A round-up of design links shared in August

Each month, we carefully curate a collection of links for our Clearleft, UX London and Leading Design subscribers featuring the latest articles, insights, tools and masterful creations from the wonderful, ever-evolving world of design.

Whether you are a design enthusiast, a professional in the industry, or just someone who appreciates the beauty and impact of great design, we are confident that you will find something new, inspiring and thought-provoking in each edition of our newsletter designed to make your life that little bit easier.

Each month, I’ll be posting nine of our most clicked links from each newsletter (three from each) in a monthly round-up blog for your consumption. There’ll sometimes be a tenth link and it’ll likely be something that we’ve accomplished in the agency that we’re super proud of, or letting you know when a sale is ending for one of our events. We promise to keep this to a minimum. You’ll likely be sick of our puns before anything else.

First up, here are the top three links from Clearleft’s curated links newsletter for August.

Let’s dive in…

What ‘brat summer’ can tell us about the current design climate...

A woman with dark hair and sunglasses lying on a green background covered with paper squares that have the word 'brat' written on them.

How can the principles of the 'brat summer' aesthetic be applied to create a visual identity for a brand that wants to resonate with a younger, more rebellious audience?

2-minute read

Design tokens demystified...

A graphic displaying the text 'DESIGN.TOKENS' in bold red surrounded by various labels like 'padding.xl,' 'colour.success.text,' 'primitives,' 'GREY 900,' 'component,' 'alias,' and 'corner.radius.full.'

A beginner’s guide to understanding design tokens: types, benefits, and applications.

8-minute read

The end of design?

An abstract representation of the future of design, blending AI and human creativity. The image features swirling shapes and geometric forms symbolizing data flow, combined with fluid, organic lines representing human intuition. A mix of metallic tones and soft gradients with glowing light effects creates a holographic feel. At the center, indistinct shapes blend human and machine elements, symbolizing the interconnectedness of technology and creativity in future design processes.

Explore the thought-provoking idea that the traditional role of designers might be nearing its end. How will the evolution of AI and automation impact the future of design and creativity?

9-minute read

Next, here are your top three links from the UX London curated links newsletter for August.

New for 2025 - Research by the Sea! 🛟

A vibrant graphic promoting a UX (User Experience) event titled 'UX by the Research' scheduled for 27 Feb 2025. The design features a bold blue square in the center with the event's title in large white and orange letters, accompanied by a magnifying glass icon. Surrounding the central square are playful abstract shapes in yellow, blue, and white, including waves, a lifebuoy, stars, and other sea-inspired elements, giving the design a lively and engaging feel.

It's a shameless plug, but we promise that it was the most clicked link last month.

Brought to you by Clearleft, we’re taking #UXLondon to the south coast for a full day dedicated to design research. Join the conversation and explore the future of UXR in Brighton amongst fellow design and research practitioners.

🗓 27 February 2025
📍Brighton Dome Studio Theatre

You can go ahead and secure your place at our cheapest super early-bird rates today.

Be a super-duper early-bird

Go from designer to design leader with these essential reads...

A close-up of a row of books on a shelf, featuring titles related to design, technology, and productivity. Visible book titles include 'Web Analytics,' 'Brochure Design,' 'Graphic Design for Non-designers,' 'Advanced DOM Scripting,' 'Getting Things Done,' and 'Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things.

Lead beyond design: 10 unconventional books every design leader needs.

10-minute read

Gestalt principles in design: how psychology influences visual and UX design...

A visually striking infographic illustrating the principles of Gestalt theory, featuring geometric shapes and patterns in green, pink, and beige tones. The image highlights key concepts such as Continuity, Closure, Proximity, and Figure-Ground, with intricate designs representing each principle.

Design is not just about aesthetics; it's about creating experiences that are intuitive and meaningful. This article explores how Gestalt principles influence visual and UX design, enhancing user experiences through psychology.

5-minute read

Moving on to your top three links from last month’s Leading Design curated links newsletter for design leaders.

What I've learnt from creative 1:1s in the design world...

An illustration of two people sitting on a yellow couch, engaging in a friendly conversation, set against a vibrant yellow background.

Regular 1:1 meetings can be a powerful tool to foster creativity and professional growth in remote design teams. What strategies can you implement today to unlock your team's full potential?

2-minute read

The significance of culture in leading design at scale...

Aerial view of flowing glacial rivers creating intricate, abstract patterns in shades of blue and black.

Discover how cultivating a strong cultural foundation is key to successfully leading design at scale.

3-minute read

The true state of UX in 2024 — what they don’t want you to know...

A motivational typography design that reads "DON'T QUIT," with the "N" and the "T" crossed out to emphasize "DO IT" as a positive message.

This article sheds light on what the current trends, challenges and opportunities mean for the industry’s future. How prepared are you to navigate the complexities of UX this year?

7-minute read

Finally, from us…

Group coaching for experienced design leaders...

Join our exclusive 10-week group coaching programme for mid-to-senior design leaders, led by Julia Whitney, former Executive Creative Director at the BBC. Elevate your leadership skills while learning alongside your peers.

With the Autumn 2024 cohort starting on September 17, don't miss your chance to secure your spot - time is running out!

Secure your place now

Before you go...

The links in this blog are snippets of longer versions, if you would like to subscribe to any of our newsletters exclusively and be the first to receive the full version of any of our curated links newsletters, you can sign up here for Clearleft, here for UX London and here for Leading Design.