Yapa’s notebook.
Notes from inside the studio: AI product design, UX audits, design systems and conversion. Written between projects, in plain English.
- How to hire a design studio: an eight step checklist for founders The complete process to hire the right design studio for your product. Eight ordered steps used by founders in London and the US to shortlist, evaluate and sign the right partner.
- Design studio vs freelancer vs in house: which one should you hire? The three shapes of design team explained. When to hire a freelancer, when to hire a studio, when to hire in house, with real cost and speed comparisons for founders.
- How much does a design studio cost in 2026? A pricing guide for founders Design studio pricing in 2026 explained. Real market ranges for sprints, engagements and retainers in London and the US, with a fair way to compare quotes.
- AI product design: how to build AI features people trust AI product design is the practice of designing AI features around user trust. Here is how a London studio approaches agents, copilots and AI interfaces.
- How to evaluate a design studio's portfolio: what founders miss A studio portfolio is a marketing artefact, not evidence. Here is how to evaluate a studio's case studies like a hiring manager, with the five signals that actually predict good work.
- What is a UX audit and when should you get one? A UX audit is a structured expert review of your product that finds where users struggle and why. Here is what it includes, what it costs in time, and when to run one.
- What is a design system and why does it save you money? A design system is a shared library of components, tokens and rules that lets teams ship consistent screens faster. Here is the business case in plain English.
- Conversion optimisation: why visitors leave and how design fixes it Conversion optimisation is the practice of finding where visitors drop out and redesigning those moments. Here is how design moves the number, with the usual causes.
