UX Design Blog | Fractional Design Insights

News, views, and real-life lessons in UX design.

10 April 2026

Three Small UX Details That Make a Big Difference

UX Design: Three tiny details that clients don't notice until they're missing: 1. Loading state messaging Don't just show a spinner. Tell people what's happening: "Loading your dashboard..." or "Processing payment..."

11 March 2026

Why Do Startups Pay 3x More for Work That Takes Twice as Long?

I think it often comes down to fit, not quality. Agencies are built for a certain type of client and project. They have processes, account teams, and structured timelines that work well at scale. For established companies with budget and time, that setup makes total sense.

9 March 2026

How to Validate a Product Idea in 2 Weeks (Without Building)

With this trick, you don't need to build a full product to test if an idea is worth pursuing. You don’t even need to build a demo.

17 February 2026

Where Does Your Design Budget Actually Go?

“What’s the difference between you and an agency?” I get asked this quite a lot. While I could say I’m the wizard behind the curtain, I don’t want to do agencies a disservice.

10 February 2026

Origin Story/Introduction: Why I Started McShannock Design

2016 was the year I acted on a market gap I just couldn’t ignore any longer. Small teams were getting a raw deal on design. If this has happened to you, you know exactly what it’s like.

10 December 2025

The Importance of Blog Posts for SEO

If you are a website owner, you have probably heard of the term SEO or search engine optimisation. SEO is the process of optimising your website to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive more traffic to your website.

15 November 2025

Top Ten Figma Plugins to Boost Workflow

Figma is a great design tool already, but with the help of plugins, it can become even more powerful. In this post, we’ll be exploring the top ten Figma plugins that can help boost your workflow.

27 October 2025

Why I Prefer to Use Figma Instead of Adobe XD

As a designer, the tools I use are crucial to my workflow. After trying out both XD and Figma, I have found that Figma is my preferred design tool for several reasons.

11 July 2025

Five Tips to Improve Your E-commerce Conversions and Reduce Abandoned Carts

As an e-commerce business owner, it can be frustrating to see potential customers leave their shopping carts without completing their purchase. This is known as an abandoned cart, and it can be a significant barrier to your business’s success.

30 June 2025

Why Brand Identity is So Important

In today’s competitive market, it is essential for businesses to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

25 June 2025

The Importance of Good Photography for Web Design

In today’s digital age, having a website is essential for any business or individual. A website is often the first point of contact for potential customers or clients, making it crucial to make a good first impression. One of the most critical factors in creating an engaging website is the use of good photography.

19 June 2025

UX Design: Creating a Seamless User Experience

In today’s fast-paced digital world, having a website or app that is easy to use and navigate is essential. This is where User Experience (UX) design comes in.