Designing voice first, without the answers
I'm in the middle of designing a voice-first product and have more questions than answers. On the parity problem, live transcripts, and trusting the model.
Anton Sten
Articles about design, UX, and product development
Latest posts
The Tools I Use to Run My Business
A curated list of software and hardware I rely on daily, from Figma and Claude to my Herman Miller chair.
Working backwards
Visiting a friend at an art school, I watched students deconstruct finished paintings layer by layer. As we go from prompt to shipped app in days, that habit might be exactly what design is losing.
Designing for trust
Everyone says we need designers for taste. But there's a second thing tangled up in there, trust, and it's the part of the job that doesn't transfer to a tool.
The feature conversation
Three pieces from three different corners of the industry all landed on the same conclusion within a few weeks: features have stopped being what sets you apart. The rooms I'm in haven't caught up.
The 2–7 problem
AI is bad at making things that are great. It's also bad at making things that are bad. The second half is the part worth talking about.
The basement firm
There's a Mac mini in my basement running five AI agents named after TV characters. Here's how the team actually works, and why playing with this stuff matters more than the productivity claims suggest.
What a UX strategy is, and why most teams should write one
What a UX strategy is, what goes in one, and why it matters more now that anyone can ship anything in a weekend.
Taste isn't a screenshot
Everyone can build now. But collecting screenshots of apps you admire is curation, not taste. Real taste is the thousand no's, not the one yes.
Onboarding is a transaction
Onboarding is one of the few moments where you have a user's complete attention and their clear intent. That is not a moment to rush through.
Build something silly
The most important thing non-technical people can do right now is build something with AI, not just learn about it.
2025 Year in Review
A look back at 2025.
Vibe coding for designers: my actual process
An honest breakdown of how I built and maintain antonsten.com using AI. What actually works, where I've hit walls, and why designers should embrace this approach.
The hidden cost of shipping too fast
Speed often gets treated as progress even when no one has agreed on what progress actually means. Here's why clarity matters more than velocity.
When execution gets easy, taste gets harder
As AI blurs the lines between design and development, the designer's role is expanding, not disappearing. But only if you're willing to fill the new space.
Henry Ford's horse problem wasn't about imagination
The famous "faster horses" quote is wrong not because users can't imagine solutions, but because it defends lazy research.
From powerful to personal: Where design is heading
Design has shifted from showcasing what technology can do to helping people get exactly what they need. Personalization is becoming the baseline, and AI is accelerating this shift toward hyper-customized experiences.
AI will happily design the wrong thing for you
AI tools are incredible leverage, but they amplify whatever you bring to them. If you don't understand the problem you're solving, AI just helps you build the wrong thing more efficiently.
How to stand out when anyone can build anything
When AI tools have democratized product creation, standing out is about fundamentally different skills that most people skip entirely, not better tools or flashier features.
Leading as an introvert
Why introversion is a leadership strength, not a liability, and how to lead authentically as an introvert.
From 'Maybe 6 months' to 3 years
Reflections on three years at Summer Health and how meaningful work can change your relationship with your career.
Tiny frictions, better ideas
Reflections on how working outdoors and introducing small frictions can lead to better ideas and deeper thinking.
Why great design managers are usually great designers first
Exploring why the best design managers are often seasoned individual contributors first, and how staying hands-on builds trust, sharpens leadership, and deepens impact. Inspired by insights from Mig Reyes on the Dive Club Podcast.
Designing less to learn more
How slowing down the design sprint, focusing on real user feedback, and embracing rough prototypes led to deeper learning and better outcomes.
Why prompting feels so hard (and why that's a good sign)
Exploring why prompting AI effectively is challenging and how this difficulty actually signals an opportunity for better design thinking.
Designers don't need to code. They need to learn to prompt.
Exploring how AI tools are changing the design landscape, and why learning to prompt effectively is becoming more important than learning to code for designers.
The product design process
A comprehensive guide to the product design process, from research to launch.
The solo designer: lessons from a startup journey
Reflections on being the first designer at a startup, sharing insights about daily work, valuable skills, and the unique challenges and rewards of being a startup designer.
2024 Year in Review
A look back at 2024.
The moral dilemma of platform choice
An exploration of the ethical considerations creators face when choosing digital platforms, and how these choices reflect our values and shape the future of the internet.
Designing for anyone: the power of accessible products
A reflection on the importance of accessible design, moving beyond technical guidelines to create products that work for anyone, in any situation.
The power of adaptability
Reflections on the importance of being adaptable and open to change, exploring how this mindset applies to both personal growth and professional development.
Understanding your core values through reflection
A personal exploration of how core values evolve over time, reflecting on life changes and their impact on personal values and decision-making.
Can you be creative just by creating?
Exploring what creativity really means for designers and why well-functioning designs are innovative in their own right.
Write when you have something to say
Answering reader questions on UX research value, wearing multiple hats as a designer, and future career plans.
A question never asked is never answered
Exploring the importance of asking questions in design and development, with practical examples and strategies for effective communication.
After 15 years, change is coming
A personal announcement about transitioning from freelance consulting to a new role at a design agency, reflecting on past experiences and future aspirations.
Print design principles in a digital world
Examining how traditional print design principles and practices can inform and improve modern digital design, with insights from my early career in print advertising.
Digital tools may create life long relationships
Exploring how digital platforms and tools can foster meaningful, long-lasting professional relationships, with personal examples from my career.
Writing’s gift? Better design
How writing before designing clarifies thinking and leads to better design systems and more intentional work.
Trying out no-code tools
My frustrations with Framer for blogging and the search for a better tool that supports RSS, formatting, and content export.
Freelancing: three values that change everything
Three principles for freelance success: avoiding drama, being self-sufficient, and knowing when to delegate.
Resolving to be a 'better form' of ourselves in 2024
Why I set one simple resolution each year: to be in better form than today. No specific numbers, just meaningful growth.
2023 Year in Review
A look back at 2023.
Why carousels don't work
After 25 years in UX, I steer clients away from carousels. If everything is important, nothing is. Prioritize your message instead.
One Question Changed Feedback for Me
Asking 'What's working well?' transformed how I give and receive feedback. Balance the what with the how in your creative process.
How I write for design
My writing-first design process: start by documenting what you know versus what you don't, then let the words guide your exploration.
The power of product principles
Product principles are your guiding light through complexity. Real examples from Zabka and Summer Health show how they shape decisions.
Unreasonable hospitality
Will Guidara's restaurant book sparked more design inspiration than any UX book. Getting something in front of users fast matters.
The Importance of Kindness and Alignment in Building Exceptional Teams
Do good work and be a nice person. Great teams produce great work, and over time great work nurtures teams into exceptional ones.