Toptal Design Blog

The Toptal Design Blog is a hub for advanced design studies by professional designers in the Toptal network on all facets of digital design, ranging from detailed design tutorials to in-depth coverage of new design trends, techniques, and technologies.

authors are vetted experts in their fields and write on topics in which they have demonstrated experience. All of our content is peer reviewed and validated by Toptal experts in the same field.

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authors are vetted experts in their fields and write on topics in which they have demonstrated experience. All of our content is peer reviewed and validated by Toptal experts in the same field.

How to Increase Output and Innovation by Hiring Freelance Designers

Freelance designers bring diverse skills and perspectives to projects that help clients achieve business goals without exceeding their budgets.

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Daniel de Paola

Daniel is a UI/UX designer with more than 15 years of experience specializing in mobile apps for fintech, real estate, and SaaS companies. He has partnered with clients such as Royal Bank of Canada, Xello, and Rocket Homes Real Estate as a lead designer, senior product designer, and UI mentor.

Elegant Healthcare UX: A Missing Piece in Medical Product Design (With Infographic)

Medical products with poor usability could harm patients and increase healthcare company costs. Prioritize usability, accessibility, and the patient experience to design effective devices.

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Yegor Tsynkevich

Yegor is a product designer with expertise in building practical, user-centered solutions. He has worked as a product manager and UX director on innovative projects such as the phone repair service iCracked (acquired by Allstate) and a pill management device later acquired by Stanley Black & Decker. Other clients have included Polaroid, DuPont Tate & Lyle, and multiple medtech startups.

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AI in Design: Experts Discuss Practical Applications, Ethics, and What’s Coming Next

In this wide-ranging Q&A, two Toptal designers delve into the influence of generative AI on design and its implications for creative thinking, user research, and entry-level designers.

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Darrell Estabrook

Darrell is a UX designer with more than 25 years of experience designing highly complex apps for companies such as IBM, CSX, and CarMax. His redesign for the IBM Maximo mobile app won the 2021 Gold Spark Design Award for product design.

Pragmatic Pixel Perfection: A Manifesto for Balancing Design Quality and Speed

Product teams face a dilemma: Achieving pixel-perfect design requires significant time and resources, but rushing to launch can result in mediocre products. This UI guide explains how to design excellent products while balancing quality and speed.

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Damir Kotorić

Damir is a digital designer who has created payments systems at Booking.com, open-data portals for Australian state governments, and the search experience at Envato Market. He has also facilitated design sprint workshops at Harvard University, been a lead UX instructor at General Assembly, and led AR/VR design at Archimedes Digital.

Swipe Right: 3 Ways to Boost Safety in Dating App Design

Designers can create safer dating app UX through robust ID verification methods, reporting tools, and design features that clarify consent.

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Kate Margolis

Kate is a digital product designer and UX/UI consultant who specializes in user-centered design and user research. She has partnered with companies such as Hertz, Jaguar Land Rover, and the dating app Thursday.

Designing for Tomorrow: Addressing UI Challenges in Emerging Interfaces (With Infographic)

Seasoned design experts offer insights into the latest UI trends—and provide tips for overcoming design challenges for emerging interfaces like augmented and virtual reality, voice and gesture control, and haptic feedback.

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Christopher Holloway

Christopher is a Senior Writer at Toptal with 13 years of experience researching and writing about how technology transforms sectors like banking, business, manufacturing, and healthcare. He was previously the business and technology editor at AméricaEconomíca and has developed content for Sony Pictures, Johnson & Johnson, Mini, and LATAM Airlines.

Why Design Teams Need Psychological Safety

What is psychological safety, and why do your designers need it? Digital designer Alejandro Velasco explains how to create a workplace environment that increases creativity, productivity, and talent retention.

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Alejandro Velasco

Alejandro is a digital product designer specializing in user-centered design, UI/UX, and developing visual and interaction languages. He operated as the senior designer on projects with New Relic, Telefónica, and Personio. Alejandro has a master’s degree in industrial and product design from the Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan.

Toptal Design Expert

Osandi Sekoú Robinson

Osandi spearheads multifaceted roles encompassing product design, research, content, and operations at Poised Design & Ventures. His central focus revolves around nurturing human potential, serving as a cornerstone in the creation of products and organizational cultures that catalyze individuals to achieve their utmost excellence. Complementing this dedication, Osandi channels his fervor into mentorship and guidance for aspiring designers.