Author | Lightnews

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 3d

It’s no longer about impressing anyone else.

The real grind starts when you feel like you’ve got something to prove to yourself.

That’s when it never stops.

💬 What drives you more—external validation or internal standards?

#Mindset #CareerGrowth #DesignLeadership #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 4d

Social media success = followers, viral posts, brand deals.

Real success = bills paid, time for family, good sleep, low stress, projects you enjoy.

One feeds ego.
The other gives peace.

Know what you’re chasing.

#DesignCommunity #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 5d

Learning app design? Stuck?

Screenshot a few well-known apps.
Upload to Figma.
Copy the screens.

It’s fun—and it trains your eye for good design.

#UXDesign #DesignCommunity #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 6d

Best business advice I ever got:
“Stop telling people your plans.”

Now I build in silence.
Launch when ready.

No pressure. No opinions. No distractions.

Results > announcements.

💬 Do you share ideas early for feedback—or wait until they’re ready to launch?

#BusinessGrowth #AgencyLife #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 7d

Wireframes aren’t binary (no visuals → visuals).

They come in fidelity levels:
✅ Low-fi = boxes/placeholders
✅ Mid-fi = real fonts/copy, grayscale
✅ High-fi = final design/prototype

Catch big changes early → save weeks.

#UXDesign #Wireframing #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 8d

The busier you get—
and the less you try to “win people over”—
the more they want to work with you.

Being busy and selective actually creates demand.

Funny how that works.

💬 Do you think scarcity drives demand, or is it about reputation?

#AgencyLife #BusinessGrowth #DesignLeadership #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 9d

Don’t wait for “perfect” projects for your portfolio.

Sketches, wireframes, mockups, WIPs—
they show your skills just as well.

The process is just as valuable as the final outcome.

#DesignCommunity #UXDesign #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 10d

Define your A-players by values.

Skills can be taught.
Cultural fit is harder to fix.

Interview for both.
Prioritize the fit.

#AgencyLife #Leadership #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 11d

Every time I feel stuck, it’s the same problem:

Too much chaos.
Not enough systems.

I go back to the function chart.
Reassign what’s breaking me.

It always comes down to ops.

#Ops #AgencyLife #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 12d

Charge more for your work—sure.

But make sure you’re worth it.

I’d gladly pay 3x the rate if it meant 3x the output, quality, or speed.
Rarely the case these days.

#UXDesign #AgencyLife #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 13d

Can’t find work? Build better connections.

→ Solve a problem
→ Share a resource
→ Make an intro
→ Give feedback

Lead with value—not the ask.
People remember who helped, not who pitched.

#UXDesign #Networking #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 14d

We don’t post 50% of our work.

Some were rushed.
Some weren’t our ICP.
Some got butchered in dev.
Some were “updated” after launch.

Curation > volume.
A tight portfolio attracts the right clients.

#DesignCommunity #AgencyLife #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 15d

You don’t beat imposter syndrome by learning another tool.

You beat it by realizing your design drives revenue.

Connect design → conversions → growth,
and you’ll never feel guilty about charging premium rates again.

#UXDesign #DesignCommunity #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 16d

Hiring designers isn’t a gamble.

X people → Y clients → Z revenue per client.
That’s the formula.

Don’t wait until the team is drowning.
Run the math early → hire before you hit the wall.

#AgencyLife #Ops #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 16d

AI tools can overwhelm.

We designed Cometa’s site for:
✅ Clear messaging
✅ Premium dark UI
✅ Product visuals upfront

Design that simplifies complexity.

#WebDesign #UXDesign #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 17d

$15k retainers sound expensive…
Until you realize some clients pay $50k/month.

We lost a deal because we couldn’t deliver 400+ hours/month.
That’s $50k gone.

Sometimes the barrier isn’t price.
It’s capacity.

#AgencyLife #BusinessGrowth #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 17d

Some logos don’t need color.

SWEEP’s identity was designed to:
✅ Show motion + flow through arrows
✅ Stay bold in black + white
✅ Scale everywhere with clarity

Minimal = powerful.

#LogoDesign #BrandIdentity #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 18d

Why are some designers stuck at $2K sites while others charge $30K+?

Simple.

The first sells “pages.”
The second sells outcomes.

⚡ Speed
⚡ Experience
⚡ Niche knowledge
⚡ Helping startups raise millions

Value = higher price.

#UXDesign #AgencyLife #elaiuiux

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 18d

Fintech branding isn’t just about trust—it’s about clarity.

We designed Slice with:
✅ Gradient-driven logo
✅ Scalable identity system
✅ Messaging built on trust + simplicity

Finance made approachable.

#BrandDesign #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 19d

Price isn’t the issue.

Being seen as “another option” is.
Be the obvious choice.

#AgencyLife #Sales #BrandStrategy

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E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 19d

AI decks need clarity.

We designed this one with Drip for:
✅ Clear AI vs. traditional comparisons
✅ Growth trends visualized
✅ Balanced dark + light storytelling

Clarity builds investor trust.

#PitchDeck #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 20d

Stop justifying yourself to prospects.

They don’t want a show. They want solutions.
Approach as equals.

#AgencyLife #SalesStrategy

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 20d

Crypto wallets don’t need to be noisy.

We designed this one with Drip for:
✅ Clean layouts
✅ Quick actions upfront
✅ Charts + balances simplified

Clarity = trust.

#UXDesign #Crypto #elaiuiux

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 21d

Discounts don’t solve slow lead flow.

But you know what does?
✨ Clear messaging
✨ Consistent outreach
✨ Knowing your ICP inside and out

Fix those before you start fixing your pricing.

💬 Agree or disagree—what’s been your #1 lever for unlocking steady leads?

#AgencyLife #LeadGen #BusinessGrowth

E Lai @elaiuiux.bsky.social · 21d

We designed Heitech Software’s site for clarity + trust.

✅ Futuristic dark theme
✅ Partner logos for credibility
✅ Clean hierarchy for AI + hosting solutions

Enterprise-ready design.

#WebDesign #UXDesign #elaiuiux

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