Everything from

refactoringui.com

1 resource from refactoringui.com we point founders to, and the questions each answers.

📖 Book
✓ Link checked Paid Beginner

Why we picked it Design tactics written specifically for developers and non-designers who need to ship good-looking UI without a design background. The most practical 'make it not ugly' resource there is.

Refactoring UI

From refactoringui.com by Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger ~250 pages

  • Use spacing, hierarchy, and font weight, not just color, for visual hierarchy.
  • Start with too much whitespace, then remove.
  • Design in grayscale first to nail hierarchy before adding color.
Open refactoringui.com →
Answers I'm not a designer, how do I make my product not look terrible? What are the core UX principles every founder should know? Should I learn Figma, and how much design do I really need? Why does good design actually matter for an early-stage startup? How do I make a no-code app feel polished and trustworthy instead of looking like an obvious template? I keep hearing "don't make me think" but what does that actually mean when I'm designing a screen? Should I just copy the UI patterns of apps my users already use, or does that make my product forgettable? What are the most common design mistakes that make an early product feel amateur, and how do I avoid them? How much should I invest in design polish for an MVP versus just shipping something functional? As a solo technical founder, when is it worth hiring a designer versus using a template or design system?
eChai Partner Brands