Design Lobster

Design Lobster explores the multifaceted world of design through essays, personal insights, and analyses. It examines design principles, trends, the impact of design choices on behavior and society, and the inspiration behind innovative designs, aiming to illuminate the ubiquitous influence of design in everyday life.

Design Principles Design Trends Innovative Design Inspirations Impact of Design on Society Design and Technology Design Psychology Visual Communication Historical Context of Design Symbols User Experience Design Creative Process and Thinking

The hottest Substack posts of Design Lobster

And their main takeaways

#125 Design calling 📞

279 implied HN points • 09 Jan 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Predictive text like T9 technology for mobile phones drastically speeds up text entry by predicting what you meant to type based on a single tap.
  2. The Lobster Telephone by Salvador Dali collides everyday objects with unique elements to create a surreal and thought-provoking design that challenges how we see the world.
  3. Steve Jobs' quote emphasizes the importance of taking action and making the first call to turn dreams into reality, highlighting the significance of initiative and courage.

#116 Sh*t design

419 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
🪑 Design Product Design Typography
  1. Design choices can have long-lasting effects, leading to path dependency that constrains future options.
  2. Simple design changes, like a square-cored toilet roll, can lead to clever outcomes by encouraging efficiency and mindful usage.
  3. Questioning design briefs and challenging the necessity of elements can be a mark of a great designer.

#117 It's a blow out

399 implied HN points • 05 Sep 22
🪑 Design Product Design Graphic design
  1. Designing with air can lead to innovative products like the Dyson Airwrap that uses the Coanda Effect to create curls without excessive heat, showcasing the importance of understanding and utilizing physics in design.
  2. Consider emotional and symbolic factors in design, as seen in the case of the IKEA inflatable furniture series from the 1990s that faced practical issues and failed to provide a comfortable user experience.
  3. Whitespace, like air, is essential for design to breathe. Remember the significance of negative space in layouts and compositions when things feel cluttered.

#118 (Un)certainty

359 implied HN points • 19 Sep 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Psychology Quote Gaming Creativity
  1. In a corporate setting, "certainty theatrics" can stifle creativity by creating a culture that demands absolute certainty in inherently uncertain situations
  2. Pachinko parlors use uncertainty to create excitement and engagement, showcasing the psychological effect of intermittent reinforcement
  3. Embracing experimentation and uncertainty is vital for personal growth and avoiding becoming static or repetitive in design and in life
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#120 Hands-on design 🤲

319 implied HN points • 17 Oct 22
🪑 Design Technology Creativity Interaction Art Quote
  1. Sketching can help advance design thinking by bridging the gap between our minds and reality.
  2. Designs like the Mi.Mu gloves show how technology can enable more expressive ways of interaction.
  3. Consider infusing designs with elements that allow people to express themselves intuitively and creatively.

#123 Design fiction 📖

279 implied HN points • 28 Nov 22
🪑 Design Fiction Future Art Creativity
  1. Design fiction involves creating functional objects from potential futures to spark debate and engagement about those futures.
  2. Fictional artifacts can evoke deeper emotions and engagement compared to traditional concept videos, making them a powerful tool for future envisioning.
  3. Imaginative design can transport people into envisioned futures and help reveal truths that reality might obscure, fostering progress and innovation.

#119 A creature of design

319 implied HN points • 03 Oct 22
🪑 Design Product Quote
  1. Design can be inspired by animal qualities, leading to creative and functional designs like kinetic sculptures and supportive chairs for pets.
  2. Consider how movement can enhance your design - like Theo Jansen's sculptures that stride gracefully due to specific joint lengths.
  3. DIY design solutions, like the Bailey chair for dogs with megaesophagus, can have a big impact and inspire supportive communities.

#110 Paying attention

439 implied HN points • 30 May 22
🪑 Design
  1. Visual hierarchy is crucial in design to guide the viewer's attention.
  2. Controlling the salience of elements in design can impact how users interact with content.
  3. Utilizing subtler interactions in design can help reduce the need for constant phone notifications and create a more calming user experience.

#115 Curve ball

339 implied HN points • 08 Aug 22
🪑 Design Furniture Architecture Innovation
  1. Cyma curves, also known as 'S' curves or the line of beauty, flow in reference to an invisible straight line or 'chord', adding elegance and sophistication to designs.
  2. Vladimir Kagan revolutionized sofa design by incorporating padding within the frame, creating iconic pieces like the Serpentine sofa, emphasizing curved shapes for comfort and social interaction.
  3. Curves in design can evoke both historical and future elements, as seen in Oscar Niemeyer's architectural work, showcasing the dynamic nature of curved forms.

#121 Accessible design

219 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
🪑 Design
  1. Accessible design should consider making clothing easier for individuals with various physical abilities, like hidden magnetic buttons and innovative fasteners.
  2. Thought-provoking design concepts, such as objects intentionally designed to be uncomfortable, can make us reflect on the fine line between convenience and frustration in everyday objects.
  3. Accessibility in design is crucial as it allows everyone, regardless of abilities, to unleash their full potential.

#105 U-G-L-Y

359 implied HN points • 21 Mar 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Ugly design can have a unique appeal and challenge conventional aesthetic norms.
  2. Consider breaking aesthetic rules in design to create something unconventional and eye-catching.
  3. Reusing existing materials creatively can lead to impactful and thought-provoking design solutions.

#109 Make do and mend

299 implied HN points • 16 May 22
🪑 Design Restoration Creativity Architecture Quotes
  1. Repairing and maintaining items can lead to creative and bold outcomes, reinventing things in original ways.
  2. Fixes and repairs can actually enhance designs, making them more beautiful and functional.
  3. Design is often about redesign, inheriting previous design choices and revisiting them with new perspectives and intentions.

#108 It's a process

299 implied HN points • 02 May 22
🪑 Design Process Reasoning Events Quotations
  1. The design process can sometimes feel like magic when a solution comes together, often due to abductive reasoning that brings out novel ideas.
  2. Creativity thrives in spaces outside of formal work processes, like in unscheduled moments or unconventional events like 'unconferences'.
  3. Design work is a continuous journey of developing new understandings and appreciations as you navigate through the stages, emphasizing the importance of flexibility in thinking.

#114 Sunshine design ☀️

239 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
🪑 Design Architecture User Interface
  1. Anisotropic design describes virtual objects with appearances that change based on viewing angles, potentially revolutionizing user interfaces.
  2. In architecture, utilizing features like rotating roof-light covers can transform everyday actions like adjusting light into magical experiences.
  3. Great design, like well-placed sunlight on a building, has the power to enhance and reveal beauty in the environment, much like other forms of art.

#107 Sitting comfortably?

299 implied HN points • 18 Apr 22
🪑 Design Fashion Furniture Product Art Innovation
  1. In the late 19th century, there was a debate on acceptable women's clothing, with the Rational Dress Society advocating for comfort and autonomy over traditional restrictive garments like corsets and bustles.
  2. The kotatsu heat table is a clever Japanese design combining a low dining table with a blanket and electric heater, providing warmth and coziness while reducing the need to heat an entire room.
  3. Bréné Brown's quote 'Lean into the discomfort of the work' reminds us that discomfort can lead to growth and innovation, urging us to embrace mindfulness and vulnerability in our design work.

#113 Is anyone there?

239 implied HN points • 11 Jul 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Design AI Human connection Creativity Urbanism
  1. Sophisticated AI tools are changing how art and design are created, sparking debates on the nature of creativity and artistry.
  2. Design that connects with its context can reveal surprising and special elements, adding depth and meaning to the work.
  3. The core of design always revolves around people, emphasizing the importance of designing with empathy and understanding the human element.

Lobster long-read #2: Digital Mannerism

698 implied HN points • 15 Dec 20
🪑 Design Architecture Typography Modernism
  1. Design in digital interfaces has evolved from skeuomorphism to flat design to neumorphism, combining elements of the real world with digital aesthetics.
  2. The history of architectural movements like Modernism and Post-modernism can provide insights into the evolution of digital design trends, such as Flat Design and the potential for a Digital Baroque.
  3. Current trends in neumorphism in interface design show a shift towards expressive and 3D elements within the constraints of digital screens, akin to the principles of architectural Mannerism.

#106 Design stinks!

299 implied HN points • 04 Apr 22
🪑 Design Web Industrial Technology Creativity Quotes
  1. Consider incorporating scent into your design to evoke emotions and memories.
  2. Explore the creative possibilities of using machines with scent-detection capabilities in various industries.
  3. Good design is often overlooked when it works well, but stands out when it fails.

#100 Consider the lobster

339 implied HN points • 10 Jan 22
🍲 Food & Drink Design History Culture Technology
  1. Consider innovative ways to grow food like fish without catching them, such as through cellular agriculture technology
  2. Be mindful of the social codes your designs may implicitly reinforce, like the historical significance of niche cutlery
  3. Persistently work on problems, like the waves wearing down the beach, to find solutions in your design work

#52 Designers, what is "taste"?

599 implied HN points • 25 Jan 21
🪑 Design Taste Architecture Creativity Innovation Inspiration
  1. Taste in design involves forming opinions based on gut instincts that can be justified intellectually.
  2. The concept of taste in design is not about elitism but about embracing and learning from the wider world.
  3. Efficient and aesthetically appealing design, like the Crinkle crankle wall, can come from revisiting basic principles with creativity.

🖐 Five ideas about design

259 implied HN points • 14 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Be more specific in your design by paying attention to the details that fit the context.
  2. Work with the natural elements and constraints of a situation rather than against them to create solutions that blend seamlessly.
  3. Design with personal experiences in mind to create universal connections, and stay alert to unintended discoveries in your process.

#97 Design: a map

259 implied HN points • 06 Dec 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Maps Navigation Exploration
  1. How map projections like the Mercator can heavily distort our perception of the world and influence political narratives.
  2. The concept of maps can extend beyond traditional paper forms to include tactile representations, like the wooden Ammassalik Map, challenging our preconceptions of navigation.
  3. Designers should be conscious of how they interpret reality in their designs and consider different perspectives and ways of representation.

#102 Let there be light

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.

#83 Gradients

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.

#76 Are you seeing red?

279 implied HN points • 12 Jul 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Human vision is trichromatic, with photoreceptors for blue, green, and red. Our sensitivity to red and green hues is high but affects how many colors we can see.
  2. The color red may have helped our ancestors identify ripe fruits. Designers use this sensitivity to red for attention-grabbing elements like notification dots.
  3. Bold colors, like the red Olivetti Valentine typewriter, can evoke emotions and create an emotional connection with designed objects.

#103 Justice by design

179 implied HN points • 21 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Social justice Chocolate Book Quote
  1. Design can be used as a tool for social justice and equity, as demonstrated by initiatives like Creative Reaction Lab and their 'Equity-Centred Community Design Field Guide.'
  2. Companies like Tony's Chocolonely are using design in their products to convey powerful messages and promote social change, like highlighting issues of slavery in the chocolate industry.
  3. Design justice involves challenging normative models and amplifying diverse voices and knowledge through design practices, as emphasized by Sasha Costanza-Chock in their book 'Design Justice.'

#51 Extra-terrestrial Design

359 implied HN points • 18 Jan 21
🪑 Design Product Space Quote Movement
  1. Satellites made of wood are being explored to reduce space debris and harmful gases
  2. Design can be fun and unconventional, challenging traditional norms
  3. Good design goes beyond aesthetics, focusing on functionality and purpose

#85 Glassy design

239 implied HN points • 13 Sep 21
🪑 Design History Innovation Functionality Culture
  1. Design can shape behavior - consider what kind of manners your design might encourage.
  2. Distinctive design elements can make a product recognizable even when broken.
  3. Unexpected benefits of design can add value to our lives, beyond initial intentions.

#90 Zip it!

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

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.

#96 Puzzling design

179 implied HN points • 29 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Artifacts Quotes Puzzles
  1. Jigsaw puzzles were invented by John Spilsbury, starting as educational tools for children which later became popular as a therapeutic activity during the Great Depression.
  2. Puzzle jugs from the 18th century were designed with hidden tricks to prevent spills, showcasing how designs can incorporate elements of surprise and challenge for users.
  3. Design should aim to reduce clutter and confusion, but intentional puzzlement in design can sometimes offer satisfaction and intrigue to users.

#67 Form is everything

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.'