Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown
I wrote up my experience building a backyard office because I wish I had come across more articles like this when planning my build. I hope this post helps you
Kyle Lambert’s Writing
I am a product designer who writes about design, tech, work, and life.
Latest posts
Everyone is designing with AI, not for it
We focus on how people are designing and building with AI. I rarely read about how AI is changing “what” people are designing and building.
My pack
AI prototyping pitfalls for product designers
As tech rapidly shifts, it only makes sense that how we show up as designers needs to change too. For years, we held on to clean, linear process...
How to disable audio recordings in messages?
Somehow I accidentally enabled a mode that adds an audio recording shortcut into the Messages App text field. There isn't an obvious way to remove it and for...
Leave it better than you found it. Product development.
"Leave it better than you found it" is a common principle in camping and hiking, encouraging people to clean up after themselves and even improve the space...
Extending the cursor
The cursor has transformed from a simple pointing device into a powerful tool for enhancing user interaction and providing contextual feedback.
2024 Year in review
I know 2025 is just a date, just a number. Nothing will miraculously change when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, 2025. But I am ready.
Where did all the design grids go?
Grid systems provide structure and organization that benefit both designers and consumers. They help establish clear visual hierarchy by...
Getting buy-in for design-led projects
As designers, we excel at crafting concepts and telling compelling stories. But it can be deeply frustrating when our ideas rarely gain traction.
Goodbye good boy
Saying goodbye to our sweet dog
My 2023 Year In Review
I started doing a year-in-review a couple of years ago. This habit lets me reflect on the highs and process lows of the year and change for next year.
Leaning into Business as In-House Designers
Who has the credentials to deliver design feedback?
Observing reviews and critiques has led me to believe that executing and delivering feedback are very different skill sets.
Defining your own “success”
We live in a world of comparison. We scroll through social feeds coveting other people’s highlights. We question our lives. Why don’t I have that?
I miss iPhone’s Home button
There is no doubt my new phone is better. The performance, the screen real estate, and the camera were all significant improvements. But...
Is AI and Chat GPT going to take my design job?
Job insecurity, mixed with the accelerated rise of Chat GPT, Large Language Models, and AI technology, has left many a question: Am I going to be replaced?
Today’s design influencer: quick tips get hits
“10 Figma tips to make you a 10x designer: Read my thread 🧵” We have all seen these posts. They provide helpful tips and shortcuts for design tools.
My brain struggles with a tidy process
This post is for all the folks who feel the pressure the way they work into a tidy system but struggle when they do.
Our digital clutter is costing us
Growing up, if you took a picture, it “counted.” Every photograph snapped directly correlated to film processing and darkroom costs.
2022 year in review
To say 2022 was the most life-changing year of my life would be an understatement. This was the year I became a father, and it changed everything.
My experience with a month on Mastodon
Last month I removed Twitter from my phone. Instead, I experimented with using Mastodon as my primary source of connection.
The indie web, a supplement for social media disappointment
Growing up in rural Vermont, I had great friends, but I never quite 'fit in.' Then I discovered the internet, online forums, and AOL Instant Messenger...
Writing blog posts quickly
A lot of people have the desire to write and share their knowledge. But, unfortunately, that desire only sometimes pans out in actual writing.
Driving clarity with design artifacts
Designers can get sucked into pixels and focus on the end solution. But we have a great asset: The skill to visualize.
Product designers, meet your new friend, HCI
If you haven’t met, I want to introduce you to a field of study that many designers may not know well. Product Designers, I’d like to introduce you to HCI.
Where’s the button? Designing for mode confusion
Mode changes are confusion points for many of us. These could be mundane acts like typing with the caps lock key on (seriously, who needs that key?).
Reasons to keep writing even when no one shows up
I’ve always wanted to be a designer who writes helpful content and often publish to my site. In my experience, writing hasn’t been an easy habit to form.
“It’s a rebuilding year”
A rebuilding year happens when a key player(s) or coach leaves an origination. When this happens, the expectations are lowered for the following year.
What to do when you’ve been laid off
There are terrible ways to get laid off and “better” ways, but there is no “good” way. Layoffs are disruptive at best. Every layoff will bring grief and trials.
More than making rectangles
I remember the first time I opened Microsoft Paint and created something on a computer. Drawing something digitally captured me. I spent hours illustrating Ninj
I’m a new working parent: What I want others to know
This post isn’t meant an ask to solve the lives of working parents or even be a pity party for us. Instead, it is intended to give you a glimpse into our world.
Product designers, it’s time to start prototyping
Sales teams use slide decks to pitch ideas. Designers use prototypes to pitch ideas. These prototypes communicate solutions, create assets for engineering...
Stability in tech isn’t a thing.
There has been one constant in working in tech for over a decade. Change. Learn to navigate change.
Webflow’s weekly Figma Jam session
The focus of the sessions can be feature ideas, design problems, or blue sky sessions. There aren’t any rules other than to keep it focused on our team.
When information paralyzes us
We live in the information age, and I don't know about you, but my mind hasn't evolved enough to parse out all the information I receive in one day.
Comparison is the enemy
I am a work in progress. I want to say I have conquered comparison. I have not. But I want to put my best foot forward to prevent comparison from hurting my...
Opinionated software
Opinionated menus are like opinionated software. The menu may not serve something for everyone, but the people who love it will be the biggest fans.
Innovation demands space and time
Often there isn’t space allocated in project timelines for ‘taping’ or the prep work. The expectation is for designers to develop a viable solution quickly.
How I made a no-code ‘app’ to track my happiness at work
When you spend 40 hours a week at work, you want to enjoy your job. But countless things are vying for your time & energy. So I made a no-code app to track...
Ditch the big reveals and share design work early
Waiting weeks to share our design work can slow projects down and reduce the quality of work. This article will walk us through how to share early and often.
Record Loom videos people actually watch
Remote work is now a cornerstone of the workplace, and working remotely without clear communication is a nightmare. How do you level up the self-assessed 10/10?
What if?
Questions in our heads.
Heads-down time doesn't equal productivity
When I'm banging my head against the wall and getting nowhere when trying to solve a problem, articulate an idea the most productive thing isn't trying harder.
Kyle Lambert's 2021 in review
Time is strange "the days are long, but the years are short." Sometimes it is hard to orient yourself. Reflecting on time helps me find footing in what has been
No decision is a decision
No decision is a decision, and a poor one at that. In my experience, indecision leads to worse outcomes than the wrong decision.
How to have fun with your remote team
Recent studies have shown that loneliness can directly impact performance. Making work 'fun' can seem cute, but it can impact the company's bottom line.
Why products don’t always implement your feature requests.
If you’ve ever worked on a complex product with dependencies or legacy systems, your heart beats faster when you hear customers say: ‘just do this’
Accessibility matters, designing the internet for everyone
Accessibility can feel like a challenging subject to dive into, but it is time to learn.
We can’t all be All-Stars, but we don't need to be
Robert Horry was a great basketball player even though he was never an All-Star or an MVP. What does that mean for your career?