Hey everyone, I wanted to share some insights into what UX/UI designers actually do in web design. It’s a topic that often comes up in our community, so let’s break it down in a way that makes sense for anyone diving into web design. What’s the difference between UX and UI? UX (User Experience) is about how something feels when you use it. Whether it’s navigating a website, completing a form, or finding the right information, a good UX design makes the experience smooth and intuitive. UI (User Interface), on the other hand, focuses on how everything looks. It’s the visual layer—buttons, fonts, colors, and layouts—that sits on top of the user experience framework. Think of UX as the skeleton and UI as the skin that brings it to life. How do UX and UI work together? Great design happens when UX and UI work seamlessly. A UX designer maps out how a visitor should journey through the site, ensuring every step feels logical. The UI designer then styles this journey, making it visually appealing and easy to interact with. A good UX/UI designer will ask questions like: - How can we make this website easy to use? - Does this button stand out enough to click? - Where should the most important information go? Why does it matter? Poor UX/UI can frustrate visitors, and no one sticks around on a frustrating website. But a thoughtful design can guide users, build trust, and boost conversions. Remember, it’s not just about looking good; it’s about working well too. Tools of the trade Some popular tools UX/UI designers use include Figma, Adobe XD, and even Squarespace for simpler builds. But the real secret? Testing. Designers don’t just throw designs out there and hope for the best—they test, gather feedback, tweak, and repeat until it works. What can you take away from this? If you’re just starting out or building your own website with something like Squarespace, you don’t need to be a professional UX/UI designer to apply these principles. Here are a few practical tips to keep in mind:

AI images can feel too polished/simple—good for a start, but they often need a human touch to stand out. Here’s a tutorial showing how to add extra detail and fix issues in Photoshop. 1. Start with the Canvas: Use the Crop Tool to add space, then try Generative Expand to fill the gaps. 2. Tidy Up the AI Artifacts: Clean up extra fingers or odd textures with the Spot Healing Brush or Clone Stamp Tool. 3. Enhance the Background: Select it, use Generative Fill for stars, or drop in your own elements like planets or flames, blending with Adjustment Layers. 4. Get the Retro Look: Add bold color gradients and adjust tones with Replace Color or Gradient Maps. 5. Finish Strong: Add subtle film grain (Filter > Noise) and a vignette with the Burn Tool for that retro finish. 💡 Tip: Small details like glow effects or subtle grain can make a big difference. Jump into Photoshop and give it a go! Got questions or want feedback? Post your work here... Cheers, Elwyn

Hi all 👋 We’ve had a few good questions about image compression in our coaching community (https://skool.com/pixelhaze-community), so let’s tackle why it’s still important and how to approach it—especially if you’re using platforms like Squarespace. Why Does It Matter? If your site loads slowly, visitors won’t stick around. Google notices this, too, and your rankings can take a hit. A faster site = happier visitors = better SEO. But the balance depends on your audience: - Quick purchases? Speed is everything. - Creative portfolios? Quality needs to shine, so don’t over-compress. My Workflow for Squarespace Here’s how I handle image optimization without overcomplicating it: 1. Crop Before Uploading: Use the Squarespace photo editor to trim down your images—no need to load what won’t be visible. 2. External Compression: I use Compressor.io to reduce file sizes without losing quality. 3. Organize Your Library: Keep compressed images in a folder within Squarespace for quick access. Canva Users—A Heads Up! Canva is great for creating designs, but its compression tools aren’t the best. Instead: - Export images at high quality (90% or higher). - Compress them externally before uploading to Squarespace. What’s Your Workflow? I’d love to hear how you manage your images. Are you using other tools? Have you seen improvements in speed or rankings after optimizing? Drop your thoughts or questions below. If you’re new here, remember that The Classroom section has loads of resources to help with these challenges. Cheers, Elwyn

Hi all. We have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes and will be adding 3 introductory workshops over the coming weeks (Squarespace & web design, Canva design & digital marketing, ChaGPT AI and Productivity). The new Squarespace workshop is nearly ready to launch, I’ll have it uploaded in the classroom section in the next few days. You can also access it via our free membership at PixelHaze Academy: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/ Also, I am offering a free (45 minute) 1-2-1 consultation on any of the above topics, providing that you are happy for me to record or live stream the session (and if you are very happy with it, leave a testimonial) for our YouTube channels. Just from me a DM if interested as I’ll have 2-3 slots available next week. Cheers, Elwyn