Want to be more learn more about UX design?

Every week, we’ll explore a topic in design. We’ll start of this semester with Part III of our series of History of UI components! See Part I here and Part II here.

Blank form fields are empty input areas that invite users to enter information, such as text, numbers, or passwords. They act as affordances, signaling where interaction is expected and what type of data should be provided.

The concept comes from paper forms, where blank lines or boxes indicate where a person should write their response. In digital interfaces, blank form fields translate this familiar convention into an interactive element that can validate, format, and store user input.

A list view displays content as a vertical sequence of items, making it easy to scan, compare, and select information. It’s commonly used for messages, settings, search results, or any content that benefits from clear hierarchy and linear reading.

The idea comes from written lists, such as to-do lists or inventories, where items are stacked one after another for clarity.

A grid view presents content in rows and columns, allowing users to browse many items at once while giving each item equal visual weight. It’s especially useful for image-heavy content like photos, products, or dashboards.

The structure is inspired by physical grids—such as graph paper, shelves, or tiled layouts—which help organize multiple elements efficiently within a fixed space.

Toasts are small, temporary messages that appear briefly on the screen to provide feedback without interrupting the user’s flow. They’re commonly used for confirmations, alerts, or status updates, such as “Message sent” or “Settings saved.”

The metaphor comes from the idea of a quick “pop-up” notification—appearing momentarily and then disappearing on its own.

For the last 3 semesters, I’ve been working on a 0-1 product on DTI called CURaise, which is a web-app that helps streamline the fundraising process for students and club organizers at Cornell. I went through the entire design process in depth, and learned so many new skills like creating & scaling a design system, working closely w/ devs, and iterating/designing quickly. It was really interesting working in a startup-esque environment. The product is launching soon, so I’m excited to see my designs shipped!

That’s all for this week!

Have any feedback or want to see something on the newsletter next week? Email us at [email protected] or reply directly to this email.

See you soon,

Clément @ CUxD