Andrew Wolf

How I learned about creating and issuing invoices for my Web Design freelance. *Sounds way to daunting at first* I started off taking payments by PayNow, a quick and simple way of doing bank transfers in Singapore. My first $2,680 client, asked for an invoice - I was like sure…. My dumbass thought invoicing would be a very complicated thing. I didn’t even bother to try and learn about it, and decided to use Stripe. Which takes a 2.9% cut per successful payment. Until eventually I realise how simple an invoice is… I just copied a template from Figma, changed it a little to fit my needs and understand the labelling system. Which is really just a tracking system that I can label every invoice that comes after as ‘#00002’, ‘#00003’, ‘#00004’, and so on. So I’ve collectively given $75.11 to stripe for my ignorance. I would think the only time when it make sense to use Stripe is when I either have high volume payments, or need to streamline other payment methods such as subscriptions. #financing #business #scaredofmoney #onthewayup #webdesign #finances

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Thanks again to everyone who joined us for our latest event, “From Code to Culture: Developing Open-Source Thai AI Language Models.” A huge thanks to Kasima Tharnpipitchai and Damien Velly for sharing their expertise and sparking insightful discussions on the future of AI in Thailand. Their presentations highlighted key aspects of AI’s evolution, including its potential to transform various industries and the critical role of Thai language models in advancing localized solutions. --- Here’s a brief recap of what we explored: AI’s Expanding Role in Society: As AI technology rapidly advances, the focus is shifting towards responsible innovation, enhancing inclusivity, and addressing real-world problems. The Rise of Open-Source Language Models: The open-source movement is empowering Thai developers to build models tailored to local contexts, bridging language gaps and enabling access to AI for a broader community. AI Ethics and Governance: Establishing ethical guidelines and governance models is becoming essential, especially as AI’s influence grows. Both Kasima and Damien emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with accountability. Practical Applications in Business: Our speakers shared insights on how Thai AI models are being applied to improve customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive new growth in sectors like finance, retail, and public services. --- Thanks to everyone who contributed to the conversation and helped make this event a success! We’re excited to continue supporting the growth of AI in Thailand. #AIinThailand #OpenSource #ThaiLanguageModels #AIInnovation #AIcommunity #ArtificialIntelligence #SevenPeaksSoftware Thanatcha Koomuang Saowanee Kantawong

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I gained fresh inspiration recently after listening to the panel of esteemed speakers at ADPList Singapore Chapter's inaugural event. So I reflected upon my own design journey as well. There are often assumptions that designers and developers would be at odds. But from my own—as well as from 55 Minutes Pte Ltd's team—experience in: ✅ auditing the UX design of existing products ✅ designing, as well as re-vamping and improving entire UX UI of digital platforms ✅ conducting usability tests and prototyping tests Here's what I've uncovered about this critical collaboration: ⭐ Designers and developers are two sides of the same coin ⭐ Although they wear different hats, they have a shared goal — to create a product that works well and resonates with the end-user. But, they often speak different languages and start off with different priorities. 👉 Designers focus on aesthetics, user experience, and visual storytelling. (Yes, we care about alignments down to the pixels.) 👉 Developers, on the other hand, are all about functionality, efficiency, performance and code. This can lead to conflicts. But when they work well together, magic happens. Products that not only look good but also work seamlessly. So, how do we bridge this gap? ❤️🧠 Two things. Communication and trust. Designers and developers need to communicate what their priorities are, seek to understand each other's perspectives and why these matter to them. We need to respect each other's expertise, and keep communicating in ways that builds trust within this collaboration. A shared vocabulary and trust can do wonders. ❌ It's not about winning an argument, nor egos. ✔ It's about coming together to create the best outcomes possible. ✔ It's about involving both designers and developers as equal stakeholders right at the start of a project. ✔ It's about being curious, asking questions, listening to and respecting each other. Let's embrace the reality that complexity is part of creative work, but with a strong commitment to communicating clearly and communicating often, and creating a respectful and trusting collaboration, we can navigate the chaos together to achieve successful product outcomes. What other processes or practices worked for you when it comes to better collaborations between designers and developers? Pls share!

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I recently called OCBC bank to reset my Internet Banking pin and spent over two minutes listening to automated prompts before getting to the selection page. While their voice recognition tech impressed me, it made me wonder—𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻? Would the lengthy process add to their stress? As brands race towards GenAI and automation, 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? While AI excels in efficiency, it is emotions that offer empathy and warmth - that human connections that makes you stand out in this digitallly saturated world. Let's talk about A̶r̶t̶i̶f̶i̶c̶i̶a̶l̶ Emotional Intelligence. Coined from Daniel Goleman’s "𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗤”, just as IQ and EQ measure human capabilities, I see 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗜. It empowers brands to recognize and respond to customer emotions in real time, adding a data-informed personal touch to digital interactions. That humane, authentic, and sometimes imperfect touch is what it'll resonates with customers and fills the emotional gap, organically fostering genuine loyalty. Sometimes, it's the only thing people remember. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗜 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗫 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀? It starts with training teams to recognise and respond to emotions, focusing on 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗲𝘀. Alongside this, brands should equip their teams with tools that tracks customer sentiments with data to support emotional intelligence efforts. In this crowded marketplace, e𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. Brands that understand this will not only meet customer expectations but exceed them. How does Emotional Intelligence (EI) shape customer experience (CX)? Do you think AI will play a more critical role than EI, or does EI take priority? In what situations might one be more important than the other in delivering great customer experiences? Let’s dive in! #CustomerExperience #CX #EmotionalIntelligence #EI #CXStrategy #EmpathyInBusiness #ASparkforThought

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Min-Liang Tan of Razer Inc. being interviewed by Andrea Phua says that the transition to being an #AI powered organisation is not a simple task. Using graphic designers as an example, he suggests that the expert in #Photoshop may not naturally transition to being the best person to prompt Midjourney. So their graphic design group is being "upended" as not just training, but team augmentation may be required to drive the best outcomes with AI adoption. An interesting insight, especially as more and more AI agents are being built to support and augment organisations. Tech in Asia #SYNC2024

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He wanted Cleve.ai to be a writing space for creators, as to what Duolingo is for language. I think that is a beautiful notion. For our first meetup, Ashvin Praveen and I ventured on a hike at Taman Rimba Bukit Kerinchi, then had breakfast. We talked about so much—Cleve's beginnings, cold DMs, gatekeepers, travels, startups, what networking means in this era, and more. I've been using Cleve.ai for months, and it truly does all the heavy lifting. With just a few notes from you, it crafts your content effortlessly. The standout feature? Unlike other tools, it captures your unique writing style and vocabulary. It’s like having a digital twin that writes just like you—no cap. There are new features in the works that are amazing, but I can't tell you just yet :P Try it for FREE here: https://lnkd.in/gKVaBtcS Get 10% off Cleve Pro using my code: CHOOILING10 What is the biggest gripe about content creation for you?

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Thoughts on Design and AI New changes are always exciting, but they also come with fear. Exploring the potential of Generative AI in the design industry, I’ve been experimenting with a range of AI tools like Chat GPT, Midjourney, Firefly, and Runway. Each tool offers unique capabilities, from generating text-based content to crafting intricate visual designs and enhancing video production. As these tools develop further, I anticipate they will become more integrated into our workflow, potentially reshaping our approach to design tasks from conceptualisation to execution. Although it’s still in the early stages of adoption, I’m closely observing how AI streamlines operations and introduces a new level of innovation into our design work, enhancing both efficiency and creativity. My ongoing exploration is aimed at understanding how these technologies could revolutionise our industry. Here are my findings and thoughts. Feel free to share your thoughts, insights, and tips! :) https://lnkd.in/gRqF9VGJ

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"The UX Ladder with Mariam Khan" is a conversation beyond pixels – a deep dive into product cultures, inclusion, and the untold stories that shape our experiences and trends. Join in to explore the nuances that drive meaningful user experiences and innovative designs. #UXDesign #ProductCulture #Inclusion #DesignTrends

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🫡 Oh, this is admirable and should leaders follow. I only knew a few executives and leaders who did this while we were doing design, and I appreciated their participation in the process. For the design team, it means a lot to us as it shows humility, commitment, and a greater understanding of what we are doing and what we are trying to achieve. What this CEO did is the best example of Immersion. Immersion is a research method designers use — instead of recruiting a sample of users to be your research participants, you yourself act as the user, immersing yourself in the experience you’re creating. The best seat is when you are on the user seat. I encourage leaders to do the same. It’s not about lowering yourself and surrendering your pride to others but rather about fostering greater empathy and setting a good example for the rest of the organization. This will reinforce and build a strong connection between you as a leader and all of the stakeholders that are impacted or influenced by your products and aid you in crafting the plans and programs of the company you are leading. Leaders lead by example. Leaders inspire others. Leaders care. . . . #ux #userexperience #uxui #uiux #experiencedesign #design #empathy #leaders #leadership #leader #leadershipstyle

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Is great design self-explanatory? In an ideal world, yes - great design should speak for itself. But… we don't live in an ideal world. We live in a noisy, crowded marketplace where attention spans are short, and competition is fierce 🔥 The truth is, design might catch the eye, but it’s the story that holds attention. And in a world where decisions are made in seconds, you need every advantage you can get ✨ So, designers, start treating storytelling as a strategic tool, and not a nice-to have skill 🫡 #design #storytelling #communication #productdesign

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In Defence of Category Disruption I find this sudden barrage of criticism of Humane’s Ai Pin and the anticipatory negative reviews of Rabbit r1… sad, and primarily missing the point. Although I also have my doubts of their ambition… To have an idea, get people to believe in it, and then bring it to life should only be applauded. Early adopters of technology—tech enthusiasts, designers, engineers, and, of course, VCs on the hunt—all have a little disposable income. 🙂 They are, or should be, well aware that they are participating in a design process, which, as we all know, involves iteration. Without the internal funds that Big Tech has, we need a passionate, supportive community to help us innovate and challenge—and maybe spare a little cash to help push things forward.

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Check out our latest blog post from noodle where we explore the dynamic world of design trends, unveiling how staying attuned to evolving aesthetics propels creativity, fosters relevance, and shapes groundbreaking user experiences. #design #designresearch #research #qualitativeresearch #innovation #blog #article #empathy #collaboration #trends #designtrends

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WOW! How a few days and one tweet can bring a behemoth to a halt. You might have read about Figma's release of AI-generated design on its platform. In theory, it's amazing, but in practice, it's very questionable. After one single tweet (below), Figma faced tremendous backlash. Figma needed to disable its AI-powered design feature as it was accused of mimicking Apple's Weather app. The controversy arose when users noticed striking similarities between Figma's AI-generated designs and the well-known interface of Apple's weather application. The design community reacted strongly, with many pointing out the ethical and legal implications of using AI tools that can replicate existing designs. The issue brought to light concerns about the originality and ownership of AI-generated content, sparking debates across various platforms (https://lnkd.in/gvByPr2K). These concerns have come up before, raising questions about where AI companies train their LLMs (https://lnkd.in/g3qdv9Xp). Figmas Future Plans: Moving forward, Figma plans to implement more robust measures to ensure that AI-generated designs do not inadvertently copy existing products. This includes enhancing their algorithms to better distinguish between inspiration and direct replication, aiming to maintain the balance between innovation and originality in design. FigMayo Sam Beddison Mike Miller Figma

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I've just launched a product on #Kickstarter —after 3 years of obsessing over every tiny detail, link here: https://lnkd.in/gqJ4vqGR I've always believed in the power of combining #design, #userresearch, and business and this has been an amazing ride, getting my hands dirty to test my ideas and fully embracing an #entrepreneur journey. Designing and testing flowed naturally for me but learning about the #GTMstrategies was a real eye opener, especially for a physical IRL #product which makes software seem easier in comparison. Personally, it’s also an expression of what it means to be a #DesignFounder - we obsess over every detail that adds up to a big difference. What it is: I call it "#art for play and display". The idea came from the realization that art prints often end up as passive decoration, and as someone who paints, I wanted to create a more engaging way for people to experience my art. Check out the video and all other details, support and/ or tell me what you think.

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Why do I decline clients even though they pay enough for my services? Not all clients are my ideal clients. You should know the red flags when getting a client. 1. They think it's easy to do. - Be cautious when they say "Madali lang naman yan." 2. They think they can do it by themselves - Let's say he can do it, but he doesn't have the time. 3. They sound manipulative and don't know the value you're providing - You will be the one who suffers in the long run. 4. They give all the tasks to you. - You don't need to be a jack of all trades if you know you're not specialized in that area. The client may suffer, and it may lead to bad feedback for you. One thing I want you to understand is that not all prospects are your ideal clients. Make sure you have a customer avatar. Know your worth; giving value to yourself will pay off. #socialmediamarketing #logodesigner #brandingstrategist #freelancingjourney #freelancerlife #graphicdesigner #socialmediamanager

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How do we design funding mechanisms that are regenerative and built to last? In the latest Rehash episode, Sophia Dew from Celo Foundation joins me to talk about what blockchain enables for public goods funding, frameworks for designing regenerative onchain funding apps, and what it takes to build and maintain a layer 2 blockchain. Tune into our full conversation at the links below:

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I'm not new to the fashion industry, but I was a newcomer to the startup world when I launched Nuudii. Nine years ago, with three prototypes in hand, I had no idea what lay ahead. It was 2016 and the venture world was thriving, money was flowing, and investors were searching for the next unicorn. Following the trend of the times, I spent more time pitching Nuudii System to major venture firms in the CPG world than I did finishing the development of my prototypes and launching the business. Back then, a startup's success was often judged by how much money it could raise rather than its profitability. This focus on fundraising over profits stemmed from several reasons: Growth Potential: Investors were keen on how quickly you could grow and capture market share. Raising a lot of money meant they believed you could dominate your market. Market Positioning: With significant capital, you can invest heavily in marketing, product development, and scaling operations quickly & establish a strong presence. Valuation: Large fundraising rounds often led to higher valuations, seen as indicators of success and future potential. Industry Trends: During the tech boom in Silicon Valley, prioritizing user growth and market expansion over immediate profits was common. Investors were willing to accept short-term losses for the promise of long-term gains. However, this mindset has shifted. Now, building a sustainable & profitable business model is more important. High-profile failures and market corrections have highlighted the need to generate profits, not just raise funds. While raising funds is still important, it's crucial to build a business that can sustain itself in the long run. Fortunately, I adjusted our path and focused on building and launching something great. We started by going directly to early adopters on Kickstarter. Thanks to this crowdfunding platform, our product rocketed around the globe, selling nearly $1 million in goods within a few months! Fast forward to today, we haven't taken in a large round from any one VC or PE group, and have raised over $1.6 million solely from angel investors. This took tenacity, diligence, and an unwavering passion for what we were building. Nuudii System is now firmly aligned to take a solid market share with our innovations, unique brand positioning, and talented team. No smoke and mirrors here. We're thrilled to announce the launch of our 2nd 🌟Wefunder Campaign,🌟 Invest now if you want to actively participate in a company that creates products that positively impact women's lives, and support women and POC in business. Closing in 50 Days! https://lnkd.in/gwZ3zHsD

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My top 3 takeaways from Open AI DevDay Singapore: 1. There is still a large gap between what developers know is possible and what businesspeople know is possible with LLMs. 2. To OpenAI solution engineers, using an LLM to manipulate the UI is an old trick; to everybody else, it’s mind blowing. 3. Everybody wants to incorporate voice modality, but few are prepared for it. The winners in the coming months will be apps built voice-first, with traditional web apps that laid the groundwork for voice peaking months later.

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