Each month, we curate a list of the best design articles, tools, and insights for our Clearleft, UX London, and Leading Design subscribers, showcasing the ever-evolving design world.
In this series, I’ll share the nine most popular links—three from each newsletter—plus an occasional bonus link for something special we’ve achieved or an event update.
Here are the top three picks from Clearleft’s November newsletter!
Product design process...
There is no such thing as a universal product design process. Every org is different and uses the process that works best for its needs. Yet, it’s possible to establish a general set of actions that (with some alternations) work for many companies.
Flexible Typesetting is now yours, for free...
Initially published in 2018, Flexible Typesetting has sold thousands of copies and given a new generation of designers fresh mental models to craft meaningful, multidimensional typography. It is required reading in elite design programs and has encouraged the rethinking of core curricula.
"Few things in my career have been as rewarding as writing and sharing this book. I’m so excited to give it to you for free." - Tim Brown.
Design leaders should go “Founder Mode”...
The future of design leadership is not to aspire to ever-higher executive roles, ruling over a vast UX empire. Rather, embrace the “Founder Mode” concept of hands-on and vision-based leadership of small and highly effective design teams.
How can founders balance the intense focus required in "Founder Mode" with the need to manage broader organisational responsibilities effectively?
8-minute read
Next, here are your top three links from the UX London curated links newsletter last month.
The harsh truth about real purpose...
We live and work in a world where terms like 'purpose' are waved around with increasing abandon, as brands seek to present themselves in a positive light. As advocates for users, customers and citizens, this can place us in challenging conversations with colleagues and clients. This straightforward post from marketing veteran Dave Trott shines a light on a simple fact about purpose. Prepare for some uncomfortable reading.
Book review – Transport for Humans: Are we nearly there yet?
The design and function of transport represent one of the most complex, significant and difficult realms of user experience. This intriguing book by Rory Sutherland and Pete Dyson considers transport not so much as a matter of logistics but of perception and psychology. Whether or not your work is directly related to the movement of people, it's full of brilliant insight.
Nobody wants software...
We all need a wake-up call from time to time, and this one from Jane Ruffino is stark but welcome. As we get bogged down in the self-importance of our work, she reminds us: It's just computers. Nobody wants to use any software. Indeed.
12-minute read
Moving on to your top three links from last month’s Leading Design curated links newsletter for design leaders.
Reframing design leadership in the age of generative AI...
The design world is transforming fast. Generative AI is doing more than speeding up workflows — it’s redefining our role as leaders and inviting us to rethink what “good design” really means. As AI takes on some of the grunt work, we have an opportunity, and maybe even a responsibility, to ask ourselves: what does leadership look like when technology can handle the pixels? How do we make space for ethics, purpose, and real human impact in a world that’s increasingly automated?
Design Better podcast: Eric Snowden, Head of Adobe Design, on AI + design...
In this conversation with Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter, co-hosts of the Design Better podcast, Leading Design New York 2025 guest Eric Snowden (VP of Design at Adobe) talks about his leadership journey, generative AI’s place in a modern creative environment, and how supporting creativity and creative people has been a consistent thread throughout his career.
The uneven distribution of AI’s environmental impacts
The adoption of AI has been rapidly accelerating across all parts of society, bringing the potential to address shared global challenges such as climate change and drought mitigation. Yet underlying the excitement surrounding AI’s transformative potential are increasingly large and energy-intensive deep neural networks. The Harvard Business Review unpacks how growing demands of these complex models are raising concerns about AI’s environmental impact.
9-minute read
Finally, from us…
Clearleft wrapped: Our year in highlights
As the year draws to a close, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the quirks, triumphs, and memorable moments that made 2024 special for Clearleft. From croissants to lino printing, here’s a lighthearted look at what makes Clearleft, well, Clearleft.
Clearleft wrapped 2024
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 for links from Clearleft, from UX London, and Leading Design.