Ask HN: UI/UX design guides for early stage founders?

9 pointsmjouni3y ago10 comments

What are good resources that can help an early stage founder in how to think of the design of their app/website. Since this is early stage, I am not planning on spending a lot of time on the design, but would be great to have some guides/books that can help with the basics. For example a checklist of things that you need to consider with advice on how to pick each (font, color palette, basic layout, etc..)

10 comments

hkhanna3y ago

I'm an early stage founder who had the same question when I started.

Refactoring UI[0] is a book made by the folks at Tailwind Labs which opened my eyes to the basics of web design. It discusses in an accessible way the specific things your mention (font, color palette, basic layout, etc) and helps you build your intuition on those aspects of design.

I also recommend Tailwind UI[1], which is a software product made by the same people. Both of these resources were indispensable when I created Magistrate[2].

[0] https://www.refactoringui.com/

[1] https://tailwindui.com/

[2] https://getmagistrate.com/

devteambravo3y ago

As recommended already, refactoring UI is a great book/blog Check out Atomic Design by Brad Frost Then, take a dive into this amazing person's blog (krisztina szerovay): https://uxknowledgebase.com/table-of-contents-4d24ed5114ac Then look into design thinking methods: https://www.designkit.org/methods Last but not least, eyeball this: https://www.mural.co/templates/the-official-remote-design-sp...

Now go experiment! and make sure to talk to your users.

robswc3y ago

Just a general tip. Not startup, but I do make a different B2B webapp every other week, which lets me experiment and improve with each project :)

Consistency is great and underrated, imo. User should be able to use new elements intuitively. It's better to have a consistent design vs one really good and one "eh."

solardev3y ago

Suggestion: Don't roll your own. Start with someone else's template and roll with it until you can learn the basics.

Your users will thank you. IMO your website isn't an art project, just follow someone else's existing best practices.

pree3y ago

here is my list of design related books that might help https://medium.com/p/2da6cbae45c5

frankharrison3y ago

Just use figma. I cannot believe how good it is and how little of my design training+theory is needed with it.

cercatrova3y ago

I don't understand this suggestion. This is like saying just use Photoshop or a canvas with paint when some asks how to learn to draw and paint. They're not asking about the medium, they're asking how to learn the underlying skill.

an_aparallel3y ago

this online course (free) may help - i have it saved from a previous discussion on HN:

https://www.uxdatabase.io/free-product-design-course-curricu...

solardev3y ago

The LinkedIn Learning courses on this stuff is pretty decent.

joshxyz3y ago

Keep it simple, dont fall into bikeshedding ;)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

10 comments

hkhanna3y ago

I'm an early stage founder who had the same question when I started.

I also recommend Tailwind UI[1], which is a software product made by the same people. Both of these resources were indispensable when I created Magistrate[2].

[0] https://www.refactoringui.com/

[1] https://tailwindui.com/

[2] https://getmagistrate.com/

devteambravo3y ago

Now go experiment! and make sure to talk to your users.

robswc3y ago

Just a general tip. Not startup, but I do make a different B2B webapp every other week, which lets me experiment and improve with each project :)

Consistency is great and underrated, imo. User should be able to use new elements intuitively. It's better to have a consistent design vs one really good and one "eh."

solardev3y ago

Suggestion: Don't roll your own. Start with someone else's template and roll with it until you can learn the basics.

Your users will thank you. IMO your website isn't an art project, just follow someone else's existing best practices.

pree3y ago

here is my list of design related books that might help https://medium.com/p/2da6cbae45c5

frankharrison3y ago

Just use figma. I cannot believe how good it is and how little of my design training+theory is needed with it.

cercatrova3y ago

an_aparallel3y ago

this online course (free) may help - i have it saved from a previous discussion on HN:

https://www.uxdatabase.io/free-product-design-course-curricu...

solardev3y ago

The LinkedIn Learning courses on this stuff is pretty decent.

joshxyz3y ago

Keep it simple, dont fall into bikeshedding ;)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse