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The prototyping scene is changing rapidly, so we’re covering 2 sections on prototyping this issue (#13). There are 3 sections in total:

5 new tools on the radar
5 great reads from the publication
5 on prototyping

🎁🎉 Also, since we come across so many articles every day, we’ve made an app for discovering the best daily design news and inspiration — check it out!

Useful tools and plugins this week:

1. Introducing Sizzy — a Tool for Developing Responsive Websites Crazy-Fast

Kitze runs us through Sizzy — an app he made to preview multiple screen sizes at once as you work. The Sizzy chrome plugin is available too, give it a go!

Introducing Sizzy — a Tool for Developing Responsive Websites Crazy-Fast

2. Introducing Launchpad for Sketch

Anima App make it possible to publish websites directly from Sketch, without any coding! 💯

Introducing Launchpad for Sketch

3. Free online converter from PSD to Sketch

Avocode release a beta app to enable us to turn Photoshop designs into a fully layered Sketch files. “For free. For real.”

Free online converter from PSD to Sketch (Image by Filip Greš)

4. Sketch Confetti

Define your grid in vertical columns and horizontal rows, and get the perfect layout of shapes to produce gorgeous confetti — by Yummygum.

Sketch Confetti (Image from Dribbble)

5. IconFlower — Sketchapp Plugin

Avadh Dwivedi released a Sketch plugin that arranges icons into formations similar to the petal arrangement pattern in sunflowers.

IconFlower — Sketchapp Plugin

Here’s 5 interesting reads from the publication:

1. Mobile First, Desktop Worst

Oliver Brooks explains why using mobile patterns on desktop devices doesn’t always work. He explores how difficult it is to deliver identical experiences across various devices and contexts.

Mobile First, Desktop Worst

2. Why Writing Is the Most Important Skill in Design.

Yazin Akkawi tells us why companies need designers that are writers and storytellers, both now and in the near future.

Why Writing Is the Most Important Skill in Design.

3. Complexion Reduction & Apple’s New User Interface

Philip Joyce, designer at Mastercard, explains why iOS 11 needs to unify Apple’s User Interface.

Complexion Reduction & Apple’s New User Interface

4. Interviewing designers? Don’t give them homework

Isabela Carvalho gives us her response to last week’s article, ‘The Surefire Way to NOT Hire Good Designers’.

Interviewing designers? For God’s sake, don’t give them homework

5. Icon or label?

Adrian Narloch explores when it’s best to use labels or icons on a UI, concluding that combining both is also a good option.

Icon or label?

More news from the prototyping tools we love:

1. Creating and Maintaining the Marvel Style Guide in Sketch

Yavor Punchev takes us through the process of building and maintaining a style guide in Sketch.

Creating and Maintaining the Marvel Style Guide in Sketch

2. Why Every Project Should be a Design Systems Project

How the team at EA use Framer to prototype User Interfaces for games, by Emil Widlund.

Designing & building UI-prototypes tailored for gamepad environments

3. Sketching with React-SketchApp

Eder Rengifo gives advice on using Airbnb’s React-SketchApp through using it himself.

Sketching with React-SketchApp

4. Design a mobile micro-interaction with Principle

Jarryd Wafer takes us through a step by step guide to get started with Principle for Mac — from an idea to a finished prototype.

Design a mobile micro-interaction with Principle

5. InVision acquires TrackDuck

Invision use their large budget to acquire Trackduck for better integration with Atlassian products.

InVision picks up TrackDuck to better integrate with Atlassian products

More great articles that are well worth your time:

By Suzanne Xie:

Introducing Lightwell…and the Future of Interactive App Creation
Koncept – Usability testing on real users | High-fidelity application prototypes

By Claudia Reynders:

How flexible and remote work improved my life
CSS Grid and Grid Inspector in Firefox

By Marc Hemeon:

How to not suck at design, a 5 minute guide for the non-designer.

By Jessica Chen:

Meetup: A Usability Case Study

By Taylor Palmer:

Real Data Prototyping using Framer and Lists.design

By Designlab:

11 Tips For Building Great Color Palettes

By Bert Brautigam:

The New Skeuomorphism is in Your Voice Assistant

By Vlad Kamelsky:

Don’t mess up your grid like Medium

By Marc Andrew:

Want to be a better UI Designer? Stop comparing yourself to others

By Elliot Soren:

The Evolution Process From A Junior Level Designer To Becoming A Design Lead

Tinycards by Duolingo

By Grace Gadston:

Top 10 scenarios for UX/UI Resources

By Dan Nessler:

How to nail user interviews in a UX, HCD or Design Thinking process – full guide

By Flip Script Media:

What the f*ck is UX Writing?

By Appsee:

Why users quit apps and never come back

👋 Thanks for reading

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💎 5 New Tools on the Prototyping Radar was originally published in Prototyping: From UX to Front End on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

5 New Tools on the Prototyping Radar

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