Design Holiday Watch List

Happy holidays, friends! 🎁

With Christmas just around the corner, I have a simple little gift just for you. 😉

Below, I’ll be sharing a list of design-related films and documentaries that inspired me in some way.

Some inspired me to switch to a career in product design. Some made me want to join a startup and learn how to build products from scratch. Some inspired me, while some are just part of my chill binge fests.

Sometimes, we just need a little inspo to get our minds rolling. Happy watching! 📺

For this week, I’ll be sharing some trends we’ve been seeing a lot lately, plus some AI-ish tools you can use for your design projects.

〰️ What’s new with Spotify Wrapped
〰️ More Figma updates!
〰️ Ready-to-use abstract graident shapes
〰️ Getting design inspo from iOS 18

☁️ news & trends

Figma is the gift that keeps on giving 
Their latest update includes a horizontal layers panel scroll for deeply nested layers, powerful plugin API enhancements to supercharge your workflow, and exciting improvements to Figma Slides for exporting stunning presentations in one click.

When giving nothing…is actually something
We love ✨negative space ✨ - the solution when your designs are getting cluttered. This article dives into the magic of negative space, explaining how it can make your designs more focused, impactful, and easier to understand. Plus, more tips for mastering it!

🎧 why spotify wrapped is such a hit every year

Spotify Wrapped isn’t just a fun end-of-year surprise—it’s a mix of design, psychology, and data magic. Here’s my take on how it keeps us hooked:

1. Curiosity gap
   Spotify taps into how deeply personal music is to us. It’s like, “What does my music say about me?”—and you have to find out.

2. Anticipation
   Wrapped isn’t just an event; it’s a moment. People literally spend the year wondering what their Wrapped will look like, and some even try to “game” the system by switching up their playlists in November.

3. Design delights
   It’s not just about the data—it’s the delivery. The quirky animations, the bold visuals, the snappy captions—it’s all designed to make you share it.

🪐 launches & tools

Ready-to-use grainy gradient shapes
Coolshapes is a collection of over 100 free, abstract shapes with grainy gradients for that glass morphism vibe! From blobs and squiggles to geometric patterns and more. Grab the Figma file, or simply copy the svg and paste in your design tool.

Apple’s iOS 18 - a design inspo
Apple's latest design language, hinted at in iOS 18, is a glimpse into the future of user interfaces. Inspired by spatial computing, this new design philosophy focuses on immersion, physicality, and fluid motion. With features like the Dynamic Island and more refined animations, Apple is setting the stage for a more intuitive and visually stunning user experience.

AI-generated images that don’t look AI
I know how AI-looking mockups can be a turn-off. With Visual Electric, you can generate photorealistic images that don’t look like AI or stock photos. You can also work in any style, whether simple outlines or high-end fashion photography.

What if you used generative AI as not just a tool?
It's also a creativity booster for your brain! Try blending AI's capabilities with your own problem-solving skills. You might just spark new ideas in ways you didn't expect. It's all about finding balance really —using AI as a co-pilot while keeping your unique perspective at the center. Some exercises to train your brain to with AI in the link!

🌼 what is new

As promised, here’s my ultimate design film binge list!

What about going through these during your holiday break? Best watched with a holiday drink of your choice. I recommend peppermint cocoa with marshmallow.

🛠 User Experience (UX) Design

UX Principles & Practices

• Design & Thinking Documentary - Solving big challenges through design

• Design Disruptors: The Future is Design - Revolutionizing how we connect through design

• Connecting - Trends in UI, Interaction, & Experience Design [YOUTUBE] - The future of digital interaction

Case Studies & Inspiration

• IDEO and a Story of Design [YOUTUBE] - Behind the iconic global design firm IDEO

• Netflix Design [YOUTUBE] - The science behind Netflix’s seamless experience

• How Google fixed its design process and started making beautiful apps [YOUTUBE]

🧠 Product Strategy & Innovation

• The Playlist [NETFLIX] - How Spotify was made

• Silicon Cowboys [AMAZON PRIME] - How Compaq was made

• How I Built A $4B Startup Called Webflow by EO [YOUTUBE] - Webflow

✏ Visual Design in Different Forms

• Helvetica [APPLE TV] - History of the typeface

• Color In Sight [YOUTUBE] - Details of color in design

• Design Canada - Canada’s national identity through graphic design

• Urbanized [APPLE TV] - Urban design, architects, how it shapes life

• Graphic Means [YOUTUBE] - Graphic design before the computer

👨‍🎨 Behind the Genius of Designers

• Invention: A Life, by James Dyson [YOUTUBE] - James Dyson’s philosophy

• By Design: The Joe Caroff Story [AMAZON PRIME]- The life and career of Hollywood graphic designer Joe Caroff

• Rams [APPLE TV, AMAZON PRIME] - Documentary on Dieter Rams, one of the most influential designers ever

• Steve Jobs [YOUTUBE] : The Lost Interview - Full interview with Steve Jobs

• The Universe of Keith Haring [YOUTUBE] - The life of artist and social activist Keith Haring

🛍 Branding & Advertising

• Abstract: The Art of Design | Ian Spalter: Digital Product Design [NETFLIX] - Experimenting with product designs for big brands

• Abstract: The Art of Design | Paula Scher: Graphic Design [NETFLIX] - Developing the visual language of iconic brands

• Art & Copy [YOUTUBE] - The power of advertising uncovered

📕 Design Concepts

• Objectified [APPLE TV, AMAZON PRIME] - The art and impact of everyday objects

• BBC: The Genius of Design [YOUTUBE] - How design shaped key moments in history

• The Creative Brain [YOUTUBE] - The creative process dissected

🌱Reader spotlight

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See you on the internet 🌐,

Marisa | @meshtimes