Library
Reference
Quick-lookup cheat sheet — all 103 topics in one scrollable view.
Brain
UX Psychology
6 chapters · 44 topics
Perception
Gestalt ProximityHow spacing creates visual relationships
FullGestalt SimilarityHow visual consistency signals functional consistency
FullGestalt ContinuityHow alignment creates visual flow
FullGestalt ClosureHow the brain completes incomplete shapes
FullFigure/GroundHow we separate foreground from background
FullColor PerceptionWhy color alone is never enough
FullJakob's LawWhy users prefer familiar interfaces
FullAesthetic-Usability EffectWhy beautiful designs feel more usable
FullReading Is UnnaturalWhy reading requires deliberate effort and how UI design can support or hinder it
FullDecisions & Actions
Fitts's LawWhy bigger and closer targets are easier to hit
FullHick's LawWhy fewer choices lead to faster decisions
FullDoherty ThresholdWhy 400ms is the magic number
FullTesler's LawComplexity must live somewhere
FullPostel's LawBe liberal in what you accept
FullCognitive BiasesHow irrational thinking shapes decisions
FullApplying Psychological PrinciplesTranslating psychology into team design principles that guide daily decisions
FullDesign Ethics and ResponsibilityThe obligation that comes with using psychology to shape human behavior
FullAttention & Memory
Miller's LawThe limits of working memory
FullAttention BlindnessWhy users miss obvious things
FullRecognition vs. RecallWhy showing beats asking
FullVon Restorff EffectWhy distinctive items are remembered
FullPeak-End RuleHow peaks and endings shape memory
FullProgressive DisclosureRevealing complexity at the right time
FullFactors Affecting LearningWhy some UI patterns are learned quickly and others require repeated exposure
FullVisual Design
Patterns & Components
Communication
Stakeholder PerspectivesUnderstanding who you're talking to
FullFraming Design DecisionsConnecting design to goals
FullHandling FeedbackTurning critique into collaboration
FullBuilding CredibilityEarning trust over time
FullThe Designer as CommunicatorWhy communicating design decisions is as important as making them
FullReducing Cognitive Load in Design ReviewsHow to present designs so stakeholders can evaluate rather than react
FullAfter the MeetingThe work that happens after the room empties is often more important than the meeting itself
FullRecovering from DisasterHow to handle rejected designs, failed meetings, and stakeholder conflicts
FullWorking With DesignersHow non-designers can get the best from design collaborations
FullDesigning for VisionUsing design to cast a vision for the future — and why this makes designers uniquely powerful
Full🧩
Design Systems
8 chapters · 19 topics
Foundations
What Is a Design SystemInterconnected patterns and shared practices that serve a product's purpose
FullBenefits of Design SystemsSpeed, consistency, and collaboration gains from systematized design
FullWhat Makes Design Systems EffectiveKey traits that distinguish successful systems from abandoned ones
FullDesign Principles
What Are Design PrinciplesShared guidelines that capture what good design means for your team
FullQualities of Effective PrinciplesWhat distinguishes principles that guide decisions from ones that gather dust
FullCreating Design PrinciplesA collaborative process for discovering principles grounded in real work
FullFunctional Patterns
What Are Functional PatternsPatterns defined by what users can do, not how they look
FullDefining Pattern StructureDocumenting content hierarchy before visual design to align design and code
FullPattern Variations and Visual HierarchyUsing a loudness scale to organize variations and prevent visual competition
FullPerceptual Patterns
Shared Language
Parameters of Your System
Planning and Practicalities
🎨
Designing Brand Identity
6 chapters · 18 topics
Brand Basics
Brand Ideals
DifferentiationCreating a brand position that is distinct, ownable, and relevant
FullAuthenticity and CoherenceBuilding brands that deliver on their promise consistently across every touchpoint
FullBrand Value and InvestmentUnderstanding brand as a measurable business asset that compounds over time
FullBrand LongevityDurability through commitment to a central idea — not through chasing trends
FullBrand Elements
Brandmarks and Logo TypesThe taxonomy of mark types and how to choose the right one
FullColor and Typography in Brand IdentityHow color and type carry brand personality and build recognition
FullIconography and PatternBuilding a consistent icon system that extends brand identity into UI and communications
FullSound, Motion, and Other SensesHow brands extend identity beyond the visual into sound, motion, touch, and scent
FullBrand Process
Brand Management
Brand in Context
Organizational Culture and BrandBuilding brand from the inside out — culture as the operating system of brand
FullMessaging, Voice, and Brand GovernanceHow verbal identity and governance systems keep brands coherent at scale
FullBrand in the Digital AgeAI, sustainability, longevity — how modern forces reshape brand identity practice
Full✏️
Practical UI
5 chapters · 10 topics
Fundamentals
Less Is More
Color
Layout and Spacing
🎨
Interaction of Color
6 chapters · 12 topics