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

#99 The gift of design

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

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.

#98 Design to the Moon

159 implied HN points • 13 Dec 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Space Exploration
  1. Designing on the moon poses challenges due to lack of atmosphere, extreme temperatures, and difficulty in transporting materials, requiring innovative solutions like 3D-printing with lunar soil.
  2. The Prague Astronomical Clock is a fascinating example of design connecting people with the solar system, featuring unique horological measurements and a gravity-powered moon phase mechanism.
  3. Design can be enriched by asking brave questions, leading to more insightful and meaningful solutions, as emphasized by Carl Sagan's quote.

#95 Drunk on design

159 implied HN points • 22 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Wine Architecture Form Senses
  1. Design can significantly impact our senses, intentionally engage them in your designs.
  2. The diverse shapes of wine bottles solve practical problems like collecting sediment and ensuring a wet seal.
  3. Consider the cultural and functional aspects of a design's form to add meaning and solve problems.

#69 Keep going!

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.
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#61 How to sabotage a Zoom call

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.

#93 Designing virtual worlds

159 implied HN points • 08 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Virtual reality Design Technology
  1. Be aware of the potential misuse of your designs, like in virtual reality where hacks can physically move users without their knowledge.
  2. Consider ways to enhance the immersion of your design, like the Sensorama, one of the earliest virtual reality devices with multi-sensory experiences.
  3. Think about designing objects in the context of their surroundings, as mentioned by architect Eliel Saarinen in considering design elements in their larger context.

#64 Why was beige all the rage?

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

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

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.

#84 Deeply average

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.

#114 Sunshine design ☀️ UPDATED

79 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. The newsletter explores the theme of sunlight in design, from physical to digital.
  2. The author mentions connection issues that resulted in an early draft being sent out.
  3. The updated version of the newsletter is available for those interested in the final form.

#91 The design of sleep

139 implied HN points • 25 Oct 21
🪑 Design Technology History Art
  1. Consider incorporating human biological rhythms into your design
  2. Think about how the characteristics of your design would change if scaled up
  3. Design is about imagining beautiful futures and holding onto those visions

#54 A design to lean back in

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

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.

#58 For the love of trash

179 implied HN points • 08 Mar 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Waste can be fun - like animatronic Dutch bins at a theme park.
  2. In the 60s, the Scott Paper Company sold paper clothes, a precursor to fast fashion.
  3. Make things beautiful if they are both necessary and useful - a Shaker proverb to live by.

#92 Spooky design

119 implied HN points • 01 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Spirituality History Technology Culture
  1. Holographic technology uses illusions like Pepper's Ghost to bring back deceased celebrities for performances.
  2. Planchettes were 19th century tools for spirit communication, showing human fascination with the supernatural.
  3. Embrace action to overcome fear, as Susan Jeffers famously said: 'Feel the fear and do it anyway.'

#79 Design in ruins

139 implied HN points • 02 Aug 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Creativity History
  1. In design, historical elements like spolia can add depth and connection to the past, bringing a sense of continuity and richness to modern creations.
  2. Everyday objects can be repurposed creatively in design, transforming the mundane into something unique and intriguing.
  3. Just like cities are built on top of ruins, digital technology and computer code have layers of complexity and history woven within them, reminding us that things are not always as sleek and clean as they seem.

#78 What is an "eye" for design?

139 implied HN points • 26 Jul 21
🪑 Design Visual Objects Quotes Escapism Creativity
  1. Having an 'eye' for design involves a sensitivity to visual inconsistencies and a focus on communication in design.
  2. Designers can train their 'design eye' through practice and exposure to visual stimuli.
  3. Design can be more experimental and escapist, like the theatrical plates and trays by Piero Fornasetti.

#55 Toys designed for work

179 implied HN points • 15 Feb 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Designers can make work more playful by incorporating games and activities like Workshop Tactics designed for design teams.
  2. In design, bringing delight through witty use of physics laws, like the Thumb Pot does, can enhance user experiences.
  3. Designing software should focus on empowering users to improve and excel at things they want to be better at.

#65 Details that tell a story

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

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

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.

#62 A design by Florence Nightingale

159 implied HN points • 05 Apr 21
🪑 Design History Furniture Visual communication
  1. Florence Nightingale made an important contribution to data visualization through the Rose Diagram during the Crimean War. Communicating data effectively is key in design.
  2. Arne Jacobsen's Egg Chair is an iconic piece of furniture design from the mid 1950s. Reinterpreting traditional shapes can create modern classics.
  3. Consistency in design, both visually and behaviorally, is crucial for usability. Users should know what to expect when interacting with a design.

#60 What is idea sex?

159 implied HN points • 22 Mar 21
🪑 Design Creativity Quotes Tools Inspiration
  1. Human prosperity thrives on the exchange of ideas between groups and individuals, leading to innovative creations like the mouse emerging from a combination of various specialized knowledge.
  2. Idea Sex, as popularized by James Altucher, involves combining existing ideas in unexpected ways to generate new and valuable concepts. It's about the magic of recombining familiar thoughts.
  3. Design problems are best tackled by creating prototypes quickly, testing them, and refining based on feedback. Remember, less time in your head, more time on iterations when it comes to design.

#70 Design illusions

139 implied HN points • 31 May 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Architecture Typography Perception Context
  1. Design can deceive our eyes through various techniques like overshooting in type design and visual illusions in architecture.
  2. Human visual perception quirks are important to consider in design to create effective and impactful visuals.
  3. Context and wit can be leveraged in design to playfully interact with surroundings, adding depth and interest to the design.

#57 The smallest car in the world

159 implied HN points • 01 Mar 21
🪑 Design Design
  1. Design is not always a straightforward problem-solving process. The definition of a problem can change and evolve as designers work on it, leading to different outcomes.
  2. Consider the possibility of making designs smaller. The world's smallest car, the Peel P50, was a response to fuel shortages and offers a unique perspective on transportation needs.
  3. Love for users can be reflected in designs. Building a connection with users can lead to creating designs that they will love.

#68 Making your presence felt

139 implied HN points • 17 May 21
🪑 Design Product Ceramics Emotion Memory Craftsmanship
  1. Software can represent human presence in abstract ways, like live cursors that show where others are focusing.
  2. Design can communicate human presence through physical elements, like thumbprints on a teapot showing the maker's touch.
  3. Design has the potential to touch emotions and souls, creating a deeper connection beyond just functionality.

#73 Constraints are beautiful

119 implied HN points • 21 Jun 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Constraints can lead to beautiful designs, as seen in the architecture of Alberto Ponis and graphic design of Willem Sandberg.
  2. Embracing constraints can bring about unique and surprising solutions in design.
  3. Constraints, rather than hindering, can actually be keys to solving design problems effectively.

#72 Design in the bathroom

119 implied HN points • 14 Jun 21
🪑 Design Psychology Functionality Innovation Inspiration
  1. Toothpaste stripes are created through thixotropic rheology which helps maintain consistent viscosity for perfect stripes every time.
  2. Striped toothpaste was an innovative marketing strategy to suggest multiple functions, even if the active ingredients are evenly mixed throughout.
  3. Rejection can lead to new opportunities - Jony Ive's rejected bathroom basin design paved the way for his success at Apple.

#82 Sit down design

99 implied HN points • 23 Aug 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Comfort Symbols
  1. Design is not just about functionality, but also about the symbolic power designs hold over us.
  2. Comfort is a culturally determined concept, not universally defined, which impacts design decisions.
  3. Inspiration for design can come from unusual sources, like the impression left in snow leading to the creation of the Karuselli chair.

#80 Design in motion

99 implied HN points • 09 Aug 21
🪑 Design Psychology Innovation Technology Sports
  1. The Doherty threshold is the idea that faster computer response times improve productivity, with a 400ms threshold mentioned.
  2. The Nike Air Zoom Victory shoe stirred controversy in professional sports due to its innovative design technology, emphasizing the importance of focusing on design details.
  3. Motion communicates stories and is a crucial aspect for designers to consider in their work.

#77 Design stitched up

99 implied HN points • 19 Jul 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Fashion
  1. Yarnbombing is a form of public art that uses knitting to add personality to urban spaces and challenge traditional gender norms.
  2. Cartwheel ruffs were extravagant, impractical accessories worn by Tudor nobility to showcase wealth, made possible by advancements in starch production.
  3. Designers should listen to what a project wants to be, rather than imposing their own ideas, in order to create something truly unique and meaningful.

#71 Data you can feel

99 implied HN points • 07 Jun 21
🪑 Design Infographics Sensors Innovation Quotes
  1. Infographics can convey powerful emotional messages more effectively than just numbers.
  2. Design can communicate information without relying on visual elements.
  3. The beauty of a design can serve as a test for the correctness of the solution.

#48 Putting a bang in Christmas 💥

119 implied HN points • 28 Dec 20
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Combining ideas from different disciplines can lead to innovative design, like the evolution of the Christmas cracker incorporating elements of confectionery and pyrotechnics.
  2. Adding elements of shock or surprise can enhance the emotional impact of a design, similar to the intentional surprises in Christmas crackers.
  3. Finding connections between unrelated ideas is a valuable design skill, as seen in the Milton Glaser Christmas card that creatively combines typography elements to form a Christmas tree.

#47 Why does red mean stop? 🚦

119 implied HN points • 21 Dec 20
🪑 Design History Innovation Creativity
  1. Traffic lights use the color red for stop because it was easiest to see from a long distance in the early 19th century due to its long wavelength.
  2. The development of the bagless vacuum cleaner by James Dyson involved overcoming challenges in the lucrative vacuum bag market and partnering with a Japanese company.
  3. Designing something well is akin to being a good host - anticipating the needs of users like guests at a party, as mentioned in a quote by Charles Eames.