Curated design tactics from teams and individuals working today, with editorial annotations by Leonardo De La Rocha.https://ldlr.design/en-ushttps://tech.eu/2026/07/09/ai-writing-startup-co-founded-by-deepmind-creative-lead-raises-13m-seed-investment/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:marker-defends-the-draft{/* Field Notes Friday 2026-07-10.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMTJohn Reynoldshttps://www.figma.com/blog/7-questions-from-lc/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:seven-questions-design-leaders{/* Field Notes Friday 2026-07-10.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMTEmma Websterhttps://www.figma.com/blog/jen-dunnam-lead-design-teams/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:steady-is-a-leadership-strategy{/* Field Notes Friday 2026-07-10.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMTEmma Websterhttps://linear.app/now/reviewing-code-in-the-agent-eratag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:linear-review-is-judgmentFri, 03 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMTMaciek Pekalahttps://www.figma.com/blog/you-never-stop-cultivating-taste/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:figma-taste-is-careFri, 03 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMTLoredana Crisanhttps://designsystemscollective.substack.com/p/the-system-knows-what-you-built-doestag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:dsc-encode-intentFri, 03 Jul 2026 13:00:00 GMTShane P Williamshttps://www.figma.com/blog/how-to-design-agentic-tools-for-work/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:agentic-tools-for-workFri, 26 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMTSheta Chatterjeehttps://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/elizabeth-goodspeed-designers-who-write-creative-industry-020426tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:design-writing-needs-designersFri, 26 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMTElizabeth Goodspeedhttps://medium.com/@jamierothwell/product-design-in-2026-am-i-still-a-designer-f19582a6a91ftag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:am-i-still-a-designerFri, 26 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMTJamieson Rothwellhttps://pages.thefountaininstitute.com/posts/7-ways-hiring-is-evolving-for-senior-designerstag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:hiring-evolving-senior-designersFri, 26 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMTJeff Humblehttps://medium.com/@martynreding/how-to-survive-the-design-leadership-reckoning-ff2856bf4733tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:design-leadership-reckoningFri, 26 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMTMartyn Redinghttps://medium.com/@uxraspberry/ux-design-2026-from-producing-to-deciding-from-craft-to-operation-e9c7ea6b1803tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:from-producing-to-decidingFri, 26 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMTUX.raspberryhttps://georgexing.substack.com/p/how-i-build-with-ai-as-a-1-persontag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:one-person-ai-product-teamFri, 19 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMTGeorge Xinghttps://jakobnielsenphd.substack.com/p/workflow-redesigntag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:workflow-redesign-for-aiFri, 19 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMTJakob Nielsenhttps://medium.com/@bebcat/growing-against-the-edges-db72edf941b1tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:growing-against-the-edgesFri, 19 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMTVanessa Belenohttps://joinalphabytes.substack.com/p/a-guide-to-the-future-of-design-2026tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:taste-is-the-moatFri, 19 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMTXinran Mahttps://blog.mean.ceo/design-trends-june-2026/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:design-as-executable-knowledgeFri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMTVioletta Bonenkamphttps://designwithai.substack.com/p/five-insights-from-workflows-to-think-test-build-and-ship-with-aitag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:five-insights-ai-workflowsFri, 19 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMTXinran Mahttps://designmavericks.substack.com/p/when-ai-builds-everything-designtag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:design-is-becoming-leadership-literacyFri, 12 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMTMarzia Aricòhttps://building.nubank.com/what-changes-when-your-product-reaches-127-million-people/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:simplicity-at-scale-is-strategyFri, 12 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMTMaristela Calazanshttps://github.blog/open-source/building-githubs-next-chapter-in-accessibility/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:accessibility-as-an-operating-systemFri, 12 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMTEd Summershttps://uxdesign.cc/thoughtful-ai-implementation-for-uxr-leaders-d0e1b8a33613tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:a-skeptics-playbook-for-aiFri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMTAshlee Edwardshttps://hbr.org/2026/05/employees-are-relying-on-ai-for-personal-support-thats-riskytag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:ai-is-the-new-workplace-confidantFri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMTConstance Noonan Hadley and Sarah L. Wrighthttps://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/google-labs/stitch-ai-ui-design/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:vibe-design-gets-a-canvasFri, 12 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMTRustin Bankshttps://www.petermerholz.com/newsletter/monkey-see-monkey-mandate/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:layoffs-social-contagionThu, 04 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMTPeter Merholzhttps://medium.com/@haberlah/what-638-practitioner-voices-reveal-about-pms-ai-transformation-7d2fd16be10dtag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:ai-ate-the-pm-conversationThu, 04 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMTDavid Haberlahhttps://posthog.com/blog/posthogs-next-chaptertag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:when-fomo-ships-too-earlyThu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMTJames Hawkinshttps://uxdesign.cc/we-built-this-now-we-own-it-1f8f1ba7c768tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:when-the-metric-becomes-the-harmThu, 04 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMTPatrizia Bertinihttps://medium.com/design-bootcamp/stepping-into-2026-as-a-designer-when-youre-still-early-in-your-career-4b0ed88e3aa6tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:stop-designing-outputs-design-reliefThu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMTAndreas Kruszakin-Liboskahttps://medium.com/@kashane.smith/the-hidden-part-of-becoming-a-senior-designer-bdc417838cbctag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:the-senior-path-isnt-linearThu, 04 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMTKashane Smithhttps://www.designsystemscollective.com/fully-machine-readable-design-systems-3d43329ec3e3tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:fully-machine-readable-design-systems{/* Optional archival prose.Fri, 29 May 2026 16:00:00 GMTDiana Wolosinhttps://uxdesign.cc/how-i-use-ai-to-think-through-design-problems-4a484080484btag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:how-i-use-ai-to-partner-on-design-problems{/* Optional archival prose.Fri, 29 May 2026 15:00:00 GMTSuleiman Shakirhttps://www.designsystemscollective.com/how-to-position-system-level-design-work-so-it-actually-gets-funded-307bf643c6e1tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:how-to-position-system-level-design-work-so-it-actually-gets-funded{/* Optional archival prose.Fri, 29 May 2026 14:00:00 GMTShadi Abdhttps://designsystemscollective.substack.com/p/your-system-cant-explain-itself-thatstag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:your-system-cant-explain-itself-thats-the-problem{/* Source description (from og:description): Issue #67 */} {/* Optional archival prose.Fri, 29 May 2026 13:00:00 GMTShane P Williamshttps://medium.com/design-bootcamp/the-most-important-design-system-in-2026-that-designers-missed-was-built-by-a-developer-d5617753882etag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:the-most-important-design-system-in-2026-that-designers-missed-was-built-by-a-developer{/* Source description (from og:description): Built in 2023.Fri, 22 May 2026 16:00:00 GMTPawel Klasahttps://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/building-a-general-purpose-accessibility-agent-and-what-we-learned-in-the-processtag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:building-a-general-purpose-accessibility-agent-and-what-we-learned-in-the-process{/* Source description (from og:description): Learn about the experimental general-purpose accessibility agent that GitHub is piloting.Fri, 22 May 2026 15:00:00 GMTEric Baileyhttps://slack.design/articles/leading-design-through-the-ai-shifttag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:leading-design-through-the-ai-shift{/* Source description (from og:description): AI has eaten the technology industry.Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:00 GMTWill Minerhttps://designsystemscollective.substack.com/p/the-informal-contract-is-overtag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:the-informal-contract-is-over{/* Source description (from og:description): Issue #66 */}Fri, 22 May 2026 13:00:00 GMTShane P Williamshttps://microsoft.design/articles/a-simplified-systemtag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:a-simplified-systemFri, 15 May 2026 16:00:00 GMTJon Friedmanhttps://github.blog/engineering/architecture-optimization/from-latency-to-instant-modernizing-github-issues-navigation-performancetag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:from-latency-to-instant-modernizing-github-issues-navigation-performanceFri, 15 May 2026 15:00:00 GMTAlexander Lelidishttps://designsystemscollective.substack.com/p/legible-by-design-what-ai-readinesstag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:legible-by-design-what-ai-readiness-actually-demands-of-a-design-systemFri, 15 May 2026 14:00:00 GMTShane P Williamshttps://webflow.com/blog/cleanup-cost-ai-generated-codetag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:the-cleanup-cost-of-ungoverned-ai-generated-codeFri, 15 May 2026 13:00:00 GMTAnkit Agrawalhttps://microsoft.design/articles/the-missing-seat-at-the-frontier-team-tabletag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:the-missing-seat-at-the-frontier-team-tableFri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 GMTMartin Linde Danty, Rabeeza A., Anne Klærke-Olesen, Madhumay Sinha, Michael O'Sullivanhttps://www.figma.com/blog/workflow-lab-expanding-the-canvas-with-figma-mcp/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:canvas-reads-and-writes-code"The artifact isn't a bug report. It's a shared reference for a design conversation." Brett McMillin walks through a fictional but recognizable scenario at "Astra," a fast-shipping AI video product, where the canvas captured four frames while the build quietly grew to fourteen states.Fri, 08 May 2026 16:00:00 GMTBrett McMillinhttps://linear.app/now/how-we-hire-at-lineartag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:linear-hiring-playbook"The best talker in the room isn't always the best doer." Linear posted a detailed breakdown of how they hire.Fri, 08 May 2026 15:00:00 GMTDoug Parkerhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/agents-human-agency-and-the-opportunity-for-every-organizationtag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:workers-ready-organizations-arent"Workers are ready. Their organizations aren't." Microsoft's 2026 Work Trend Index analyzes more than 100,000 Copilot conversations and surveys 20,000 workers across ten countries.Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:00 GMTMicrosoft Work Trend Index teamhttps://linear.app/now/how-we-use-linear-agent-at-lineartag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:linear-how-we-use-linear-agent-at-linear"Matthijs gets the best results from coding agents by breaking the work into small, targeted steps, which keeps the agent on track and creates a much narrower path to success."Fri, 01 May 2026 16:00:00 GMTLinearhttps://maggieappleton.com/gastown/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:maggie-appleton-gas-towns-agent-patterns-design-bottlenecks-and-vibecoding-at-scale"Design becomes the limiting factor: imagining what you want to create and then figuring out all the gnarly little details required to make your imagination into reality."Fri, 01 May 2026 15:00:00 GMTMaggie Appletonhttps://maggieappleton.com/zero-alignment/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:maggie-appleton-one-developer-two-dozen-agents-zero-alignment"The time between logging an issue and an agent opening a PR for it is now only a few minutes. Code is so cheap we don't properly stop to think before prompting it. Unhelpfully, most current coding agents have a local plan mode that is unshared with others. So you're not even checking with your team on whether the plan is good before you ship it off to the agent. And we lose more alignment points."Fri, 01 May 2026 14:00:00 GMTMaggie Appletonhttps://microsoft.design/articles/sustainable-product-packaging/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:microsoft-design-paper-please-the-box-that-did-more-with-less"Because paper compresses and responds to temperature fluctuations, packaging geometry had to be engineered with extreme precision: a variance of one to two millimeters risked either scratching the device through excessive tightness or allowing movement that could result in damage during transit."Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:00 GMTMicrosoft Designhttps://rauno.me/notes/1tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:rauno-freiberg-field-notes"I dislike that it becomes very jarring quickly as the agent messages shift depending on whether you're in 'minimap mode' or not... the jank gets increasingly worse when you actually choose to scroll to another message."Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 GMTRauno Freiberghttps://linear.app/now/how-we-redesigned-the-linear-uitag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:linear-how-we-redesigned-the-linear-ui-part-2"It's always better to do a redesign quickly. Otherwise, you will block almost every project and create design debt as newly added features and screens need to be redesigned very soon after they are created." The piece that stood out the most for me this week is the Athens offsite pattern.Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMTKarri Saarinenhttps://linear.app/now/how-we-use-linear-agent-at-lineartag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:linear-how-we-use-linear-agent"Matthijs gets the best results from coding agents by breaking the work into small, targeted steps, which keeps the agent on track and creates a much narrower path to success." The most transferable detail in this piece isn't the end-to-end workflow, it's Matthijs's constraint: break coding agent tasks into small, targeted steps rather than delegating a broad goal.Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMTRhea Purohithttps://building.nubank.com/ab-testing-hr-products/tag:ldlr.design,2026:field-notes:nubank-design-ab-testing-hr-products"Despite achieving a 43% Product-Market Fit, our core Recognition Index actually declined among specific groups... increased usage didn't always translate to a stronger feeling of being recognized—a critical insight that might have been overlooked without an experimental design." The finding worth pulling out isn't the decommissioning decision itself, but the gap it exposed: Recognition Index scores declined among recipients even as the tool's adoption climbed.Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMTNubank Editorial