Erik Kennedy
@erikdkennedy.bsky.social
Teaching UI design (in a practical way).
Enrollment for my design courses closes at midnight tonight.
Lots of folks saying it's the best career investment they've ever made.
AMA 🫡
Lots of folks saying it's the best career investment they've ever made.
AMA 🫡
October 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Enrollment for my design courses closes at midnight tonight.
Lots of folks saying it's the best career investment they've ever made.
AMA 🫡
Lots of folks saying it's the best career investment they've ever made.
AMA 🫡
Georgia is a default web font, it's on a billion pages... but here it looks FRESH 🔥
Why? 2 reasons...
Why? 2 reasons...
July 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Georgia is a default web font, it's on a billion pages... but here it looks FRESH 🔥
Why? 2 reasons...
Why? 2 reasons...
Showing a bunch of intermediate deliverables in your portfolio writeups?
Plz don't 🙈
Instead, focus on RESULTS.
If you can achieve the results, it's *understood* you know how to do the process. If you CAN'T achieve the results, it DOESN'T MATTER if you can do "the process".
Plz don't 🙈
Instead, focus on RESULTS.
If you can achieve the results, it's *understood* you know how to do the process. If you CAN'T achieve the results, it DOESN'T MATTER if you can do "the process".
June 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Showing a bunch of intermediate deliverables in your portfolio writeups?
Plz don't 🙈
Instead, focus on RESULTS.
If you can achieve the results, it's *understood* you know how to do the process. If you CAN'T achieve the results, it DOESN'T MATTER if you can do "the process".
Plz don't 🙈
Instead, focus on RESULTS.
If you can achieve the results, it's *understood* you know how to do the process. If you CAN'T achieve the results, it DOESN'T MATTER if you can do "the process".
How to do Apple's Liquid Glass in Figma (a property-by-property visual breakdown)
Time to get nerdy about liquid glass 🤓
👇👇
Time to get nerdy about liquid glass 🤓
👇👇
June 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
How to do Apple's Liquid Glass in Figma (a property-by-property visual breakdown)
Time to get nerdy about liquid glass 🤓
👇👇
Time to get nerdy about liquid glass 🤓
👇👇
🥃 Refraction through glass effects
⛅ Soft shadow techniques
🌈 Mesh gradients
All in Apple's new visual style, announced yesterday.
All topics covered on Design Hacks (or events I've done, announced on Design Hacks).
Interested in staying on the future of visual design?
👇
⛅ Soft shadow techniques
🌈 Mesh gradients
All in Apple's new visual style, announced yesterday.
All topics covered on Design Hacks (or events I've done, announced on Design Hacks).
Interested in staying on the future of visual design?
👇
June 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🥃 Refraction through glass effects
⛅ Soft shadow techniques
🌈 Mesh gradients
All in Apple's new visual style, announced yesterday.
All topics covered on Design Hacks (or events I've done, announced on Design Hacks).
Interested in staying on the future of visual design?
👇
⛅ Soft shadow techniques
🌈 Mesh gradients
All in Apple's new visual style, announced yesterday.
All topics covered on Design Hacks (or events I've done, announced on Design Hacks).
Interested in staying on the future of visual design?
👇
All 3 of my courses close enrollment tonight at midnight pacific.
All courses contain:
📽 Dozens of video-based lessons
📝 Figma/downloadable resources
🌎 A student community for learning & feedback
💯 Lifetime access to all course materials, including additions and improvements
♥️ 30-day refund policy
All courses contain:
📽 Dozens of video-based lessons
📝 Figma/downloadable resources
🌎 A student community for learning & feedback
💯 Lifetime access to all course materials, including additions and improvements
♥️ 30-day refund policy
June 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
All 3 of my courses close enrollment tonight at midnight pacific.
All courses contain:
📽 Dozens of video-based lessons
📝 Figma/downloadable resources
🌎 A student community for learning & feedback
💯 Lifetime access to all course materials, including additions and improvements
♥️ 30-day refund policy
All courses contain:
📽 Dozens of video-based lessons
📝 Figma/downloadable resources
🌎 A student community for learning & feedback
💯 Lifetime access to all course materials, including additions and improvements
♥️ 30-day refund policy
If there's one time in my life the muse was with me, it was in the house with the Mexican talavera toilet...
May 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
If there's one time in my life the muse was with me, it was in the house with the Mexican talavera toilet...
We don't talk enough about the UI of SAAS apps.
Flashy landing pages are one thing, but how do you make data-heavy apps look GREAT?
I'll be posting some tips this month 👇
Flashy landing pages are one thing, but how do you make data-heavy apps look GREAT?
I'll be posting some tips this month 👇
May 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
We don't talk enough about the UI of SAAS apps.
Flashy landing pages are one thing, but how do you make data-heavy apps look GREAT?
I'll be posting some tips this month 👇
Flashy landing pages are one thing, but how do you make data-heavy apps look GREAT?
I'll be posting some tips this month 👇
this is what i'd put in a time capsule from 2025.
May 16, 2025 at 7:58 PM
this is what i'd put in a time capsule from 2025.
Proud font dad moment: seeing Figtree in Figma's new feature announcements at Config today 😎
May 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Proud font dad moment: seeing Figtree in Figma's new feature announcements at Config today 😎
WHAT'S YOUR HARD-TO-DO-IN-FIGMA?
The things that are easy to do in Figma – rectangles, text, images – are the things that feel overused and common place in digital design.
"ooh i stack boxes for a living 🙄"
The antidote? Easy.
The things that are easy to do in Figma – rectangles, text, images – are the things that feel overused and common place in digital design.
"ooh i stack boxes for a living 🙄"
The antidote? Easy.
April 25, 2025 at 3:56 PM
WHAT'S YOUR HARD-TO-DO-IN-FIGMA?
The things that are easy to do in Figma – rectangles, text, images – are the things that feel overused and common place in digital design.
"ooh i stack boxes for a living 🙄"
The antidote? Easy.
The things that are easy to do in Figma – rectangles, text, images – are the things that feel overused and common place in digital design.
"ooh i stack boxes for a living 🙄"
The antidote? Easy.
I think I'm going to get to use a tool I launched earlier this year in a client project 😀
April 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I think I'm going to get to use a tool I launched earlier this year in a client project 😀
🔥 UX POP QUIZ 🔥
How do you ask a question without biasing the answer?
(I can think of 3 tips. Surely I'm missing some. Listed below 👇)
How do you ask a question without biasing the answer?
(I can think of 3 tips. Surely I'm missing some. Listed below 👇)
April 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
🔥 UX POP QUIZ 🔥
How do you ask a question without biasing the answer?
(I can think of 3 tips. Surely I'm missing some. Listed below 👇)
How do you ask a question without biasing the answer?
(I can think of 3 tips. Surely I'm missing some. Listed below 👇)
🔥 UX POP QUIZ 🔥
Why shouldn't you listen to your users?
(Respond below, but do it before looking at my answer... 😏)
Why shouldn't you listen to your users?
(Respond below, but do it before looking at my answer... 😏)
April 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🔥 UX POP QUIZ 🔥
Why shouldn't you listen to your users?
(Respond below, but do it before looking at my answer... 😏)
Why shouldn't you listen to your users?
(Respond below, but do it before looking at my answer... 😏)
Here are 7 ways of ensuring text is legible on top of images – even if the text or image or placement can change.
This is a core UI design skill. Bookmark this 📍
This is a core UI design skill. Bookmark this 📍
April 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Here are 7 ways of ensuring text is legible on top of images – even if the text or image or placement can change.
This is a core UI design skill. Bookmark this 📍
This is a core UI design skill. Bookmark this 📍
🔥 UX/UI POP QUIZ 🔥
Q: How do you balance usability and aesthetics?
(Answer below 👇)
Q: How do you balance usability and aesthetics?
(Answer below 👇)
April 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
🔥 UX/UI POP QUIZ 🔥
Q: How do you balance usability and aesthetics?
(Answer below 👇)
Q: How do you balance usability and aesthetics?
(Answer below 👇)
Fun fact: color is 3-D 🤯
That's why color systems are 3 letters... RGB, CMY, HSL, etc.
(It's actually b/c we have 3 types of cone cells in our eyes. Some ppl have 4, and can see color in 4-D. One such woman painted this 👇)
Color seems "subjective", but it's just 3 numbers, so we can find PATTERNS
That's why color systems are 3 letters... RGB, CMY, HSL, etc.
(It's actually b/c we have 3 types of cone cells in our eyes. Some ppl have 4, and can see color in 4-D. One such woman painted this 👇)
Color seems "subjective", but it's just 3 numbers, so we can find PATTERNS
April 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Fun fact: color is 3-D 🤯
That's why color systems are 3 letters... RGB, CMY, HSL, etc.
(It's actually b/c we have 3 types of cone cells in our eyes. Some ppl have 4, and can see color in 4-D. One such woman painted this 👇)
Color seems "subjective", but it's just 3 numbers, so we can find PATTERNS
That's why color systems are 3 letters... RGB, CMY, HSL, etc.
(It's actually b/c we have 3 types of cone cells in our eyes. Some ppl have 4, and can see color in 4-D. One such woman painted this 👇)
Color seems "subjective", but it's just 3 numbers, so we can find PATTERNS
🔥 UX pop quiz 🔥
Can you name four reasons why a user's search query doesn't turn up results?
(Answers below)
Can you name four reasons why a user's search query doesn't turn up results?
(Answers below)
April 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM
🔥 UX pop quiz 🔥
Can you name four reasons why a user's search query doesn't turn up results?
(Answers below)
Can you name four reasons why a user's search query doesn't turn up results?
(Answers below)
Here's my FAVORITE data visualization of ALL TIME.
It's a plaque affixed to the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft – which are currently hurtling through interstellar space – to tell any extraterrestrials a bit about who created said hunk of junk.
It's got...
It's a plaque affixed to the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft – which are currently hurtling through interstellar space – to tell any extraterrestrials a bit about who created said hunk of junk.
It's got...
April 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Here's my FAVORITE data visualization of ALL TIME.
It's a plaque affixed to the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft – which are currently hurtling through interstellar space – to tell any extraterrestrials a bit about who created said hunk of junk.
It's got...
It's a plaque affixed to the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft – which are currently hurtling through interstellar space – to tell any extraterrestrials a bit about who created said hunk of junk.
It's got...
Here's a UX riddle:
When you search Gmail, your search term is BOLDED in the autocomplete. However, when you search Google, everything EXCEPT your search term is bolded. Why?
Because Gmail is predicting DESTINATIONS (specific emails); Google is predicting PATHS TO GET THERE (queries).
When you search Gmail, your search term is BOLDED in the autocomplete. However, when you search Google, everything EXCEPT your search term is bolded. Why?
Because Gmail is predicting DESTINATIONS (specific emails); Google is predicting PATHS TO GET THERE (queries).
April 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Here's a UX riddle:
When you search Gmail, your search term is BOLDED in the autocomplete. However, when you search Google, everything EXCEPT your search term is bolded. Why?
Because Gmail is predicting DESTINATIONS (specific emails); Google is predicting PATHS TO GET THERE (queries).
When you search Gmail, your search term is BOLDED in the autocomplete. However, when you search Google, everything EXCEPT your search term is bolded. Why?
Because Gmail is predicting DESTINATIONS (specific emails); Google is predicting PATHS TO GET THERE (queries).
Even more important than being able to make a nice design on a blank canvas is MAKING IMPROVEMENTS to something that already exists.
Why? Because you'll spend SO much more time doing the latter
Here's an ex from Learn UI Design.
First draft: MS Paint-style hilarity
Final draft: *much* better
Why? Because you'll spend SO much more time doing the latter
Here's an ex from Learn UI Design.
First draft: MS Paint-style hilarity
Final draft: *much* better
April 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Even more important than being able to make a nice design on a blank canvas is MAKING IMPROVEMENTS to something that already exists.
Why? Because you'll spend SO much more time doing the latter
Here's an ex from Learn UI Design.
First draft: MS Paint-style hilarity
Final draft: *much* better
Why? Because you'll spend SO much more time doing the latter
Here's an ex from Learn UI Design.
First draft: MS Paint-style hilarity
Final draft: *much* better
Designing the certificates for Learn UI Design was a ton of fun.
Lots of easter eggs – e.g. the four corners are the four "pillars" of UI design:
1. color
2. typography
3. imagery
4. layout
Etc 😉
Lots of easter eggs – e.g. the four corners are the four "pillars" of UI design:
1. color
2. typography
3. imagery
4. layout
Etc 😉
March 28, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Designing the certificates for Learn UI Design was a ton of fun.
Lots of easter eggs – e.g. the four corners are the four "pillars" of UI design:
1. color
2. typography
3. imagery
4. layout
Etc 😉
Lots of easter eggs – e.g. the four corners are the four "pillars" of UI design:
1. color
2. typography
3. imagery
4. layout
Etc 😉
Woke up to this email.
Not gonna lie, I have the perfect job for a "words of affirmation" love language.
Make a solid course, wait for others to benefit, feel good 💪
Not gonna lie, I have the perfect job for a "words of affirmation" love language.
Make a solid course, wait for others to benefit, feel good 💪
March 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Woke up to this email.
Not gonna lie, I have the perfect job for a "words of affirmation" love language.
Make a solid course, wait for others to benefit, feel good 💪
Not gonna lie, I have the perfect job for a "words of affirmation" love language.
Make a solid course, wait for others to benefit, feel good 💪
OK, I'm doing a personal design challenge 😎
I'm going through the old @relume_io Design League challenges and designing some landing pages in 30 minutes.
Here's my first one 😅
I'm going through the old @relume_io Design League challenges and designing some landing pages in 30 minutes.
Here's my first one 😅
March 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
OK, I'm doing a personal design challenge 😎
I'm going through the old @relume_io Design League challenges and designing some landing pages in 30 minutes.
Here's my first one 😅
I'm going through the old @relume_io Design League challenges and designing some landing pages in 30 minutes.
Here's my first one 😅
Mesh gradients are a bit trendy, but they're still an underrated UI technique, IMO.
Here are 5 reasons why they're *particularly* useful in designs 🧵
Here are 5 reasons why they're *particularly* useful in designs 🧵
March 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Mesh gradients are a bit trendy, but they're still an underrated UI technique, IMO.
Here are 5 reasons why they're *particularly* useful in designs 🧵
Here are 5 reasons why they're *particularly* useful in designs 🧵