Hi designers!
It’s Clément again! Welcome to the 6th edition of the CU Design newsletter – a curated set of learnings, inspiration, resources, and tips.
If you’re not familiar with CUxD (Cornell User Experience Design), we’re a centralized community for UI, UX, and product designers at Cornell. We learn and grow together both professionally and socially!
Learning time
This week’s topic is about UX microcopy – the small bits of text that guide users and bring personality to your product. From error messages to labels to tooltips, microcopy plays a big role in shaping how users feel and interact with website.
Here are a few scenarios that show how thoughtful microcopy can improve the user experience:
Easing privacy concerns
Users are often wary of sharing personal information with websites. Adding a sentence to explain what this data is used for can reassure them and clarify your intent.
A useful banner explains why the user’s phone number is being collected.
Anticipate user concerns
A good use of microcopy is to anticipate potential concerns users might have to prevent them from getting stuck on a task. In the example below, by confirming that the profile picture can be changed later, new users don’t have to worry finding the perfect picture when signing up.
The app lets the user know that they can change their picture later.
Positive reinforcement
A well-placed confirmation message can reinforce a sense of progress and success. This kind of microcopy also helps reduce uncertainty and build trust between the app and the user.
The combination of a checkmark icon, green color, and microcopy (with the user’s email) reassures the user that everything is good.
Onboarding guidance
When users first interact with an application, they may feel overwhelmed with all the new features and options. Clear, concise microcopy helps orient them and gently guide their next steps. This reduces friction and makes the experience feel more welcoming.
Adding a progress tracker can further support users by showing where they are in the flow.
The simple language makes the app friendly and approachable.
Learn more
A curated list of websites that use expressive microcopy in their branding
A simple set of guidelines to follow when writing microcopy
Common UX writing mistakes to avoid, and how to fix this
Internship opportunities
Product Manager Intern @ TikTok
San Jose, $35 / hrUX Design Intern @ 7-Eleven Inc.
Irving, TexasProduct Designer Intern @ Palantir Technologies
New York, $53 / hrUX Research Intern @ Xometry
MarylandUX Design & Human Factors Intern @ HP
Scotts Valley, California, $35 - $50 / hr
Advice from a fellow designer
About
Happy (Yanran) Li, Information Science (UX concentration), from Qingdao, China
Fav Figma shortcut
Option – hold to measure spacing and to duplicate elements
Previous work experience
Design intern at Wiley and VC-backed start-ups and as a Contract Product Designer at Bloomberg. She is currently a Contract Product Designer for Klook and an incoming UX design intern at SAP.
Proudest design project
During my internship at Wiley, one of the leading publishing companies, I had the opportunity to learn about the publishing domain and immerse myself in the daily workflows of editors. I contributed to their internal publishing management tool by redesigning key pages to improve user productivity and proposing new feature ideas to address unmet needs. I also gained hands-on experience with design systems, including atoms, components, and patterns, and developed a stronger foundation in UX writing.
Advice
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from the product design recruitment process is the importance of showing that you genuinely want the opportunity and not just any opportunity. That intention comes through in small but meaningful ways: customizing your portfolio slides to reflect the company’s brand or values, tailoring your behavioral responses to align with the team’s needs, and sending thoughtful thank-you notes that reference specific moments from the interview. These details show your care and effort, and can perhaps make you stand out in a competitive pool :)
Another piece of advice is to lean on your support system. The job search can be emotionally exhausting, but having a community, whether it’s friends, mentors, or a design club, makes a huge difference! I found it incredibly helpful to do mock interviews with peers, exchange feedback on portfolios, and just talk through the ups and downs with people who understood.
Design inspiration
Some cool designs to for your dopamine hit!
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