The hottest Design process Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

Designing the Powerpuff Girls

Animation Obsessive • 33277 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Design process
  1. Bold, simple, and graphic character designs—big eyes, clear silhouettes, and distinct colors—gave the girls instant recognizability.
  2. The final look was the result of years of sketching, trial and error, and precise model sheets that removed unnecessary detail and found a natural drawing shorthand.
  3. Those tight, iconic designs made the characters memorable and helped the show remain culturally relevant and influential for decades.

The crit is the product

Kathy PM • 13 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🪑 Design Design process
  1. Design agents should do more than follow orders; they need to challenge assumptions, ask clarifying questions, and push back like a good design crit.
  2. Tools should offer separate modes: a fast obedient execution mode for production tasks, and a slower, conversational crit mode that is opinionated and willing to interrupt.
  3. To reach that crit-level value, agents must act like designers—investigating users, analyzing problems, bringing references, and reframing solutions rather than only generating visuals.

The importance of Nice Things

Design Lobster • 1278 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design process
  1. Collecting things can be a source of inspiration and help in the design process by providing a sense of unity and completeness.
  2. Finding inspiration laterally from various sources outside your direct field can lead to innovative designs.
  3. Nice things that inspire creativity and design don't necessarily have to be extravagant or expensive, they just need to evoke a feeling in you.

What is a good designer?

Elizabeth Laraki • 219 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🪑 Design Design process
  1. A good designer focuses on understanding the product's goals, audience, and use cases. They clarify what the product should achieve and for whom it’s meant.
  2. User experience is key for a designer, ensuring the product is easy and natural to use. They organize content and tasks logically, making navigation simple for everyone.
  3. Visual design is about making the product look polished and high quality. Good designers pay attention to details like colors, fonts, and alignment to connect with users effectively.
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Democratization of Design

The Intersection • 138 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🪑 Design Design process
  1. Design tools like Canva have democratized design, making it accessible to everyone, but the quality of design produced may not always meet professional standards.
  2. AI-powered design tools aim to streamline design processes, but they require a fundamental understanding of design to be used effectively.
  3. While tools like Canva have made design accessible to non-designers, the quality of work ultimately depends on the skills and capabilities of the individuals using the tools.