“Design used to be the seasoning you’d sprinkle on for taste. Now it’s the flour you need at the start of the recipe.’’

— John Maeda, Designer and Technologist

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Privacy Policy

This Privacy policy was published on March 1st, 2020.

GDPR compliance

At UX GIRL we are committed to protect and respect your privacy in compliance with EU - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016/679, dated April 27th, 2016. This privacy statement explains when and why we collect personal information, how we use it, the conditions under which we may disclose it to others and how we keep it secure. This Privacy Policy applies to the use of our services, products and our sales, but also marketing and client contract fulfilment activities. It also applies to individuals seeking a job at UX GIRL.

About UX GIRL

UX GIRL is a design studio firm that specialises in research, strategy and design and offers clients software design services. Our company is headquartered in Warsaw, Poland and you can get in touch with us by writing to hello@uxgirl.com.

When we collect personal data about you

When you interact with us in person – through correspondence, by phone, by social media, or through our uxgirl.com (“Site”).
When we get personal information from other legitimate sources, such as third-party data aggregators, UX GIRL marketing partners, public sources or social networks. We only use this data if you have given your consent to them to share your personal data with others.
We may collect personal data if it is considered to be of legitimate interest and if this interest is not overridden by your privacy interests. We make sure an assessment is made, with an established mutual interest between you and UX GIRL.
When you are using our products.

Why we collect and use personal data

We collect and use personal data mainly to perform direct sales, direct marketing, and customer service. We also collect data about partners and persons seeking a job or working in our company. We may use your information for the following purposes:

Send you marketing communications which you have requested. These may include information about our services, products, events, activities, and promotions of our partners. This communication is subscription based and requires your consent.
Send you information about the services and products that you have purchased from us.
Perform direct sales activities in cases where legitimate and mutual interest is established.
Provide you content and venue details on a webinar or event you signed up for.
Reply to a ‘Contact me’ or other web forms you have completed on our Site (e.g., to download an ebook).
Follow up on incoming requests (client support, emails, chats, or phone calls).
Perform contractual obligations such as invoices, reminders, and similar. The contract may be with UX GIRL directly or with a UX GIRL partner.
Notify you of any disruptions to our services.
Contact you to conduct surveys about your opinion on our services and products.
When we do a business deal or negotiate a business deal, involving sale or transfer of all or a part of our business or assets. These deals can include any merger, financing, acquisition, or bankruptcy transaction or proceeding.
Process a job application.
To comply with laws.
To respond to lawful requests and legal process.
To protect the rights and property of UX GIRL, our agents, customers, and others. Includes enforcing our agreements, policies, and terms of use.
In an emergency. Includes protecting the safety of our employees, our customers, or any person.

Type of personal data collected

We collect your email, full name and company’s name, but in addition, we can also collect phone numbers. We may also collect feedback, comments and questions received from you in service-related communication and activities, such as meetings, phone calls, chats, documents, and emails.

If you apply for a job at UX GIRL, we collect the data you provide during the application process. UX GIRL does not collect or process any particular categories of personal data, such as unique public identifiers or sensitive personal data.

Information we collect automatically

We automatically log information about you and your computer. For example, when visiting uxgirl.com, we log ‎your computer operating system type,‎ browser type,‎ browser language,‎ pages you viewed,‎ how long you spent on a page,‎ access times,‎ internet protocol (IP) address and information about your actions on our Site.

The use of cookies and web beacons

We may log information using "cookies." Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive by a website. Cookies help us make our Site and your visit better.

We may log information using digital images called web beacons on our Site or in our emails.

This information is used to make our Site work more efficiently, as well as to provide business and marketing information to the owners of the Site, and to gather such personal data as browser type and operating system, referring page, path through site, domain of ISP, etc. for the purposes of understanding how visitors use our Site. Cookies and similar technologies help us tailor our Site to your personal needs, as well as to detect and prevent security threats and abuse. If used alone, cookies and web beacons do not personally identify you.

How long we keep your data

We store personal data for as long as we find it necessary to fulfil the purpose for which the personal data was collected, while also considering our need to answer your queries or resolve possible problems. This helps us to comply with legal requirements under applicable laws, to attend to any legal claims/complaints, and for safeguarding purposes.

This means that we may retain your personal data for a reasonable period after your last interaction with us. When the personal data that we have collected is no longer required, we will delete it securely. We may process data for statistical purposes, but in such cases, data will be anonymised.

Your rights to your personal data

You have the following rights concerning your personal data:

The right to request a copy of your personal data that UX GIRL holds about you.
The right to request that UX GIRL correct your personal data if inaccurate or out of date.
The right to request that your personal data is deleted when it is no longer necessary for UX GIRL to retain such data.
The right to withdraw any consent to personal data processing at any time. For example, your consent to receive digital marketing messages. If you want to withdraw your consent for digital marketing messages, please make use of the link to manage your subscriptions included in our communication.
The right to request that UX GIRL provides you with your personal data.
The right to request a restriction on further data processing, in case there is a dispute about the accuracy or processing of your personal data.
The right to object to the processing of personal data, in case data processing has been based on legitimate interest and/or direct marketing.

Any query about your privacy rights should be sent to hello@uxgirl.com.

Hotjar’s privacy policy

We use Hotjar in order to better understand our users’ needs and to optimize this service and experience. Hotjar is a technology service that helps us better understand our users experience (e.g. how much time they spend on which pages, which links they choose to click, what users do and don’t like, etc.) and this enables us to build and maintain our service with user feedback. Hotjar uses cookies and other technologies to collect data on our users’ behavior and their devices (in particular device's IP address (captured and stored only in anonymized form), device screen size, device type (unique device identifiers), browser information, geographic location (country only), preferred language used to display our website). Hotjar stores this information in a pseudonymized user profile. Neither Hotjar nor we will ever use this information to identify individual users or to match it with further data on an individual user. For further details, please see Hotjar’s privacy policy by clicking on this link.

You can opt-out to the creation of a user profile, Hotjar’s storing of data about your usage of our site and Hotjar’s use of tracking cookies on other websites by following this opt-out link.

Sharethis’s privacy policy

We use Sharethis to enable our users to share our content on social media. Sharethis lets us collects information about the number of shares of our posts. For further details, please see Sharethis’s privacy policy by clicking on this link.

You can opt-out of Sharethis collecting data about you by following this opt-out link.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

UX GIRL reserves the right to amend this privacy policy at any time. The latest version will always be found on our Site. We encourage you to check this page occasionally to ensure that you are happy with any changes.

If we make changes that significantly alter our privacy practices, we will notify you by email or post a notice on our Site before the change takes effect.

Product Design

Design Trends for 2025: What’s Hot and What’s Next?

January 24, 2025

•

WSTAW

Anna

Designer

2025 is shaping up to be an extraordinary year in design! From futuristic technology to nostalgic aesthetics, this year's trends are all about pushing boundaries while staying deeply connected to what feels authentic and human. Here’s your ultimate guide to the design trends that are set to dominate in 2025.

Grid Redefined: Breaking the Rules

Forget rigid and predictable layouts—2025 is all about asymmetry and bold structural designs. Designers are taking grids to a whole new level, creating layouts that challenge conventions and offer a more dynamic visual experience. Unconventional alignments and layered compositions are the new norm, adding a sense of movement and energy to every project.

Pro Tip: Experiment with diagonal lines, overlapping elements, and varying column widths to create a fresh, unexpected layout.

A collage of modern website layouts showcasing minimalist and experimental graphic design. The designs feature bold typography, grid-based structures, product photos, abstract graphics, and clean whitespace, highlighting various contemporary visual styles.

Bold Animations: Motion with a Statement

Animations are stepping into the spotlight like never before. Subtle effects are being swapped for vibrant, dynamic motion graphics that demand attention. From websites to mobile apps, expect animations to be bigger, faster, and bolder, adding a sense of drama and personality to digital interactions.

How to Use It: Incorporate scroll-triggered animations or playful transitions that create a sense of narrative for your users.

AI Images: The Future of Creativity

Artificial Intelligence continues to transform the design world, and 2025 is no exception. AI tools are now capable of producing mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind visuals that feel both futuristic and artistic. Whether you need surreal landscapes, intricate textures, or unique branding assets, AI-generated art is becoming a must-have tool for designers.

Where It Shines: Use AI to generate concept art, mood boards, or even finished illustrations that feel truly cutting-edge.

Retro Comeback: Nostalgia with a Twist

The past is still inspiring the future, as the aesthetics of the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s make a stylish return. However, this time around, these retro vibes come with a modern twist—bright neon colors, pixelated textures, and groovy patterns are reimagined for a contemporary audience.

Why It Works: Nostalgia taps into powerful emotions, making designs feel comforting yet fresh. Perfect for branding and campaigns looking to connect on a deeper level.

Green Design: Sustainability First

Eco-consciousness is no longer optional—it’s essential. 2025 is putting nature-inspired designs and sustainable practices front and center. Earthy color palettes, organic textures, and a focus on biophilic design principles are helping brands communicate their commitment to the planet.

Make It Count: Highlight sustainability in your design process by choosing recyclable materials, eco-friendly typography, or green-certified design tools.

A collage of eco-themed website designs, featuring green color palettes, nature illustrations, aerial landscape photography, and sustainability-focused typography. The layouts highlight themes like restoring nature, environmental research, and sustainable sourcing

Claymorphism: Soft and Playful

Meet the design world’s new favorite 3D trend: Claymorphism. This playful aesthetic features soft, clay-like shapes combined with pastel tones and smooth gradients. It’s approachable, friendly, and perfect for modern designs in tech, wellness, and education.

In Action: Use Claymorphism to bring character to UI elements like buttons, cards, and icons.

A collage of colorful 3D illustrations including a pastel geometric grid icon in the center surrounded by floating spheres and crystal shapes, a lavender hoodie on a purple background, a stylized 3D landscape with colorful mountains and spheres, a blocky multicolor cube with graphic patterns, and a playful abstract computer-like sculpture with floating orbs on a yellow backdrop.

Content Badges: Information That Pops

Clear, engaging content markers are taking center stage in 2025. Content badges—small but bold highlights—draw attention to key information, making it easier for users to engage with your designs. These eye-catching elements are great for calls to action, pricing details, or event highlights.

Quick Tip: Experiment with bright colors, bold outlines, and playful typography to make badges unmissable.

3D Shapes: Adding Depth and Dimension

3D design remains a fan favorite, with bold, sculptural elements continuing to dominate visual trends. These elements add depth and uniqueness, whether you’re creating a brand identity, a website, or a social media post.

Why It Matters: 3D shapes make your designs feel tactile, interactive, and immersive—perfect for catching (and keeping) attention.

A collage of colorful 3D and illustration-style website designs, including abstract soft-shaped UI elements, a cartoon castle scene, geometric 3D shapes, bubbly spheres, and a promotional banner for a 3D illustration constructor featuring a friendly cartoon character.

Final Thoughts: Design in 2025

This year’s trends are all about standing out while staying authentic. Whether you’re experimenting with AI, embracing nostalgia, or focusing on sustainability, there’s a trend to match every creative vision.

Start incorporating these trends into your projects today to stay ahead of the curve and inspire your audience with designs that are both innovative and unforgettable.

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Check out our other

articles

A group of people seated around a long conference table in a bright meeting room, watching a presenter at the front who is pointing to a slide displayed on a wall-mounted screen.

Press Office

5 min

How AI Empowers UX Teams—Workshop with Silky Coders

Some time ago, UX GIRL had the pleasure of contributing to this shift by leading a hands-on workshop for the UX and UI design team at Silky Coders. The session was facilitated by our CEO, Magdalena Ostoja-Chyżyńska, and focused on practical, responsible, and creative applications of AI in the user experience design process - from early discovery to daily execution.

The energy in the room was undeniable. Silky Coders’ team brought openness, curiosity, and a hunger for meaningful innovation. Together, we dove deep into the new frontier of UX work - where human-centered design meets AI-supported workflows.

AI in UX: Not a Threat, but a Tool

One of the key messages of the workshop was clear: AI is not here to replace designers - it’s here to support them. Rather than automating creativity, AI can serve as a strategic partner that:

Accelerates research in the discovery phase by summarizing large data sets, extracting patterns from user feedback, and supporting persona creation.
Supports ideation with concept generation tools, enabling faster brainstorming and prototyping.
Optimizes repetitive tasks such as UI variant testing, accessibility checks, and design documentation - giving designers more space for meaningful work.

According to McKinsey, teams that effectively integrate AI into their workflows can improve design delivery times by up to 30% and significantly reduce cognitive load during early research phases.

Balancing Innovation with Responsibility

An equally important topic explored during the session was responsible AI adoption. As powerful as these tools are, they come with ethical considerations: biased outputs, transparency concerns, and the risk of over-automation. The group discussed how to stay grounded in human-centered principles even as workflows evolve.

That means:

always validating AI-generated insights with real user data,
being transparent with stakeholders about AI’s role in the process,
ensuring diversity in training data and critically assessing the risks of bias in the tools used.

This human-first mindset is key to ensuring AI enhances - rather than dilutes - the quality of user experiences.

Key Takeaways for UX Teams Exploring AI

For those who couldn’t attend, here are three actionable ideas from the workshop that any design team can start applying:

Start small, but start now. Test AI tools in low-risk areas like copy generation, image variations, or documentation support. Gradually integrate them into your design sprints.
Create internal AI guidelines. Align your team on when, why, and how AI should be used. Define quality standards, review processes, and ethical boundaries.
Treat AI as a design collaborator. Just like you might whiteboard with a teammate, you can brainstorm with AI. Use it not only to move faster, but also to explore what’s possible.

Looking Ahead

These workshops reminded us that the future of UX is not about man versus machine - it’s about collaboration between designers and technology. AI will continue to evolve, but the heart of UX will always be human insight, empathy, and creativity.

At UX GIRL, we’re proud to guide teams through this transition - not just by teaching tools, but by cultivating the mindset needed to design smarter, faster, and more ethically.

A big thank you to Silky Coders for your openness, energy, and curiosity. We can’t wait to see how your team transforms the knowledge from this session into even more impactful user experiences.

Until next time - let’s keep designing the future together.

‍

A futuristic glass-walled meeting room with a glowing holographic interface surrounding a group of people seated at a conference table, overlaid with the text ‘OpenAI DevDay 2025.

Research & Insights

5 min

OpenAI DevDay 2025: What It Means for Business, Technology, and UX

Is AI becoming the new operating system for digital products? After OpenAI DevDay 2025, many tech leaders would say yes. This year’s announcements go far beyond model upgrades - they offer tools that could fundamentally change how companies design, build, and monetize experiences.

At UX GIRL, we’ve analyzed the most important updates and their real impact on product teams, UX designers, and business owners.

Key Announcements You Should Know

1. ChatGPT Apps (SDK preview)
Developers can now build and distribute apps directly inside ChatGPT, using a new SDK that enables more interactive and personalized experiences. This opens up a new layer of lightweight front-end experiences without building a full UI.

2. AgentKit - AI Production Agents
AgentKit helps teams build autonomous AI agents capable of completing tasks end-to-end. Think onboarding assistants, support bots, or even product recommendation engines.

3. GPT‑5 Pro and mini models
The new GPT‑5 Pro brings higher accuracy in complex scenarios. Meanwhile, lightweight versions of image and voice models (e.g., gpt-realtime-mini) reduce operational costs by up to 80%.

4. Sora 2 via API
Sora 2 introduces text-to-video generation capabilities via API, a game-changer for education, content creation, and personalized storytelling.

5. Codex - Expanded Integrations
Slack, SDK, and enterprise-grade governance tools make Codex even more practical for building collaborative, AI-powered productivity tools.

What It Means for Product, UX, and Tech Leaders

OpenAI’s DevDay updates are more than just developer features - they’re designed for real product impact. Here's why it matters:

ChatGPT Apps could act as alternative user interfaces for your product - fast to deploy, low maintenance.
AI agents allow teams to automate high-touch tasks with natural language interfaces.
Mini models lower the barrier to experimenting with AI at scale, without unpredictable infrastructure costs.

For UX teams, this means designing interactions between people and autonomous systems - where clarity, trust, and fallback mechanisms are critical.

Two Lists That Matter: Watchouts and Quick Wins

Top 5 Risks to Consider:

Cost management - poorly scoped AI use can lead to soaring API bills.
Compliance & safety - you’ll need moderation systems for AI-generated content.
Unpredictable UX - AI outputs must feel consistent and transparent to users.
AI skill gaps - many teams lack the cross-functional know-how to build responsibly.
No validation pipelines - AI decisions still need testing like any other feature.

Quick Wins You Can Act On Today:

Audit product areas that could benefit from AI-powered assistance or automation.
Launch a small experiment using AgentKit - for example, a product suggestion agent.
Run usability tests for AI-based flows to ensure user comprehension and trust.
Bring UX, product, and AI engineers together into AI-focused sprints.

Final Thoughts: AI Is No Longer Just an Add-On

OpenAI DevDay 2025 marks a shift - we’re moving from playful experiments to strategic deployments. Businesses that treat AI as a core product function, not a gimmick, will lead the next wave of user experience innovation.

At UX GIRL, we help clients identify high-impact AI use cases, prototype responsibly, and test with real users. Whether you're in fintech, education, health, or e-commerce - this is the moment to think AI-first, user-always.

‍

A group of four people in a modern office meeting room review mobile app wireframes displayed on a large screen, with laptops and sticky notes spread across the table.

Product Design

5 min

Designing Apps with OpenAI Apps SDK: UX Guidelines

Conversational AI has changed the rules of user experience. With OpenAI Apps SDK, teams can now create embedded applications that live directly inside ChatGPT - offering users seamless, intelligent, and contextual support.

But building these apps isn't just about writing smart code. It's about designing meaningful, intuitive interactions. That’s why OpenAI published official design guidelines - and why UX GIRL is here to help you translate them into real results.

What Are ChatGPT Apps and the Apps SDK?

ChatGPT apps are mini-tools that users can access directly in the ChatGPT interface. They allow users to perform tasks, analyze data, create documents, fetch information from external sources, and more - all within the flow of conversation.

The Apps SDK lets developers define these app interactions using JavaScript while maintaining full compatibility with the ChatGPT interface. But to deliver real value, apps need to feel intuitive - and that’s where UX comes in.

The Core Design Principles from OpenAI

OpenAI’s UX guidelines are built on six core principles. Here’s what they mean in practice, with insights from the UX GIRL team:

Clarity is key

Your app’s interface must clearly communicate what it does, how it works, and what users can expect. Avoid vague labels or overloaded screens. Guide users with simple language and clean layout.

Respect the user’s intent

Let users take the lead. Your app should support user goals, not hijack the conversation. Avoid aggressive prompts or forced flows.

Make progress visible

Users need feedback. Loading indicators, success confirmations, and microinteractions help users trust the process - especially in a conversational UI.

Minimize user effort

Reduce friction wherever possible. Use smart defaults, context-aware suggestions, and auto-filled values to streamline user input.

Be consistent

ChatGPT has a defined look and tone - follow it. Use system UI components and maintain consistency in voice, spacing, and layout.

Fail gracefully

Errors are inevitable. Design them to be informative and friendly. Offer users clear explanations and next steps without making them feel lost.

A collage of smartphone app screens showing ChatGPT assisting with tasks such as creating a pizza-themed playlist, recommending nearby pizzerias on a map, displaying restaurant details for ‘Brick & Basil,’ and generating music beats using a beat-making interface.

How Product Teams Can Apply These Guidelines

Following these principles doesn’t require a full UX overhaul - but it does require strategic thinking. Here are two practical ways your team can implement them:

1. UX-aligned development workflow:

Define realistic user conversations and app responses early.
Prototype conversations using mock UIs or prompt flows.
Test early and often - even with basic, Wizard-of-Oz style setups.
Build in real-time feedback elements (confirmation messages, visual states).

2. UX checklist for Product Owners:

Does the user always know what they can do next?
Are all actions and outcomes clearly explained?
Is app progress or system state visible?
Is tone and layout consistent with ChatGPT?
Do error messages guide users constructively?

The Unique UX Challenges of Designing Inside a Chat Interface

Unlike traditional apps, ChatGPT apps don't rely on menus, tabs, or visual hierarchies. Users interact through text - with fluid, nonlinear intent. This makes context one of the biggest UX challenges.

Small design gaps (e.g., unclear responses or missing context) can lead to confusion. That’s why good conversational design includes scenario testing, intelligent defaults, and visible state changes - even without a traditional UI.

Final Takeaways

Designing inside ChatGPT isn’t just about building functionality - it’s about earning user trust through clarity, empathy, and consistency.

At UX GIRL, we recommend:

Start with a small MVP to test a focused user goal.
Use OpenAI’s design principles as a design audit tool.
Involve UX early - especially for dialogue design and testing.
Don’t rely on AI to do everything. Guide the user intentionally.

Building with Apps SDK? Let UX GIRL help you design AI-powered experiences that convert, engage, and delight.

Contact us

Privacy Policy

GDPR compliance

About UX GIRL

When we collect personal data about you

Why we collect and use personal data

Type of personal data collected

Information we collect automatically

The use of cookies and web beacons

How long we keep your data

Your rights to your personal data

Hotjar’s privacy policy

Sharethis’s privacy policy

Changes to this Privacy Policy

Design Trends for 2025: What’s Hot and What’s Next?

Grid Redefined: Breaking the Rules

Bold Animations: Motion with a Statement

AI Images: The Future of Creativity

Retro Comeback: Nostalgia with a Twist

Green Design: Sustainability First

Claymorphism: Soft and Playful

Content Badges: Information That Pops

3D Shapes: Adding Depth and Dimension

Final Thoughts: Design in 2025

Check out our other

articles

How AI Empowers UX Teams—Workshop with Silky Coders

AI in UX: Not a Threat, but a Tool

Balancing Innovation with Responsibility

Key Takeaways for UX Teams Exploring AI

Looking Ahead

OpenAI DevDay 2025: What It Means for Business, Technology, and UX

Key Announcements You Should Know

What It Means for Product, UX, and Tech Leaders

Two Lists That Matter: Watchouts and Quick Wins

Final Thoughts: AI Is No Longer Just an Add-On

Designing Apps with OpenAI Apps SDK: UX Guidelines

What Are ChatGPT Apps and the Apps SDK?

The Core Design Principles from OpenAI

Clarity is key

Respect the user’s intent

Make progress visible

Minimize user effort

Be consistent

Fail gracefully

How Product Teams Can Apply These Guidelines

1. UX-aligned development workflow:

2. UX checklist for Product Owners:

The Unique UX Challenges of Designing Inside a Chat Interface

Final Takeaways

Begin your design adventure now!