The EU is gearing up for an extensive investigation into Adobe's proposed $20 billion acquisition of Figma. During the initial probe by the EU, Adobe did not propose any solutions to alleviate antitrust concerns, resulting in a more comprehensive investigation. Government officials expressed concern over the potential monopoly of the design market due to this acquisition.

The European Commission's preliminary investigation should be finalized by August 7, but a Phase 2 investigation could take another three months. Adobe may be required to address competition issues or the concerns might be dismissed as the investigation moves on.

The US Justice Department is also reportedly preparing a lawsuit to prevent the merger, while the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is initiating an extensive probe. Currently, the only significant competitor to Adobe in the online design tools market is the Australian product, Canva. Adobe says it’s maintaining ongoing productive dialogues with global regulatory authorities.So, what if the Adobe-Figma deal falls apart? For Figma users, things might look a little different. A breakdown of the deal could even open doors for other partnerships or investments which could tweak Figma's direction a bit - its approach to pricing or its focus on new features. Figma's bank balance could take a hit, slowing down how quickly new features come out. Figma users may be facing some unknowns, but based on Figma's track record, they'll likely keep pushing ahead no matter what happens with this deal.

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The Shape Up methodology, developed by Basecamp, is an interesting process for designers who aim to manage risk and uncertainty in their projects. It differentiates itself from conventional methods like Scrum, as it does not rely on backlogs and offers more autonomy to design innovative solutions.

The Shape Up process consists of three primary stages: Shaping, Betting, and Building, each of which plays a critical role in how designers can work within the methodology.

In the initial Shaping stage, design teams work together to define the problem at hand and determine their appetite for solving it. This stage calls for strategic thinking where designers frame the parameters of the problem and identify potential risks. As designers, the ability to shape the outlines of the solution is key, and the methodology's emphasis on problem definition aligns well with the fundamental design thinking principles.

Next, the Betting stage offers a process where team members place bets on proposed solutions. This stage empowers designers as key decision-makers, emphasizing the value of their insights and expertise. Instead of following a dictated product plan, they have a voice in deciding which project is most worthy of their time and effort.

The final stage, Building, is where the rubber meets the road. Teams break down the chosen solution into scopes of work and utilize the Hill Chart, a progress-tracking tool unique to Shape Up, to track development. The six-week cycle for this stage offers a fixed timeline that encourages efficiency and discourages endless design edits (final_final_2_final.fig).

One critical distinction of the Shape Up methodology is its focus on solution delivery rather than ongoing feedback collection, which contrasts with methodologies like Continuous Discovery. This means that once the problem is defined, the team moves forward with creating and implementing solutions without constant interruption for feedback.

The autonomy intrinsic to the Shape Up method places the onus on designers to determine their paths within the broad outlines of the project, enabling them to leverage their unique perspectives and skills to shape the product experience. This process empowers designers to not just respond to pre-determined roadmaps but to actively participate in defining and creating them.

As designers continue to seek better ways of working, the Shape Up method is a promising framework that merges process with creativity.

There’s a handful of UX books that should be on the shelf (or iPhone) of every UX designer. These pioneering works offer insight and techniques that have stood the test of time as our industry has evolved over the last few decades.  Below is a list of key books that have profoundly shaped the field of UX design and continue to educate new generations of designers.

Considered almost a sacred scripture of UX design, Don Norman's The Design of Everyday Things offers a primer on interaction dynamics with various commodities.Norman implores designers to make things visible, eliminating any guesswork. He calls for the inherent connection of function and control, enabling intuitive interactions. Finally, he encourages the use of constraints to guide users toward the desired actions. The ultimate objective is to pave a path for the user that navigates to the correct control for the appropriate action at the precise moment, creating a seamless and effortless user experience.

The ageless classic Don't Make Me Think, Revisited by Steve Krug is a treasure trove of wisdom on web usability.

Krug advocates for a design paradigm that avoids cognitive overload, facilitating simple user interaction with digital UIs. His practical examples and case studies dissect the fundamental ethos of user-friendly design, making it a must-read for anyone with a curiosity for improving usability.

Susan Weinschenk’s book is a revealing odyssey into the human psyche and its influence on our interaction with design elements.

Weinschenk artfully brings together insights from various disciplines - psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics - to unveil how people engage with design elements. This work is a gold mine for designers seeking to build engaging experiences that truly echo their users' preferences.

See the full list here.