-the-dots.md): COVID forced agencies to embrace remote work, opening doors that geography had kept closed. Sometimes the dots only connect looking back.
- [When will the Web grow up?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/when-will-the-web-grow-up.md): The early web was a generous child sharing freely. Now it's a greedy teenager demanding more than it gives. When will it mature?
- [Work is more than a list of tasks](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/work-is-more-than-a-list-of-tasks.md): The modern economy needs initiative-takers, not task-completers. The difference matters more than job titles or seniority levels.
- [Junior vs Senior: A Conversation](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/juniorvssenior.md): What really separates junior from senior designers? It's not years of experience but decision-making skills and knowing your strengths.

## 2021

- [2021 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2021.md): A look back at 2021.
- [Utilizing feedback](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/utilizing-feedback.md): How to give better design feedback: listen first, understand the process stage, and use 'What if' questions to unblock creativity.
- [Exercising your potential: As if](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/exercising-your-potential-as-if.md): The 'As If' mental exercise from Sweden's Euro-winning youth team: work as if you've already achieved your biggest goals.
- [Profits or culture](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/profits-or-culture.md): Running an agency means balancing profitability and culture. Neither works alone - it's about finding the right equilibrium.
- [Break your own laws](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/break-your-own-laws.md): CD Baby's quirky shipping email shows that breaking conventions with humanity and fun can create memorable user experiences cheaply.
- [What does 'best' mean?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/defining-best.md): What does being the 'best' UX designer mean? Strong communication and personal brand matter more than raw skill alone.
- [Design Systems 101](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/design-systems-101.md): A comprehensive guide to design systems: what they are, their benefits for teams and users, and a practical process for building one.
- [First to market don’t always succeed](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/first-to-market-dont-always-succeed.md): The pressure for quick wins often undermines long-term success. Building a design system takes time but pays compound interest.
- [Defining the WHAT and WHY of Design Principles](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/defining-the-what-and-why-of-design-principles.md): Design principles need teeth to be useful. If your principle is 'easy to use,' test it against canceling accounts, not just signups.
- [Structure, Not Design By Committee](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/structure-not-design-by-committee.md): Why user feedback is valuable but shouldn't drive design decisions. Like Homer Simpson's car, great input needs skilled translation.
- [Full-time? I feel a change coming](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/full-time-i-feel-a-change-coming.md): After 12 years of freelancing, I'm joining Product Inc full-time as Director of UX. Here's why the team made all the difference.
- [Ethics in Design - Part 2](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ethics-in-design-part-2.md): Part 2 examines dark patterns and nudging, with practical guidance on designing ethical products that respect users.
- [Ethics in Design - Part 1](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ethics-in-design-part-1.md): Part 1 of my Hyper Island ethics class exploring user privacy, AI ethics, and why designers need a moral code like other professions.
- [Career trajectories aren’t a straight line - and that’s ok](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/career-trajectories-arent-a-straight-line-and-thats-ok.md): Career growth isn't a straight line. Most days are spent practicing for the big game, and that's perfectly normal.
- [What are Design Principles? Part 4](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-are-design-principles-part-4.md): A guide to effectively presenting and selling design work, focusing on storytelling techniques and portfolio creation strategies.
- [What are Design Principles? Part 3](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-are-design-principles-part-3.md): Exploring how visual design enhances usability and creates pleasurable user experiences through form, color, typography, and animation.
- [What are Design Principles? Part 2](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-are-design-principles-part-2.md): Part 2 covers Product Requirements Documents and wireframes - how to set constraints and structure before jumping into visual design.
- [What are Design Principles? Part 1](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-are-design-principles-part-1.md): Part 1 of my Hyper Island class on design principles, exploring what UX really means and the design process fundamentals.
- [Home office or office at home?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/home-office-or-office-at-home.md): My home office setup and how working from home has surprisingly improved my work-life balance after 10 years of remote work.
- [40 - halfway there](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/40-halfway-there.md): Turning 40 with 24 years of design experience means I'm only halfway through my career. Time to think about what comes next.
- [My typical day](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/my-typical-day.md): A detailed look at how I structure my workday, from early morning focus sessions to evening meetings across time zones.
- [2020 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2020.md): A look back at 2020.

## 2020

- [Restoring your team’s passion](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/restoring-your-teams-passion.md): Calm is contagious, and so is inspiration. How to rediscover passion for work during difficult times, alone and as a team.
- [Creating connections](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/creating-connections.md): In a challenging year, having someone to talk to matters most. We need physical connections and emotional support of one another.
- [Finding balance: giving in vs standing your ground](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/finding-balance-giving-in-vs-standing-your-ground.md): Using a 1-10 scale to decide when to push back and when to yield. The goal isn't winning arguments but building better products.
- [Books that helped me grow](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/books-that-helped-me-grow.md): My reading list of books that shaped my thinking on design, work, and collaboration - mostly not about design at all.
- [Designers: design less, think more](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designers-design-less-think-more.md): Most hard work should be done before opening Figma. Spend time understanding problems, not just producing pixels.
- [Working as a UX Lead - following up](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/working-uxlead.md): A UX lead role splits into leading teams and setting vision. Both require clear communication and making everyone feel included.
- [More isn’t better](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/more-isnt-better.md): My favorite tools keep adding features until I can't find their core purpose. Life improves by subtracting, not just adding.
- [Summer update](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/summer-update.md): Taking a summer break to recharge after an intense year. Updates on Pick my brain consulting and future plans.
- [Managing a distributed team](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/managing-a-distributed-team.md): Lessons from leading remote teams: schedule 1-1s early, practice radical candor, and always ask what you could do differently.
- [The stakeholder interview](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/stakeholder.md): A comprehensive guide to conducting effective stakeholder interviews in product design.
- [What you do ≠ what you are](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-you-do-what-you-are.md): Stop describing your deliverables and start describing outcomes you create. Your job title is not what makes you valuable.
- [Design better, not more](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/design-better-not-more.md): Algorithms offer more, not better. The future of UX is designing services that provide fewer but more valuable options.
- [Scoping & Running Projects](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/scoping-running-projects.md): Project management skills matter more than design talent. How I vet clients, scope work, and stay flexible when plans change.
- [Why wireframes are becoming obsolete](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why-wireframes-are-becoming-obsolete.md): With design systems and collaborative tools like Figma, wireframes often add unnecessary steps. Try sketching instead.
- [Get static](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/get-static.md): Critical websites need static HTML and CSS for performance. In crisis times, slow sites aren't just annoying - they can cost lives.
- [All books are now free](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/all-books-are-now-free.md): Making my books free during challenging times to help people learn about UX and freelancing while we slow down and connect.
- [Emotions and work - know yourself](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/emotions-and-work-know-yourself.md): Knowing yourself is the most important skill. We design for users who don't know themselves while we barely know ourselves either.
- [What Great Managers Do](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-great-managers-do.md): Great managers discover what's unique about each person and capitalize on it, playing chess while average managers play checkers.
- [Answering your question - How I design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/answering-your-question-how-i-design.md): A detailed look at my design process from user stories to wireframes to Figma, and the tools that support each stage.
- [Understanding team culture](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/understanding-team-culture.md): Great team culture is about how you communicate, care for each other, and work toward shared goals - not physical presence.
- [Investing in things that don’t go out of style](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/investing-in-things-that-dont-go-out-of-style.md): Jeff Bezos's advice to Basecamp: invest in timeless qualities like speed, reliability, and great customer service.
- [Ux: What happens when the user wants out?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-what-happens-when-the-user-wants-out.md): Comparing Wall Street Journal's hostile cancellation process to Apple's graceful returns. The off-boarding experience matters most.
- [The last tracker was just removed from Basecamp.com](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-last-tracker-was-just-removed-from-basecamp-com.md): Basecamp removes tracking pixels and Google Analytics. The internet needs to know less about us, not more.
- [Redesign to learn](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/redesign-to-learn.md): Why constantly redesigning my website is about learning by doing, regaining control, and finding joy in personal projects.
- [How putting a price on speed helped one retailer increase mobile revenue in just 2 months](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-putting-a-price-on-speed-helped-one-retailer-increase-mobile-revenue-in-just-2-months.md): How K-Rauta calculated the business value of site speed to convince stakeholders and achieve a 25% increase in sales.

## 2019

- [Year in review: 2019](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2019.md): Reflecting on a year of IKEA projects, joining Superfriendly, personal growth through therapy and fitness, and big plans for 2020.
- [Who’s listening?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/whos-listening.md): From FaceApp to smart assistants, we keep trading our privacy for shiny features without considering who is watching and listening.
- [The Enemy](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-enemy.md): When subscribers mark legitimate welcome emails as spam, creators are forced to tone down their authentic voice to survive.
- [Will millions in funding ruin 1password?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/will-millions-in-funding-ruin-1password.md): When focused products like 1Password take venture capital, the pressure to grow often leads to bloated features nobody wanted.
- [Tool tips: How our design team switched to Figma](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/tool-tips-how-our-design-team-switched-to-figma.md): How Figma transformed design collaboration at Intercom through real-time file sharing and streamlined engineer handoffs.
- [Why Designers Need To Speak Business](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/speak-business.md): To win design arguments, stop using design jargon and start framing decisions in terms stakeholders understand: revenue and business impact.
- [Choosing simple over complex](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/choosing-simple-over-complex.md): Resisting the urge to add complexity by switching to simpler tools and focusing on personal dialogue over automated marketing.
- [The Hot Potato Process](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-hot-potato-process.md): Great collaboration means passing rough ideas quickly between designers and developers rather than waiting for perfection before handoff.
- [Finding Your Professional Path](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/finding-your-professional-path.md): A keynote exploring career choices in the digital industry, from finding what you enjoy to defining your professional story and purpose.
- [Learning UX From The Real World](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/learning-ux-from-the-real-world.md): Great hotels have perfected customer experience. I learn about reducing friction, simplicity, and white space from real-world travel.
- [Ux of Email Newsletters](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-of-email-newsletters.md): Email marketing should prepare someone to buy, not sell immediately. Your onboarding email is your most important email.
- [Measuring UX with HEART](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/measuring-ux-with-heart.md): Google's HEART framework measures UX through Happiness, Engagement, Adoption, Retention, and Task Success - informed by data, driven by empathy.
- [“i Just Knew I Was Going to Surpass These Guys I Was Working For”](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/i-just-knew-i-was-going-to-surpass-these-guys-i-was-working-for.md): Kara Swisher's new mantra and mine too: "I'm not too confident. I'm fantastic."
- [People Are Starting to Realize How Voice Assistants Actually Work](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/people-are-starting-to-realize-how-voice-assistants-actually-work.md): As voice assistants embed deeper into our lives, they know more about us while we know less about them. Intellectual debt grows.
- [UX can't be defined by one set of 'rules'](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-cant-be-defined-by-one-set-of-rules.md): Like good writing varies sentence length, good UX varies approaches. No single set of golden rules works for every product.
- [5 Years - 300+ Posts!](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/5-years-300-posts.md): Personal update after 5 years of blogging: leaving IKEA, joining Superfriendly, and reflecting on the future of UX work.
- [Give them candy: small details make all the difference](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/give-them-candy-small-details-make-all-the-difference.md): The entree is the main experience, but candy - those unexpected delightful details - is what users remember and talk about.
- [Advertising: contextual vs. behavioral and why it matters](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/advertising-contextual-vs-behavioral-and-why-it-matters.md): Great advertising comes from universal stories, not behavioral tracking. Contextual ads respect privacy and can be just as profitable.
- [Let's assemble like the Avengers and... do work](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/lets-assemble-like-the-avengers-and-do-work.md): Forming a collective of independent freelancers to take on bigger projects - like the Avengers assembling when needed.
- [I've redesigned my website and it looks exactly the same](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ive-redesigned-my-website-and-it-looks-exactly-the-same.md): My website redesign focused on speed, accessibility, privacy, and security - not visuals. Design is how it works, not just what it looks like.
- [Whose problem are you solving?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/whose-problem-are-you-solving.md): Companies know their users through personas, but fail to communicate who their product is for. Defining customers also means excluding people.
- [What “intuitive” really means](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-intuitive-really-means.md): What's intuitive to me might not be intuitive to my father. Age, background, and past experiences all shape what feels natural.
- [Running my own company for ten years](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/running-my-own-company-for-ten-years.md): Celebrating 10 years of running my own business with 10 lessons learned: staying small by choice, being polite and fair, and more.
- [Scapegoating User Experience Design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/scapegoating-user-experience-design.md): UX is not just about reducing friction. Security and long-term experience matter. We've failed to explain what design really does.
- [Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/amazon-workers-are-listening-to-what-you-tell-alexa.md): Amazon employees review Alexa recordings - some distressing. A moral dilemma highlighting the need for clear ethics in tech.
- [What a UX lead does, and how it differs from UX design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/uxlead.md): The role is less design and more leading. What my weeks looked like leading a UX team at IKEA, and how to know if the shift is right for you.
- [Gumroadday: Get my books at -17% discount](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/gumroadday-get-my-books-at-17-discount.md): Celebrating Gumroad Day with 17% off both my books - User Experiences that Matter and Mastering Freelance.
- [Working as a UX designer](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/uxdesigner.md): What does a UX designer actually do? From visual design to optimization to product development - there is no single answer.
- [What’s the meaning of work?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/whats-the-meaning-of-work.md): Reflecting on work, freedom, and validation. Is our need to constantly check email driven by a deeper search for purpose?
- [Accessibility, a powerful design tool](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/accessibility-a-powerful-design-tool.md): Accessibility is not a constraint but a design philosophy that helps you focus on simplicity - what's best for everyone.
- [Neurodiversity and the Digital Divide: how our neurological differences shape the way we experience the web](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/neurodiversity-and-the-digital-divide-how-our-neurological-differences-shape-the-way-we-experience-the-web.md): How neurological differences affect web experiences, and why distracting design elements can be self-defeating for conversions.
- [What is worth waiting for?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-is-worth-waiting-for.md): A reflection on the value of patience in design and product development.
- [Voice assistants - are they really the future?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/voice-assistants-are-they-really-the-future.md): Voice assistants need better productivity features and personalized context awareness before they can truly replace manual input.
- [Writing as part of the UX process](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/writing-as-part-of-the-ux-process.md): How establishing consistent capitalization rules improves readability and brand consistency in product design.
- [Right to privacy](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/right-to-privacy.md): Tim Cook's call for comprehensive federal privacy legislation and four key principles to protect consumer data rights.
- [Prescribed Technological Therapy: Is this our future?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/prescribed-technological-therapy-is-this-our-future.md): Exploring how VR, apps, and AI are being used to treat medical conditions, raising ethical questions about tech in healthcare.
- [Why we need to slow time and scale down](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why-we-need-to-slow-time-and-scale-down.md): Embracing quality over quantity in media consumption and unscaling life by favoring independents over big tech platforms.

## 2018

- [2018 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2018.md): A look back at 2018.
- [What’s my location?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/whats-my-location.md): Physical, digital, and virtual - we now have three locations. With VR, you can literally be nowhere if you choose.
- [How Playing Games Helped Me Succeed at Business](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-playing-games-helped-me-succeed-at-business.md): Shopify's CEO learned more from Starcraft than business books. What has 26 years of FIFA taught me about running a business?
- [I’m taking a break](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/im-taking-a-break.md): After 100 newsletters and 200 blog posts, I am reconsidering my blogging future. I don't want to be an expert, just a human.
- [Organized for browsing](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/organized-for-browsing.md): Digital finding is easy but we have failed at organizing for browsing. Picking one CD per month made browsing fun and meaningful.
- [Stay humble, stay eager](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/stay-humble-stay-eager.md): Learning from a friend's running journey. New gear will not get you to 5k. Commitment and perseverance will. Same with design careers.
- [What about ’my’ responsibilities?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-about-my-responsibilities.md): Tech companies have responsibilities, but so do we as users. Every click has consequences. What are you feeding?
- [The Long Goodbye (to Facebook)](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-long-goodbye-to-facebook.md): Deleting Facebook was the best decision of my year. It was making me live life through the eyes of others.
- [Serving your customer, valuing yourself](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/serving-your-customer-valuing-yourself.md): Practical advice on raising freelance rates. Package your services like SaaS to benefit both you and your customer.
- [How I kicked my email compulsion](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-i-kicked-my-email-compulsion.md): Checking email three times a day or less improved mood and self-esteem. Sometimes my inbox says 'Last updated: 4 mins ago'.
- [Voice Input’s Effect on Social Norms](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/voice-inputs-effect-on-social-norms.md): Voice assistants may be teaching kids to be disrespectful. When voice commands fail, we blame the system. When touch fails, we blame ourselves.
- [Back to Work!](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/back-to-work.md): Summer reading recommendations - business and personal growth books that relate to UX and doing the right thing.
- [Five questions UX employers should be asking](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/five-questions-ux-employers-should-be-asking.md): Better UX interview questions - about speed, delight, accessibility, favorite products, and future opportunities.
- [Just keep at it](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/just-keep-at-it.md): Some posts had zero readers. Keep at it anyway. Eventually zero turns to one, then two. Building an audience takes years.
- [Tech Sector Values are Broken?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/tech-sector-values-are-broken.md): Microsoft and Amazon employees are revolting over company ethics. Your values are the combined values of your employees.
- [Confirmation Bias in Design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/confirmation-bias.md): We run A/B tests until they show what we hoped for. Learning from The Black Swan about unpredictable events and biases.
- [Designer Ethics & The Moral Implications of our Apps](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designer-ethics-the-moral-implications-of-our-apps.md): Lawyers, doctors, and journalists have ethical codes. Designers need one too. Move fast and break things is over.
- [Conversion optimization with A/B tests](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/conversion-optimization-with-ab-tests.md): A/B testing images is great, but the testing scripts themselves add loading time. Should we test with versus without scripts?
- [Ai Ethics - A New Skill for UX-Designers](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ai-ethics-a-new-skill-for-ux-designers.md): Google Duplex deceiving humans raises urgent ethical questions. Technologists need ethical training as AI transforms society.
- [How do you learn UX?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-do-you-learn-ux.md): Five ways to develop UX thinking: analyze what you like and dislike, categorize observations, look beyond web, talk to users, and ask why.
- [The New Google Assistant](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-new-google-assistant.md): Google Duplex calling humans without disclosure is technically impressive but humanly insulting. Apple thinks human-first, Google thinks tech-first.
- [Who would you trust more with your data, Apple or the government?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/who-would-you-trust-more-with-your-data-apple-or-the-government.md): A poll shows 87% trust Apple over government with their data. Google and Amazon would almost certainly misuse it.
- [What’s in a pattern name](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/whats-in-a-pattern-name.md): Consistent naming in pattern libraries matters more than the patterns themselves. Language enables effective collaboration.
- [Vanity Metrics](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/vanity-metrics.md): Website visitors, followers, and subscribers are vanity metrics. Focus on data that connects to your actual business goals.
- [Design Systems: Better UX through Defined Standards](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/design-systems-better-ux-through-defined-standards.md): Design systems go beyond style guides with living, coded components. They enable teams to build better products faster.
- [My #1 Piece of Advice to Freelancers: Lean Into The Moment](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/my-1-piece-of-advice-to-freelancers-lean-into-the-moment.md): Freelancers can set weekly goals instead of daily ones. Lean into life when it calls - the work still gets done.
- [Europe’s tough new data-protection law](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/europes-tough-new-data-protection-law.md): GDPR introduces strict data protection rules with significant fines. A step toward preventing breaches like Cambridge Analytica.
- [Creative Class is open](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/creative-class-is-open.md): Paul Jarvis and Kaleigh relaunch Creative Class - one of the best freelancing courses I have purchased.
- [What's a 'user Experience' Anyways?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/whats-a-user-experience-anyways.md): Explaining UX through everyday product failures. Great experiences come from extra effort, not just adding features.
- [New Tools Don't Always Equal Productivity](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/new-tools-dont-always-equal-productivity.md): Stop chasing new design tools. True productivity comes from fundamentals and psychology, not the latest apps.
- [Bye bye Facebook](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/bye-bye-facebook.md): After Cambridge Analytica exposed Facebook's data practices, I deleted my account. Their core business model is the problem.
- [Cuba](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/cuba.md): Cuba has 0.007% broadband penetration. Citizens share media via USB drives weekly. A reminder why user research matters globally.
- [The seat at the table](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-seat-at-the-table.md): Designers want leadership roles but avoid stakeholder conversations. Learn business, not just code, to stay relevant.
- [Why I hate your fake redesign](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why-i-hate-your-fake-redesign.md): Concept redesigns skip research and testing, teaching clients that these crucial steps are optional. We harm our own industry.
- [Diversity in the design industry](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/diversity-in-the-design-industry.md): Despite progressive values, the design industry remains overwhelmingly white. My 20-year experience confirms this lack of diversity.
- [Apple's 'Sound on the Go' Strategy](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/apples-sound-on-the-go-strategy.md): Apple is building a massive user base for portable Siri with AirPods and wireless headphones. The strategy goes beyond accessories.
- [Amazon has a fix for Alexa’s creepy laughs](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/amazon-has-a-fix-for-alexas-creepy-laughs.md): Alexa devices started laughing unprompted, creeping out users. Another reminder that smart assistants still have a long way to go.
- [Voice Input is the Next Big Thing - Or is It?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/voice-input-is-the-next-big-thing-or-is-it.md): Testing the HomePod reveals voice input is promising but unreliable. Smart assistants still feel more like parlor tricks than real helpers.
- [A better user experience...or?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/a-better-user-experience-or.md): Free services like Facebook VPN and Unroll.me hide data collection in their terms. If you're not paying, you're the product.
- [Everything Easy is Hard Again](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/everything-easy-is-hard-again.md): Web development keeps getting more complex. Sometimes the tortoise approach beats the rabbit's endless chase of new tools.
- [Personas](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/personas.md): Personas are artificial and often used to justify decisions already made. Design for real people you know instead.
- [Reflections on working on an ipad](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/reflections-on-working-on-an-ipad.md): Switching from MacBook Pro to iPad Pro for portable work. Sometimes limitations help you disconnect from work.
- [How to succeed at freelancing](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/how-to-succeed-at-freelancing.md): Key lessons from 10 years of freelancing - understanding your what, how, and why leads to meaningful work and success.
- [The Future of Retail](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-future-of-retail.md): Retail is evolving, not dying. The future belongs to stores that offer experiences online shopping cannot replicate.
- [2017 Year in Review](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/2017.md): A look back at 2017.

## 2017

- [Measure your worth, know your motivations](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/measure-your-worth-know-your-motivations.md): There are more ways to measure your work's worth than money. Understanding your motivations leads to lasting satisfaction.
- [The secret formula for great user experiences](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-secret-formula-for-great-user-experiences.md): Great experiences deliver delight with minimal friction. This formula applies to products, businesses, and relationships.
- [Enjoyable UX vs. Usable UX](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/enjoyable-ux-vs-usable-ux.md): The best user experiences often aren't bells and whistles, they're tools that just work with minimal friction.
- [What do you do?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-do-you-do.md): Instead of asking what someone does for a living, try asking what they're passionate about and see where it leads.
- [Calling bullshit on 'apple is really bad at design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/calling-bullshit-on-apple-is-really-bad-at-design.md): Critiquing design decisions without knowing technical constraints or user research is just uninformed opinion, not fact.
- [Ux-writer: A New term, a Big Need](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-writer-a-new-term-a-big-need.md): Words matter more than finding the perfect shade of blue. Why UX writing is one of the most sought-after skills today.
- [Stop Saying E-mail is Broken](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/stop-saying-e-mail-is-broken.md): Email as a protocol works great. The real problem is how people use it, not the technology itself.
- [Carpe Diem UX-designers](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/carpe-diem-ux-designers.md): UX cliches like "simple is good" and "consider the user first" hold powerful truths, if we actually put them into practice.
- [What's good design?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/whats-good-design.md): A reflection on what makes design good and how we can measure it.
- [Chasing Growth](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/chasing-growth.md): Questioning society's obsession with growth and why bigger isn't always better for companies or products.
- [Are Your Customers Flowers or Plants?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/are-your-customers-flowers-or-plants.md): A framework for thinking about client relationships: intense short-term projects versus long-term partnerships.
- [A Redesign](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/a-redesign.md): Why I rebuilt my website from scratch using Jekyll and the reasoning behind every decision to improve your experience.
- [The One Ingredient All Great User Experiences Share](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-one-ingredient-all-great-user-experiences-share.md): Mutual respect between creators and users is the foundation of every great experience, from luxury hotels to apps.
- [Being Freelance Podcast: Episode 100](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/being-freelance-podcast-episode-100.md): Full transcript of my Being Freelance podcast interview covering 10 years of freelancing, building reputation, and writing books.
- [True fans or just followers?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/true-fans-or-just-followers.md): Why 1,000 true fans who love everything you create beats 100,000 casual followers every time.
- [Why?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why.md): Asking "why" repeatedly breaks automatic thinking and reveals deeper insights, an essential skill for designers.
- [4 Reasons Why Your Body Text Should be Bigger](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/4-reasons-why-your-body-text-should-be-bigger.md): Larger body text is easier to read, reduces fatigue, and creates stronger visual impact.
- [Now that Apple is talking about AR and VR, should we be too?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/now-that-apple-is-talking-about-ar-and-vr-should-we-be-too.md): Apple's AR and VR announcements at WWDC. The iPad is becoming a more viable laptop replacement.
- [Think like an artist to create better designs](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/think-like-an-artist-to-create-better-designs.md): Balance innovation with familiar patterns. Artists can break rules, but designers need intuitive solutions.
- [Investing in businesses and products](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/investing-in-businesses-and-products.md): Simple investing rules: understand the product, like the product, and verify the business model works.
- [Become a better UX-designer with these three words](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/become-a-better-ux-designer-with-these-three-words.md): The three most powerful words for UX designers: "I don't know." Context matters more than having all answers.
- [The future of the UX designer](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-future-of-the-ux-designer.md): A look at how the role of UX designer is evolving and what skills will be needed in the future.
- [Why Designers Need to Write](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designers-write.md): The one language designers need to master is their native tongue. Writing clarifies design thinking.
- [Understanding Great User Experiences](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/understanding-great-user-experiences.md): Great UX provides maximum value with minimum friction. Each device has its own sweet spot for task complexity.
- [New isn’t always better, but it makes the old feel worse](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/new-isnt-always-better-but-it-makes-the-old-feel-worse.md): We don't fully appreciate new experiences until we return to the old. Contrast reveals what we've gained.
- [Designing for Mobile](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designing-for-mobile.md): After 20 years designing for desktop, I'm challenging myself to truly start mobile-first. Speed is everything.
- [The Possibilities of Automated Personalized Content](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-possibilities-of-automated-personalized-content.md): Three birthday messages show how automated content can feel personal or robotic depending on execution.
- [Atomic Design: where science and design collide](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/atomic-design-where-science-and-design-collide.md): Brad Frost's atomic design breaks interfaces into atoms, molecules, organisms, templates, and pages for scalable systems.
- [Is Less More?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/is-less-more.md): Less is only more when you carefully define which less you want. Like a restaurant that serves one perfect dish.
- [Designing for accessibility](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designing-for-accessibility.md): A guide to creating inclusive digital experiences for all users.
- [Why Simple is Hard](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/simple-is-hard.md): Creating simplicity is harder than complexity. Amazon's one-click shopping proves users appreciate the work you put in.
- [Becoming a Better Designer](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/becoming-a-better-designer.md): Reading recommendations for learning UX and design - from Don Norman's classics to daily practice habits.
- [Without Struggle, There Isn't Success](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/without-struggle-there-isnt-success.md): Our struggles determine our successes. What pain are you willing to endure? Choose your struggles wisely.

## 2016

- [Email Marketing: High Returns, Low Investment](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/email-marketing-high-returns-low-investment.md): Email delivers $44 ROI per dollar spent. Tips on personalization, segmentation, and A/B testing to improve your campaigns.
- [Apple is User Hostile… Or is it?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/apple-is-user-hostile-or-is-it.md): Defending Apple's controversial MacBook Pro decisions. Innovation requires removing things users think they need.
- [Pricing It Perfectly](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/pricing-it-perfectly.md): Rethinking tiered pricing strategies for digital products. Simpler pricing can provide better value for customers.
- [Habits: Small Actions can have Big Results](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/habits-small-actions-can-have-big-results.md): The power of compounding applies to self-improvement, products, and conversions. Small consistent efforts beat quick fixes.
- [Product or Sales? Chicken or Egg?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/product-or-sales-chicken-or-egg.md): The startup dilemma: should you perfect your product first or focus on user growth and meeting business KPIs?
- [Failure, Reflect, Renew](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/failure-reflect-renew.md): A failed video interview led me to question why I was chasing tactics instead of focusing on my core UX consulting business.
- [From Idea to Market: Launching a Product](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/from-idea-to-market-launching-a-product.md): A practical guide covering product definition, prototyping, customer research, pricing models, building, and marketing.
- [What do Conversions Mean to You?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-do-conversions-mean-to-you.md): Conversions are more than e-commerce sales. Define what success means for your product and set clear quantifiable goals.
- [User Experiences that Matter 2:nd Edition](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/user-experiences-that-matter-2nd-edition.md): Announcing the completely redesigned second edition of my UX book with new chapters on emotional design and building lasting products.
- [5 things football can teach us about building products](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/5things-football-can-teach-us-about-building-products.md): Lessons from football that can be applied to product development.
- [Trusting Your Gut](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/trusting-your-gut.md): Your gut feeling is one of your most valuable freelancing skills. Learn when to trust it over the numbers.
- [What are Bots and Why are They Important?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-are-bots-and-why-are-they-important.md): An introduction to conversational bots, how they work, and why tech giants are investing heavily in AI assistants.
- [Change is Quick, Results Take Time](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/change-is-quick-results-take-time.md): Just because you can make changes quickly doesn't mean results will follow fast. Great user experiences require patience.
- [Making Promises Your Clients Will Feel](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/making-promises-your-clients-will-feel.md): Defining your brand promise and delivering on it consistently is the key to building trust with clients and customers.
- [Designing with Emotions in Mind](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/designing-with-emotions-in-mind.md): People remember how products make them feel more than what they do. Balance conversion-driven and emotion-driven design.
- [Ux Design as a Problem Solver](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-design-as-a-problem-solver.md): Designers should focus on solving real problems like ATMs and tax forms, not just making pretty redesigns of boarding passes.
- [The Life of a Freelancer Shouldn't be a Lonely One](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-life-of-a-freelancer-shouldnt-be-a-lonely-one.md): Running a one-person company doesn't mean working alone. Surround yourself with experts to deliver better work.
- [The secret feature that everyone knows about](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-secret-feature-that-everyone-knows-about.md): An exploration of hidden features in products that users discover through exploration.
- [No One Really Knows What They Want Anyway](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/no-one-really-knows-what-they-want-anyway.md): Why asking customers what they want can backfire, and how to gather user feedback that actually improves your product.
- [Built to last](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/built-to-last.md): Like ancient Roman architecture, great digital products need time and attention to detail rather than being rushed to ship.
- [Be the Butcher not the Supermarket](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/be-the-butcher-not-the-supermarket.md): Small businesses thrive by providing focused expertise and personal attention, not by trying to offer everything.
- [The Interactive Car Dashboard](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-interactive-car-dashboard.md): Why car dashboard interfaces have barely evolved in a decade and what the automotive industry can learn from good UX.
- [Simplicity, Be Your Own MVP](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/simplicity-8211-be-your-own-mvp.md): Applying the MVP mindset to life by focusing on one thing at a time and finding what truly matters to you.
- [Why User Experiences Matter](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/why-user-experiences-matter.md): Investing in UX can save engineering costs, create loyal customers, and deliver up to $100 return for every dollar spent.

## 2015

- [An eye on the future](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/an-eye-on-the-future.md): A look at upcoming trends and developments in design and technology.
- [The Fundamentals of Good UX](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-fundamentals-of-good-ux.md): Discover the essential principles of User Experience (UX) design and learn why focusing on user needs is crucial for business success. Explore how UX impacts customer satisfaction, conversion rates, and overall business performance.
- [What is a Great User Experience?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-is-a-great-user-experience.md): Great UX rethinks entire processes, like how FreeStyle Libre transformed diabetes monitoring. Don't redesign - rethink your industry.
- [The Extra Effort for Great UX](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/the-extra-effort-for-great-ux.md): From alarm clocks to coffee makers, bad UX is everywhere. Applying Maslow's hierarchy to create pleasurable, not just usable, experiences.
- [Everyone is a UX-designer and Why I Hate the Term](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/everyone-is-a-ux-designer-and-why-i-hate-the-term.md): Why I dislike the UX designer title. Everyone affects UX - from customer service to technicians. More options don't equal better experiences.
- [Increase conversions by removing social sharing buttons](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/increase-conversions-by-removing-social-sharing-buttons.md): Removing social sharing buttons increased add-to-cart by 12%. Low share counts breed distrust; people share content, not products.
- [Time vs. attention: which is more valuable?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/time-vs-attention-which-is-more-valuable.md): An exploration of the relationship between time and attention in design and user experience.
- [Growing Relationships by Understanding Values](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/growing-relationships-by-understanding-values.md): Relationships thrive on balanced values. A UX designer helps companies align their product's value with user expectations.
- [Ux is Much More than Software](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-is-much-more-than-software.md): UX extends beyond main pages to customer support, shipping, and order confirmations. Here's how I audit the full customer journey.
- [Hey Siri, what's the future of user interfaces?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/hey-siri-whats-the-future-of-user-interfaces.md): Explore the evolution of user interfaces through the lens of Apple Watch and Siri. Learn how voice commands and wearable technology are reshaping our interaction with devices, from smartwatches to future TV interfaces.
- [Understanding Pain Dream Fix](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/understanding-pain-dream-fix.md): Pain, Dream, Fix - a strategy for product design. Customers don't want your vacuum cleaner, they want a clean apartment.
- [I am Professional Because I am Personal](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/i-am-professional-because-i-am-personal.md): Your personal life and professional life aren't separate. What makes you better personally will make your work better too.
- [MVP: is your product really minimum and viable?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/mvp-is-your-product-really-minimum-and-viable.md): A critical look at what makes a product truly minimum and viable.
- [Growth](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/growth.md): Staying small is a deliberate choice, not a failure. Growing for growth's sake isn't the only path to success.
- [Working with UX-designers and getting results!](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/working-with-ux-designers-and-getting-results.md): UX work goes beyond wireframes. Real examples of how UX designers deliver value through email feedback, consultations, and strategic guidance.
- [What is the cost of sharing?](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/what-is-the-cost-of-sharing.md): Social sharing buttons can slow your site and hurt conversions. Test if they actually drive traffic before adding them.
- [Freelancer for Life: 5 Reasons Why This Works](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/freelancer-for-life-5-reasons-why-this-works.md): Discover why being a solo freelancer can be more rewarding than traditional employment. Learn about the benefits of staying small, maintaining independence, and building strong client relationships worldwide.
- [Working with me](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/working-with-me.md): A great designer understands underlying business needs and knows when to push and when to pull back with clients.
- [Planners and UX-Designers](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/planners-and-ux-designers.md): Explore the relationship between strategic planners and UX designers, and learn how their different perspectives can create better solutions. Understand why product design focuses on seamless experiences rather than standout elements.
- [Kudos: Social Media framework](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/kudos-social-media-framework.md): The KUDOS framework for social media - make content Knowledgeable, Useful, Desirable, Open, and Shareable.
- [Understanding UI Design](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/understanding-ui-design.md): Learn the key differences between UI and UX design, and discover how UI designers create attractive interfaces that enhance brand-customer relationships. Explore essential UI design principles and responsibilities.
- [Ux Design explained](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/ux-design-explained.md): Discover what UX Design really means and how it impacts your business. Learn about the role of UX designers, their key responsibilities, and how they improve customer satisfaction through user-centered design.

## 2014

- [Conversations](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/conversations.md): Why brands need to listen before they talk. True communication is a two-way street built on mutual respect.

## 2013

- [Cost, pricing and perceived value](https://www.antonsten.com/articles/cost-pricing-and-perceived-value.md): Learn how cost, price, and perceived value work together in product pricing strategy. Discover why the iPhone's success was driven by high perceived value and how the Nokia 1100 became the world's best-selling phone through strategic pricing.