The hottest Design Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Design Topics

#102 Let there be light

Design Lobster • 199 implied HN points • 07 Feb 22
🪑 Design Lighting Art
  1. Virtual reality headsets use different types of lenses for comfort and viewing experience, like 'pancake' lenses that reflect light back and forth to achieve magnification.
  2. The design of lighting fixtures, like the PH Artichoke light, can be both functional and visually striking, even when not in use.
  3. Designers should consider the qualitative aspects of a project, like the experience and metaphorical impact of light, in addition to the technical details.

FontDiscovery 🖼️ 143: Perfect Font for Reading

FontDiscovery • 39 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🪑 Design Typography Graphic design Color Inspiration Branding
  1. The featured font for the week is Alegreya, perfect for text-heavy projects like blogs and newsletters.
  2. Alegreya has multiple styles including serif and sans serif versions, making it versatile for various design projects.
  3. Alegreya is recommended for logos, branding, marketing graphics, and publishing projects due to its different weights and styles.

#83 Gradients

Design Lobster • 259 implied HN points • 30 Aug 21
🪑 Design Digital Product Quote
  1. Gradients have become popular in digital design due to their ability to evoke depth and serenity, contrasting with the flat design trend of the past decade.
  2. By incorporating gradients into design, it can make users feel more at home in digital environments.
  3. Gradients can bring personality and joy to design, as seen in the expressive hues of Le Creuset cookware.
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Algae Ink: The best plant-based ink around?

Green Graphic Design • 39 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🪑 Design Sustainability Color Production Environmental Impact Marketing
  1. Algae Ink is now commercially available and offers high-contrast blacks, carbon sequestration, and light-fastness.
  2. The production process of Algae Ink replaces petroleum-derived pigments with plant-based pigments, making it a more sustainable ink option.
  3. Algae Ink has environmental benefits like being carbon-negative, sequestering carbon, and potentially offering recyclability advantages over petroleum-based inks.

#90 Zip it!

Design Lobster • 219 implied HN points • 18 Oct 21
🪑 Design History Innovation Fashion Art Quotes
  1. The zipper's history dates back to innovative designs in the 1800s, leading to the mass acceptance we see today.
  2. Designs like 'Habitat' buttons showcased personal interests, similar to a mini smartphone wallpaper.
  3. A quote from a fashion designer emphasizes the importance of staying true to convictions, even in the face of initial rejection.

#94 For the love of things

Design Lobster • 199 implied HN points • 15 Nov 21
🪑 Design Objects Psychology Quotes Podcasts
  1. Aichaku represents the attachment one can feel for an object; aim for a design that fosters a healthy relationship.
  2. Baoding Balls are stress-relief tools with physical and mental benefits; consider how your design impacts the well-being of users.
  3. Promote balance in the relationship between humans and the technological objects we use; as designers, we have a responsibility to ensure this balance.

Portfolio secrets for product designer

A Generalist newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🪑 Design Product Design Visual Design User Experience Branding
  1. Have your own website instead of just using platforms like Behance. It makes you stand out and shows you're serious about your brand.
  2. Show only a few of your best projects in your portfolio. Focus on what you did in each project so employers can see your skills clearly.
  3. Let your personality shine in your portfolio. Share interesting things about yourself that make you unique and memorable.

#67 Form is everything

Design Lobster • 239 implied HN points • 10 May 21
🪑 Design Architecture Furniture Quotes Form Innovation
  1. Designing with form can influence the psychological state of people experiencing it - like lower ceilings in buildings that help calm heated discussions.
  2. Pushing the boundaries of traditional form can lead to innovative and unique designs - like the Pelican chair by Finn Juhl that hugs the sitter with its sculptural arms.
  3. Focusing on form in design can reveal hidden surprises and create memorable experiences - as Enzo Mari suggests, 'Form is everything.'

#99 The gift of design

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 20 Dec 21
🪑 Design Packaging Product Design Industrial Design Ceramics Gift Giving
  1. Unboxing moments can hold as much excitement as the actual product itself. Adding drama to design reveals can enhance consumer anticipation.
  2. Nutcrackers have a rich history dating back to prehistoric times, evolving into complex, colorful contraptions with unique designs. Bringing personality to designs can make them more engaging.
  3. Designing with the intention of gifting creates a sense of generosity and care in the design process. Viewing design as a gift to others can add a special touch to the creation.

#66 Talking to machines

Design Lobster • 239 implied HN points • 03 May 21
🪑 Design Technology Automotive Psychology Quotes Creativity
  1. Interacting with technology often feels personal because our brains can't distinguish between machines and people, ascribing intentions and feelings to them.
  2. Designing interactions with software should aim to make it feel like dealing with a pleasant human, not a troublesome entity.
  3. The phenomenon of pareidolia is utilized in the automotive industry to make cars seem more desirable by intentionally creating angry faces in car designs.

#69 Keep going!

Design Lobster • 219 implied HN points • 24 May 21
🪑 Design Product Design Industrial Design Brand identity
  1. Bubble Wrap was originally created as textured wallpaper, but found success in protecting items during shipping.
  2. Keeping an eye on the surrounding environment could lead to valuable design connections that aren't immediately obvious.
  3. Redefining a brand through a new design, like the Land Rover Series I, can lead to unexpected success and longevity.

#61 How to sabotage a Zoom call

Design Lobster • 239 implied HN points • 29 Mar 21
🪑 Design Tech Architecture Quote Craft
  1. A browser tool called Zoom Escaper allows users to self-sabotage Zoom calls with bizarre sound effects, addressing the need for disconnection in our highly connected age.
  2. Anni Albers, a celebrated artist and weaver, innovated by weaving a fabric using chenille and cellophane threads to solve practical design problems with sound absorption and reflective qualities.
  3. The quality of design often depends on the client, highlighting the importance of collaboration and communication between designers and clients for successful outcomes.

Three data visualisation tips

A Bit Gamey • 27 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🪑 Design Data Visualization Graphic design
  1. Maximize the data-ink ratio by minimizing non-informative ink like excessive grid lines and decorations, to enhance clarity and comprehension.
  2. Align graphic components to create stronger organization and cohesion in design, ensuring nothing is placed arbitrarily.
  3. Utilize small multiples technique to present series of similar graphics or charts in a grid format, enabling easy comparison and revealing patterns within the dataset.

#64 Why was beige all the rage?

Design Lobster • 219 implied HN points • 19 Apr 21
🪑 Design Aging Lighting Longevity Quote Sustainability
  1. Computers in the past were commonly beige due to practical reasons, offering a vintage look that did not look too new or old.
  2. Designing with longevity in mind, like the Centennial Lightbulb that has been shining for over a century, showcases the importance of durability and smart design choices.
  3. Great design is timeless and should focus on understanding the unchanging aspects of human nature to create lasting impact.

#63 Imagining a more progressive internet

Design Lobster • 219 implied HN points • 12 Apr 21
🪑 Design Internet Philosophy Graphic design Music
  1. The internet can be more progressive by not being limited to past patterns and by focusing on helping users progress rather than staying the same.
  2. Design can move forward by reimagining past elements, such as logos, to create new and innovative concepts.
  3. Creativity and action are key - the best response to dissatisfaction is to create something new and improved.

#87 The rhythm of design

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 27 Sep 21
🪑 Design Art Objects Quotes Dance
  1. Design can be inspired by the rhythmic elements of dance and motion.
  2. Visual representation in design needs to find the right level of abstraction to capture essential aspects.
  3. Design has the power to bring order and rhythm to chaos, much like the mesmerizing motion of a well-designed mobile.

Dear New Designers, It’s Not You, It’s Them

Far From the Valley • 2 HN points • 15 Jul 24
🪑 Design Professional development Digital Content Career Advice Industry challenges
  1. Be cautious of online design influencers who may prioritize personal branding over practical advice.
  2. Focus on the substantial, impactful work happening in design beyond social media hype and viral content.
  3. Take control of your design career by being selective with the advice you follow and finding inspiration in meaningful work.

#84 Deeply average

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 06 Sep 21
🪑 Design Product Design User Experience Quotes
  1. Designing for the average can be dangerous as the 'average' user might not actually exist, leading to flawed design choices.
  2. Questioning who the average user is can lead to innovative design solutions that challenge normalized assumptions.
  3. Design is not about finding one right answer, but about exploring a multitude of solutions, with some being more suitable than others.

#54 A design to lean back in

Design Lobster • 199 implied HN points • 08 Feb 21
🪑 Design Research Furniture Philosophy Experience
  1. Micro-phenomenology aims to understand lived experiences in detail, like a psychological microscope, by focusing on the structure of experiences.
  2. Designers can use 'how' and 'how do you know' questions to reveal more about user experiences and map designs accurately to reality.
  3. Tiny details of human behavior, like the mechanism to lean back in a chair, can inspire design improvements and accommodate instinctive behaviors subtly.

#81 Spores of design

Design Lobster • 139 implied HN points • 16 Aug 21
🪑 Design Biology Innovation Sustainability Quotes
  1. Slime moulds like Physarum can exhibit learning and prediction abilities similar to animal brains, offering insights for creating more efficient networks.
  2. Using biological materials like fungus in design can lead to sustainable and unique outcomes, such as mycelium lamps that grow into strong structures without harmful adhesives.
  3. Designers can find inspiration in embracing chaos and disorder, as it often leads to hidden order and innovative solutions.

#65 Details that tell a story

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 26 Apr 21
🪑 Design Architecture Creative Quotes
  1. Design details can tell a story by revealing historical eras in architecture and showcasing craftsmanship as seen in skeleton clocks
  2. Consider allowing elements of your design to reveal inner workings for a more transparent user experience
  3. Design has the power to renew perception and make us more alert to our surroundings

#88 Go reconfigure

Design Lobster • 119 implied HN points • 04 Oct 21
🪑 Design UX Philosophy Product Design History
  1. Designs are becoming more personalized, like Google's Material You design language that adapts system colors based on the user's wallpaper choice.
  2. Designers may need to embrace flexibility to allow users to contribute to the end result, as seen in the unique design approach of Material You.
  3. Creating a delightful user experience involves making the process of configuring designs enjoyable, like the adjustable Tizio lamp designed by Richard Sapper.

#75 The pursuit of simplicity

Design Lobster • 139 implied HN points • 05 Jul 21
🪑 Design Product Simplicity Communication Art
  1. Simplicity in design involves more than just removing elements - it's about reducing something to its most essential to make important relationships clearer.
  2. Apple's approach to product design involves a step-by-step process of refinement, similar to Picasso's method of simplifying his artwork to the most essential elements.
  3. Ensuring that a design communicates its purpose even when simplified is crucial - elements like width and handle design can guide users to understand functionality.

Don't trust the (design) process

The faintest idea • 2 HN points • 30 Jun 24
🪑 Design Graphic design User Experience Product Design
  1. Don't rely too much on the design process. It can make you follow rules that might not lead to the best outcomes.
  2. Focusing too much on user research and processes can distract from actual design work. It's important to make something people will enjoy using.
  3. Embrace a flexible approach to design. Sometimes skipping steps or being messy can lead to better results and creativity.