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Google 将不同的参与者带入实验室，让他们与 Material 3 Expressive 和当前 Material 3 版本的 10 款不同应用程序进行交互，且进行了随机排序。参与者发现，使用采用表达性设计的界面，他们能够以最高 4 倍的速度找到关键的用户界面元素，这表明这些设计能够迅速将用户的注意力引导到屏幕上的重要区域。
如果你想体验看看类似的工作流程，可以试试看前两天推出的Google Gemini 免费 AI 修图！只要「一句话」，你就能改变图片，换背景、改风格、添加新元素，甚至创造连续漫画。 〔类似功能，在 Google Pixel 系列手机的 Google 相册中也能部分实现，Adobe、Canva 等的 AI 修图也能实现部分功能。〕
这篇文章，我会实测 Gemini 的 AI 修图能力〔而且免费即可使用〕，看看它怎么帮助我们「一句话变出想要的修图效果」！
Aux Machina 是一款由人工智能 AI 技术驱动的图片生成工具，协助设计师、运营人员和内容创作者快速、轻松地创建设置视觉内容，以往常见的图片生成器大多使用提示词〔Prompt〕来描述要生成的图片，Aux Machina 提供用户上传图片来制作类似结果，再利用文字描述对生成后的图片进行微调，最终生成令人惊叹的视觉效果。
Aux Machina 将这样的流程简化，直接上传图片后就可以快速生成四张相似、但又不太一样的结果。此外，也能够以关键词查找网络上的图片，再将它加入 Aux Machina 以生成近似的图片。
Aux Machina 在操作上也很容易，用户必须先注册账户〔免费〕，就能在免费试用方案下生成图片，每月最高的生成数量为 100 张图片，可使用于商业用途，若有更多生成需求可付费升级 Pro 方案或购买单次付费，不过当前服务的计价方式尚未很完整，有兴趣的朋友就先去试玩一下吧！
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进入 Aux Machina 网站后点击右上角「Try for Free」，接着会看到注册、登入页面，推荐直接使用 Google 或是 Facebook 账户注册登入即可，完全不用经过任何验证。
关键词查找图片
登入后就会看到 AI 图片生成工具，先介绍第一种方法，直接输入关键词查找网络上的图片〔下方有 AI 图片生成器服务列表，不过在免费方案只能使用 Berserq 无法选择其他服务〕。
你是否因为不会写程序，总觉得无法打造自己的自动化工作流程？每次设置 AI 工具都需要大量手动操作，效率难以提升？试试看一个实验性的新工具：「tldraw computer」，通过直觉的流程图设计，就能将繁琐 AI 指令与工作流程视觉化，打造高效率的 AI 自动化系统！
一开始使用 AI 〔指得是 ChatGPT、 Google Gemini 这类工具〕，我们可能会问：「生成一个某某主题的报告。」但当继续深入使用，真的把 AI 当作工作辅助工具，就会发现这样简单的提问是不行的，我们需要把任务「切割成」不同步骤，一个阶段一个阶段让 AI 处理，然后通过反问讨论，整合出最终更好的内容。
这时候，我们要请 AI 生成报告草稿，可能会先请 AI 设置 TA、痛点，再请 AI 做资料研究、摘要，然后请 AI 根据资料思考出更好的报告论述逻辑，然后才请 AI 根据这样的逻辑与资料，最后总结出一个更深入的报告大纲。
那么，如果上述的操作流程，可以用「视觉化」的流程图规划出来，然后 AI 就会自动跑完所有流程，生出我们需要的成果呢？这就是今天分享的这个最新 AI 工具：「tldraw computer」所具备的独特功能。
「 tldraw 」是很知名且好用的在线流程图工具，不过她们最新推出的「 tldraw computer 」AI 功能，不是要帮我们画流程图，而是让我们用简单好上手的流程图，规划出自己想要的 AI 自动化工作流程，打造一个可以根据更复杂逻辑生成报告、文章、设计图、声音文件的 AI 自动化助手。
「tldraw computer」内核特色：
「tldraw computer」用途：
我们先来看看「tldraw computer」这个工具可以完成什么样的应用案例，分享一个简单版实例：我自己常常会需要把拍照扫描的纸张图片，转换成一个有效的文字内容，就利用这个工具来建立一个快速扫描与修正文字的 AI 工具。
我可以在「tldraw computer」流程图上设置一个上传图片的卡片框，然后拉一条连接线。接着在一个 AI 的指令框框里，输入我希望用什么样的逻辑来识别图片并修饰文字。然后接下来我再拉一条连接线，设置一个输出的文字框，让 AI 可以把完成的结果输出到这里。
另一种方式是让大模型获得本地管理员级别处理权限，帮助我们自动处理本地数据。之前我 给你介绍过的 Open Interpreter 就属于这种方式。看起来非常方便、灵活，但 AI 代理在本地以管理员权限进行各种操作，看到所有文件。如果它被植入不安全的代码，控制你的计算机，可能导致隐私和重要数据泄露，后果严重性不言而喻。
为解决上述两种极端数据交互方式带来的问题，Claude 提供了 MCP 作为一种解决方案。作为协议，它是完全开放的。后续其他主流 AI 企业能否跟进，咱们说不准。但是现在就可以用 Claude 来体验一下 MCP 带来的数据交互好处。
问题:“解释气候变化和全球变暖之间的区别。” Google 的响应来自 Gemini，概述了气候变化和全球变暖，并将其包裹在一个简短的段落中。从那里，我可以向下滚动并搜索一些来自 NASA、USGS.gov 甚至 Quora 的链接。显然，算法优先考虑流行和权威的来源，但它也是以广告驱动的，这意味着顶部结果有时包括我看到的来自联合利华的赞助内容。此外，对于复杂的主题，我发现自己需要浏览多个链接才能拼凑出完整的答案。
ChatGPT 提供了直接的答案，从网络中提取经过验证的信息，然后添加了一个可点击的「来源」图标。这个功能减少了我在 Google 搜索中从多个网站收集信息的时间。在这个搜索和其他搜索中，ChatGPT 的总结对于一般查询甚至更详细的主题都是准确的，其设计允许更干净、更加集中的体验。（不过，请记住，广告可能会在未来出现。）
Google 提供了如此多不同的答案，我甚至不知道该从哪里开始。从 Gemini 的响应到侧边栏，再到下面的链接结果，整个体验极其杂乱——这是我在使用 ChatGPT Search 时从未注意到的。此外，Google 的广告模式意味着用户数据通常被用来提供个性化广告。虽然 Google 有广泛的隐私政策和设置，但其广告驱动的方法可能导致不总是优先考虑用户隐私的定向内容。
Google 我说的就是我说的，Google。在纠正我输入「What's」而不是「What is」后，Google 给我回应了一些链接，所有这些链接都是赞助的，我需要点击才能找到电视。在得到这个回应后，我感觉我需要再次问它以帮助缩小范围。然而，在赞助链接下，还有来自内容发布者的链接。
ChatGPT 为我缩小了范围，包含了图像，并给出了我想要的答案。AI 确实感觉像是一个朋友，提供有价值的信息。每个电视图像旁边都有一段介绍，提供关于每个电视的信息。与 Google 相比，这种设计感觉更加干净和简洁。此外，对话格式直观，我可以滚动浏览推荐，而不需要像在 Google 搜索中那样需要浏览多个链接。
Recently, I heard that Coursera has a UX design course developed by Google’s design team. This course covers the entire design process and teaches us how to present our portfolio, prepare interviews, and the like.
It is necessary to enroll in this course even though it is designed primarily for beginners and fresh graduates. It would enhance my English skills on one hand, and deepen my understanding of Western design practices and culture on the other. Since the term “UX design” is called out by Western designers and I am eager to compare Western design cultures with those I’ve experienced in China.
So I enrolled in this online course, trying to spare my time on it. Such as during lunch and dinner breaks on weekdays, or parts of the weekend. I completed the whole certificate within two months. And now I’d like to write down what I learned from this course:
Introducing concepts I had never heard of. Despite my 5+ yoe in a wide range of companies, from startups to large corporations in China, those new concepts opened up a lot of room for me to explore.
Enhancing my listening and reading skills. The course covers plenty of video and reading materials that include industry jargon that translators cannot provide. Moreover, certain phrases and sentence structures are repeatedly used throughout the course. I think my reading skills and speed are slightly improved.
Pointing out concepts like accessibility and equity early throughout the course. I used to think only seasoned designers or well-developed products consider these aspects, however, they are mentioned early on and repeatedly. These concepts resonated with me and will truly influence my work.
Elaborating comprehensive and detailed guidance for designers to prepare their portfolios, resumes, and interviews. They not only tell us what content should be included in our portfolios, but also how to prepare for interviews at different stages. I resonated with these instructions as well, since I did think those details over when looking for a new job.
I have consistently tried to think about and expand design boundaries through different aspects, which requires a breadth of knowledge. Here, I will share several new concepts along with my personal understanding.
Affinity diagram
This is a method of synthesizing that organizes data into groups with common themes or relationships. It can be used in different stages of the design process, such as during brainstorming or after collecting users feedback. The example below focuses on the latter.
After collecting a batch of user feedback, the design team condense each piece of feedback into a single sentence and write it on sticky notes. Then we post them up on a whiteboard or digital tools like Figma. Then the design team look for sticky notes that reference similar ideas, issues, or functionality and collaboratively organizes them into clusters representing different themes.
When I first learned about this approach in the course, I realized that this approach is similar to another method called “Card sorting” that was included in an article I translated earlier named [English to Chinese Translation] How we rebuilt Shopify’s developer docs. Both methods involve clustering sticky notes, naming these groups and summarizing the themes or relationships.
However, card sorting is implemented by external participants and aims to uncover users’ mental models to improve information architecture; Whereas affinity diagramming organizes a large amount of raw data to show the team which problems users are most concerned about and consider high priority.
This concept refers to an individual’s ability to gather, communicate, and create content using digital products and the internet. For example, senior adults or those living in areas with poor internet infrastructure may find it difficult to understand interfaces and functionalities, they are considered to have lower digital literacy.
In contrast, young people, especially those working in the information technology industries, are typically familiar with new software and concepts, and can quickly adapt to them.
This course does not dig deeply into this concept, rather, it emphasizes the importance of understanding our users. If our product targets a broad range of users, it is good to consider the needs of users with lower digital literacy. Moreover, this factor should also be considered when recruiting participants for usability tests.
This concept refers to a group of UX methods that trick users into doing or buying something they wouldn’t otherwise have done or bought.
In the course, instructors clearly point out that this is an unethical and not a good practice. Businesses may lose their clients’ respect and trust once clients realize that they have fallen into deceptive patterns. I will share a few interesting examples that the course provided.
Confirmshaming: Making users feel ashamed of their decision. For example, a subscribe button on a news website usually reads “Subscribe now / No thanks”. BBut if the service provider wants to manipulate readers’ emotions, the text might be changed to: “Subscribe now / No, I don’t care about things around me.”
Urgency: Pushing users to make a decision within a limited time. For example, an e-commerce website might give you a coupon that is only available for 24 hours, prompting you to purchase items without a thoughtful consideration. The course doesn’t judge these marketing strategies or promotions; instead, it suggests that we should avoid putting pressure on users. As designers, we should try our best to balance business promotions and avoid manipulating users’ emotions.
Scarcity: Making users very aware of the limited number of items. For example, a popup or attractive advertisement stating “Only 5 items left in stock.” The course suggests that designers should concentrate on helping users to understand products better, rather than using designs to encourage impulsive buying.
It is really interesting that these deceptive patterns are so common in the Chinese e-commerce industry that it might seem unusual if those strategies were to disappear.
This seems to reflect cultural differences between China and the West. In China, core team members, such as designers, product managers, and operators, collaboratively discuss how to induce and prompt users to make a hasty decision. Also, we regularly hold reflections to discuss and share insights on how to deeply incite users’ motivation.
In 2018, I landed my first job as a UI designer at an e-commerce company. One of my main tasks is designing promotions, such as “claim your vouchers”, “flash sales ending in N hours”, and creating illustrations of red pockets and flying coins, and the like. I didn’t really like these approaches at that time, so I eventually turned to the B2B and SaaS industry, focusing more on UX design.
Although I am not fond of these types of designs, these seem to really help companies grow and generate income. We could stabilize our employment only if our company were earning profits. Perhaps that is an inextricable cycle: obviously, deceptive patterns are unethical and bad as they are inducing and annoying our users, but we must continuously implement these approaches and think about how to make them more effective.
The course thoroughly explains a concept called “implicit bias”. It refers to the collection of attitudes and stereotypes associated, influencing our understanding of and decisions for a specific group of people.
For example, imagine you’re designing an app to help parents buy childcare. To personalize your onboarding process, you start by displaying bold text saying, “Welcome, moms. We’re here to help you…”
This is an example of implicit bias, since it excludes every other type of caregiver, like grandparents, guardians, dads and others.
In addition, here are some interesting biases the course introduced:
Confirmation bias. Refers to the tendency to find evidence that supports people’s assumptions when gathering and analyzing information.
Friendliness bias. Refers to the tendency to give more desirable answers or positive comments in order to please interviewers. This usually occurs in usability tests, where participants may not share their honest feedback because they are afraid that real answers or negative comments might offend interviewers and be considered unfriendly.
False-consensus bias. Refers to the tendency that people tend to believe that their personal views or behaviors are more widely accepted than they actually are, and consider others’ opinions to be minor or marginal. For example, an optimist might think that most people around the world are optimistic; or designers can easily understand iconographies and illustrations they created, they might assume other users might easily to understand too.
I was shocked when I was learning this part. I strongly resonated with these biases which I had never perceived before. After all, the course lets us be aware of these biases and provides approaches to help us avoid falling into these pitfalls.
I listed some concepts above that I had barely encountered in my workspace. Becoming a UX designer appears to require a broad range of knowledge, such as design, the humanities, psychology, and sociology. I am now interested in psychology after completing this course.
Listening and Reading Proficiency
There are plenty of listening and reading materials involved in the course. Typically, each video lesson is accompanied by an article. If there are additional knowledge points, a single video might be accompanied by two or three articles.
Most instructors in the course speak with American accents. They also speak slowly and clearly, which makes me comfortable and usually allows me to understand without opening closed caption. Sometimes, I need to rewind a few seconds when they are speaking long sentences with many clauses or introducing new concepts, and I will open closed captions if I am still confused.
It is worth pointing out that the course contains lots of industry jargon, and I resonated with this because I used similar approaches or processes in my workspace by using Chinese. As a learner, I created a spreadsheet to record expressions that might be useful, such as:
Above the fold, the content on a web page that doesn’t require scrolling to experience;
Deliverable, final products like mockups or documents that can be handed over to clients or developers to bring designs to life.
Digital real estate, space within the digital interface where designers can arrange visual elements;
Firm parameters, refer to rigid design boundaries or limitations like time, project resources, and budget.
I think it is valuable to collect this industry jargon because it is authentically expressed, which can’t be translated by common translation tools. This will be helpful for me to read design articles and write blogs in English.
Accessibility and Equity
Accessibility
The course introduces several assistive technologies, such as color modification, voice control, switch devices, and screen readers, which can help people with different types of disabilities to use our products easily.
Instructors also point out that even people who don’t have disabilities, or who do not perceive themselves as having disabilities might benefit from these assistive technologies. The course suggests that we think these factors over throughout the entire design process. For instance:
Supporting color modification. Features that increase the contrast of colors on a screen, like high-contrast mode or dark mode;
Supporting voice control. Allows users to navigate and interact with the elements on their devices using only their voice. They also mention a concept called “Voice User Interface (VUI)”;
Supporting switch devices. This is a one-button device that functions as an alternative to conventional input methods such as the keyboard, mouse, and touch, allowing users to complete common tasks like browsing webpages and typing text;
Supporting screen readers. Allows users with vision impairment to perceive the content. The course suggests that we write alternative text to images, add appropriate aria labels to interactive elements like buttons, and consider the focus order of elements.
Here is a website that demonstrates the color modification feature:HubSpot.com
On the top navigation of this website, it provides a switch for us to toggle a high-contrast mode. Moreover, it also supports reduced motion effects — if I enable the reduced motion setting on my device, this website will minimize motion effects as much as possible.
Equity
The course also introduces a concept called “equity-focused design.”
Instructors clearly define the difference between “equality” and “equity”:
Equality: Providing the same amount of opportunity and support, everyone receives the same thing;
Equity: Providing different amount of opportunity and support according to individual circumstances, ensuring everyone can achieve the same outcomes.
The course also points out that equity-focused design means considering all races, genders, and abilities, especially focusing on groups that have been historically underrepresented or ignored when building products.
They use a survey question as an example: when gathering participants’ demographic information like gender, it is not enough to provide three options: “Male”, “Female” and “Other”. To make our design more inclusive and equitable, we should offer additional choices, including “Male”, “Female”, “Gender-nonconforming”, “nonbinary” and a blank field. The latter provides non-conventional gender options, uplifting those who might be marginalized in conventional surveys. This approach also aims to balance the opportunities for all groups to express themselves, ensuring their voices are treated fairly and heard.
In this lesson, I clearly faced a culture gap from the West. In fact, I don’t really like to dig into this concept deeply, mainly because I can’t determine whether this approach is right. Sometimes I think it is unnecessarily complicated, but at other times, I recognize that there are people with non-traditional genders around us who may truly be eager to be treated fairly.
When I was learning this lesson, I realized that there was an opportunity to incorporate accessibility features into the project I was recently working on. I will write a new post if this project lands successfully.
In the final course, instructors teach us how to lay out a portfolio and what content should be included. They also inform us the process of interviews and how to thoroughly prepare for interviews.
The guidance they mentioned is for the Western workplace, which may not seamlessly fit in the Chinese workplace. For example:
They point out that designers should have a personal website and case studies regularly. However, Chinese designers prefer to publish their case studies on public platforms like ZCOOL and UI.CN;
They also teach us how to build our digital presence and network through LinkedIn. However, these approaches are not common in the Chinese job market, where the most popular methods are directly submitting resumes and getting recommendations through acquaintances.
They inform us how to handle panel interviews. I have interviewed with a wide range of companies, from startups to corporations, and never encountered panel interviews, which means that the panel interview is not popular in this industry.
I was deeply impressed by how they elaborated on the preparation and important considerations during the interview process. For example:
Research the main business of the company you interview for beforehand, and clearly understand why you are a good fit for the company;
Prepare answers to common interview questions beforehand, such as a personal introduction, your strengths, and descriptions of your case studies;
We should learn how to answer difficult questions using the STAR method, and prepare well before starting an interview;
Adapt the focus and questions according to the interviewer’s role to show you are a professional;
During the interview process, you might be asked to complete a task. Therefore, we should practice the ability to think aloud and clearly define questions, since interviewers might pose vague questions on purpose.
I resonated with the approaches and tricks mentioned in the course that I had previously used, which gave me a strong feeling that I was on the right track.
Additionally, the course also provides detailed instructions on how to pursue freelance design work. For instance:
Clearly identify your target audience and understand why they should choose your service;
Know your competitors, identifying what they can’t provide but you can;
Promote your service and build word-of-mouth by attending online and in-person events, and getting recommended through acquaintances;
Calculate the business expenses, set fair prices for your services, and make financial projections — estimate what your finances will look like in the first month, the first 6 months, and the first year.
Well, above are lessons I’ve learned from the Google UX Design Professional Certificate on Coursera over the past two months. I think that this is an interesting course, although not all content can be applied in my daily work, I’ve also learned the thinking processes and workplace cultures of designers in another part of the world.
I strongly recommend designers reading this post consider to enrolling in the Google UX Design Professional Certificate, by doing this, you might probably gain new insights. The course costs $49 monthly, which is not expensive. It is likely to complete the entire course over two or three months if you have a full-time job.
Things worked as I expected, and I will start my next project in the second half of the year.
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