The Feed & The Thread - January 22, 2026

This episode covers a shift towards using AI to solve real customer problems over hype, AI's role in enhancing alumni engagement in higher education, and Dylan Brouwer’s journey into motion-driven no-code design. It also touches on community discussions about design inspiration, resume challenges, and the aesthetics of airfryers. Additionally, it announces UX Camp Winter, an online event on February 21st, featuring presentations from UX professionals for just $13.50. Show Notes In This Episode A critical perspective on using AI to solve real customer problems over trendy additions, as discussed by Josh LaMar. How AI is transforming alumni engagement in higher education with a focus on personalized communication and maintaining human touch. Dylan Brouwer's transition from traditional design-first approaches to motion-driven web development, focusing on the integration of dynamic animations. Articles Mentioned "A Critical Mindset Shift in Using AI" by Josh LaMar (UX Design.cc) "AI-Powered Alumni Management Software: Transforming Alumni Engagement in Higher Education" by Web Designer News Team (Web Designer News) "From Design-First to Motion-Driven: Dylan Brouwer’s Journey into the No-Code Frontier" by Dylan Brouwer (Codrops) Community Discussions r/Design - Cool tote bag concept gaining upvotes and a mention of Sydney appearing twice in a list. r/UXResearch - Discussion on résumé advice for those from organizations that don’t track results. r/Design - Debate about the aesthetics of airfryers. r/UXDesign - Lively discussion about Apple's corner radius consistency. Announcement Chicago Camps is hosting UX Camp Winter, an online event scheduled for Saturday, February 21st. The event features presentations from industry professionals delivering real-world UX work. Tickets are available for $13.50 with pay-what-you-can options and free passes offered to those in need. Interested speakers can submit their ideas. Get tickets now at Chicago Camps.org. About The Feed & The Thread The Feed & The Thread is a daily summary of UX articles found in the industry and some light-touch updates from the UX Community found in online forums. It’s brief, and meant as a light-touch overview of what’s happening across UX.