2023 team wrap up

The team of muze designers talk highlights, challenges, creativity, and much more.

As the year comes to a close, many of us are looking back at our wins and woes of 2023. In the spirit of wrapping up another productive year, we’ve asked our team about their successes, favorite trends, and creative practices of the last 12 months, and what they’re looking forward to in 2024. Here, we chatted with Noam Malchin, Yana Libin, Ronny Basik, and Tal sade about the past the present and the future at muze. 

Professional highlights in 2023
muze had a busy year, with lots of exciting client projects and opportunities for designers to build their skills. Here’s what Tal has to share about her experience managing large-scope projects for the first time: “The experience was challenging, but significant – and I learned a lot from it. I also had my first product design project, which I enjoyed. This means that now I’m a brand designer, web designer, and a product designer!”
Ronnny agrees, having tackled “several interesting and fulfilling professional opportunities” in 2023. adds Ronny. “The Davidson Institute website design project that I’m working on is progressing successfully, and has received positive feedback. Additionally, she is also working on other projects that are presenting complex challenges and requiring innovative solutions, which she says have allowed her to advance professionally and develop her skills.

How has the team stayed united and created community this year?
“As a small company, muze faces the challenge of working remotely,” says Ronny. Nevertheless, the team always finds opportunities to share, despite the distance. For one thing, they keep in close touch online, sharing thoughts and inspirations – as well as the occasional joke.
When it came to teambuilding, the highlight of muze’s 2023 was undoubtedly their visit to the OFFF conference in Barcelona. There, they spent three days enjoying talks, receptions, and Spanish Tapas. “ I loved going to the OFFF conference together,” says Yana. “I’ve also enjoyed our occasional meetings in the real world!” she adds.
But there are always even more opportunities to meet up and share IRL: “We meet around three times a year to drink wine and catch up,” adds Noam. “From time to time, we also meet for an online lecture to learn new ideas about design-related topics.”

Industry trends and keeping the creativity alive
For designers, one important aspect of the job is staying creative and up on the latest trends. For their parts, Noam and Yana are watching trends like scroll-telling websites, and new Figma releases as they roll into 2024. They also follow trends via design accounts on Instagram and reading Medium articles, and keeps her creative juices flowing via travel and good books.
In addition to these topics, Tal says she enjoys exploring designers’ creations on LinkedIn, Behance, and dribble. “I also love to go to design conferences and hear people talk about their personal experience and difficulties in the industry,” she says
Ronny’s inspiration is more in the weeds: “There are two trends that have excited me this past year. First off, glass morphism, a process by which data is visualized using translucent, milky glass that emphasizes essential information and prevents users from feeling overwhelmed.
Secondly, micro-interactions offer personalized responses, joyfully guiding users and significantly increasing the intuitiveness of digital platforms.” 

Lessons from 2023 and hopes for 2024
“One of my goals this coming year is to establish and maintain a schedule that allows me to have a good work-life balance over time,” says Noam when asked about what she hopes for in 2024. She also notes that she’d like to get more acquainted with brand design.
Yana says her biggest lesson in 2023 was learning to trust herself. She’s planning a relocation in 2024 – somewhere with an interesting community – and would like to attend more conferences. Tal’s goal is to tackle motion web design, as well as animation assets: “ This will help me create amazing and complex websites!” she says.
When reflecting on 2023, Ronny says she struggled – and learned – to trust herself, her abilities and strength, and to take every day as it comes and be thankful for it. For 2024, she’s “praying for peace and quiet, and for the safe return of soldiers and abductees. As for me, I hope to progress professionally while keeping everything else the same.”
In a year that was not without its challenges, the team at muze emerged stronger than ever before. We’re looking forward to what’s to come for our own lives, and for our team. 

See you in the new year!