The hottest Design Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

#98 Design to the Moon

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 13 Dec 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  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

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 22 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  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.

This is an example post

CB • 239 implied HN points • 07 Jan 21
📚 Literature Design
  1. The post discusses sed in suscipit nunc and includes Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
  2. It mentions Nam hendrerit nisl nec malesuada vulputate, showcasing various types of content.
  3. The post also discusses Aliquam interdum ut dolor ut mattis and Morbi maximus fermentum ultricies, providing insight on different topics.
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#93 Designing virtual worlds

Design Lobster • 159 implied HN points • 08 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  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.

Text to robot, olfactory, and geopolitical strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 17 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Design
  1. MIT scientists are creating robots using a new method called 'text to robot', where you can describe what you want the robot to do using simple language. For example, you can ask for a robot that can walk or make lemonade.
  2. This AI-driven design approach allows for innovative robot designs, like a special robotic hand that can operate medical tools effectively. It's exciting to think about how these robots could be used in hospitals.
  3. The work combines ideas from different fields, like biology and engineering, to inspire a new generation of robots that are practical and useful in everyday tasks.

Emoji that Can Dance 🪩

Did Someone Say Emoji? • 166 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. The latest Noto Emoji update includes 300 animations like a throbbing pink heart and a dancing G.O.A.T.
  2. Emoji serve as important elements in online communication, helping to convey emotions and build connections.
  3. Animated emoji should be designed carefully to maintain their original communicative functions and ensure consistency across platforms.

Gaia Network: a practical, incremental pathway to Open Agency Architecture

Engineering Ideas • 19 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Design
  1. Gaia Network offers a practical solution for Open Agency Architecture, leveraging proven software and economic mechanisms.
  2. Gaia Network functions as an evolving repository of causal models for improving decision-making and coordination.
  3. The design of Gaia Network promotes ease of adoption, real-world impact, and collaborative development to meet the goals of Open Agency Architecture.

From A Care-Less To A Care-Full Future

Creative Destruction • 26 implied HN points • 26 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Design
  1. Products made with care and love stand out in a world filled with mediocre options. People appreciate the effort put into creating something beautiful and meaningful.
  2. There is a growing movement against mass-produced, cookie-cutter items. Many are seeking unique and thoughtful creations that offer a sense of connection.
  3. With so much low-quality content and design around us, high-quality work feels refreshing. It reminds us that better things are possible and worth pursuing.

Chuyện Việt Nam: An ninh mạng con cờ

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 99 implied HN points • 21 Mar 22
🌍 World Politics Design
  1. Criticism of poor design was met with legal threats by event organizers, highlighting a disconnect between public perception and official response.
  2. The handling of internet security issues in Vietnam seems to focus more on censorship and punishment rather than protection and defense.
  3. Suggestions include engaging young designers and students to improve event branding, emphasizing potential benefits of fresh perspectives and creativity.

The Week In Repair: May 29 - June 4

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 06 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Design
  1. New York Assembly passes first electronics right to repair bill, becoming the first state in the nation to do so. This is a milestone achievement for right to repair advocates after years of unsuccessful attempts.
  2. A report highlights the importance of a legal right to repair for wheelchair owners to ensure prompt, high-quality service at an affordable price. This emphasizes the need for a fair market for repair and service.
  3. An overload of lawsuits against John Deere regarding right to repair issues is being consolidated in a federal court in Illinois. This illustrates the ongoing legal battles in the fight for right to repair.

An Ode to BYD

Kartick’s Blog • 35 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Design
  1. BYD cars have a really unique and stylish design. They stand out on the road and feel like they are from the future.
  2. Most car companies play it safe with their designs, which can make many cars look very similar. BYD took a chance and created a standout vehicle that works well.
  3. The shift to electric cars often favors new companies like BYD. Established brands struggle to adapt, which gives BYD a chance to grow and attract drivers looking for innovative options.

What AI Can and Cannot Do for UX

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 87 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Design
  1. AI has a strong role in user experience and professionals should embrace it.
  2. AI is creative, productive, and can create and analyze content at scale.
  3. AI may eventually design good user interfaces but will never replace the need for human users in user research.

#8 - Better-designed buttons

A Good Interface • 19 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Buttons in user interfaces should be well-designed to stand out and serve their purpose effectively.
  2. Button wording plays a crucial role in inviting users to take action; clear and task-specific words work best.
  3. Adding borders, border radius, shadows, and states to buttons not only enhances their appearance but also helps users interact better with them.

#58 For the love of trash

Design Lobster • 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

Design Lobster • 119 implied HN points • 01 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  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

Design Lobster • 139 implied HN points • 02 Aug 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  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.

What I have been so busy with

Basta’s Notes • 81 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Design
  1. The author built a website with a bold and animated design that may not please everyone, but aimed to excite their target audience of podcasters.
  2. The website underwent significant development, transitioning from a DOM-based approach to using Canvas for animations, like with a globe section featuring looping videos.
  3. Challenges were overcome by techniques such as using Perlin noise for wiggling animations and rendering inline SVG images via React for intricate visual elements.

#55 Toys designed for work

Design Lobster • 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.

How to build your portfolio website as a designer

Seeking beauty • 2 HN points • 01 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Design
  1. Start with simple goals for your website like an About page, email info, and a link to your work. You can always expand it later.
  2. To build a website, you need to write code using HTML. It's like giving instructions to a computer in a specific language.
  3. When coding HTML, use tags like head, title, body, h1, p, and a. These tags define how different elements on your website will appear.

How I Developed the 10 Usability Heuristics

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 75 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Design
  1. Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics were developed through factor analysis to explain a database of usability problems, with the final list chosen for its explanatory power.
  2. The initial heuristics in 1989 were based on opinion and teaching needs, while the refined 1994 list was derived through systematic research and factor analysis.
  3. The 10 heuristics have remained relevant for 30 years due to their grounding in fundamental mismatches between humans and machines, and their broad, general applicability across different user interfaces.

Mushrooms, Recursion and You

Cybernetic Forests • 39 implied HN points • 25 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. The post explores the interaction between mushrooms, synthesizers, and human design in creating music.
  2. Recursion, the act of repeating levels of systems, is highlighted as complex but essential for intentional decision-making.
  3. The music created reflects layers of feedback and exchange from the mushroom, synthesizer, cables, designer, and listener, emphasizing collaboration and interconnectedness.

Culture & Cars in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Design
  1. Cars are deeply ingrained in global cultures, impacting trends in autonomous vehicles and ownership models.
  2. Consumers prefer traditional knobs and buttons over touchscreens in cars, despite the automotive industry's shift towards digital interfaces.
  3. The shift towards non-ownership models for cars, such as monthly subscriptions, requires significant cultural change on a global scale.

Using Mad Libs to define startup ideas

An Innovator's Sketchbook • 19 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23
💼 Business Design
  1. To focus a business idea, use a Mad Lib template to define target market and goals clearly
  2. Utilize a spreadsheet to score target markets, goals, and solution fit for better decision-making
  3. Improving a webpage involves collaboration with talented designers and constant updates for user satisfaction

Feature Roundups on Typogram

wentin’s newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Design
  1. Typogram is introducing a new feature called Extra Icons for logo customization.
  2. Typogram has launched a Help Center with resources like tutorials and video guides.
  3. Users are encouraged to provide feedback and try out Typogram's Free Trial for logo design.

ohayo..

SJF • 19 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🎭️ Culture Design
  1. The publication will be a way for the author to follow their curiosity and share ideas.
  2. The author, Simon James French, is a sound artist composing music.
  3. The content of the publication will include ideas, quotes, music, and more that inspire the author.

Stubs (II)

Only Wonder Knows • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🔬 Science Design
  1. In time domain analysis of stubs, keeping stub delay less than half the signal rise time leads to undistorted waveforms.
  2. Rules of thumb for stub analysis suggest keeping stub delay below half the signal rise time for minimal effect.
  3. In high-speed designs, stubs usually aren't an issue if good engineering practices are followed, but caution is needed when boards are very high-speed.

#068 ✰ Objects for the long haul

Objet • 19 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Objet focuses on exploring the intersection of consumerism, myth, satisfaction, desire, taste, joy, meaning, and pride.
  2. High-quality materials in furniture like Eames plywood chairs can be generational heirlooms worth cherishing and restoring.
  3. Taking care of wood furniture with coats of wax can help maintain its health and longevity.

Heavy Fighters of World War 2

Another Boring Article • 19 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
💾 History Design
  1. Heavy fighters during World War 2 had unique features like two engines and heavy armament.
  2. Their main purpose was to provide long-range escort for bombers.
  3. The most successful heavy fighter of the war was the American P-38 Lockheed Lightning.

#066 ✰ Big lights will inspire you

Objet • 19 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Objet aims to bring back joy and pride in our relationship with shopping and objects.
  2. Isma's ceramic piece has soul and meaning, reflecting her passion for slow fashion brands.
  3. The Objet app introduces a new feature 'in my mind' for users to save shopping-related notes and bounties.

The Problem with Chat

Maximum Tinkering • 19 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🕹 Technology Design
  1. Chat interfaces offer a user-friendly way to interact with computer systems, making tasks easier than traditional forms.
  2. As chat interfaces become more common in software products, the challenge of providing guidance amidst endless possibilities arises.
  3. Innovations like starting conversations with pre-set questions and providing a menu of interactive options help address the issue of choice overload in chat interfaces.

Widget Tricks Newsletter #5

Widget Tricks • 19 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Design
  1. The newsletter will now be bi-monthly instead of monthly based on feedback.
  2. Highlighted senior Flutter engineer job opportunities with specific requirements.
  3. Recommended reading articles and watching videos related to Flutter and design for IT career success.

Brand Safe AI

Addition • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Design
  1. Brand safety in AI is not a one-size-fits-all concept; it varies based on the specific use case and how AI is implemented.
  2. Design decisions play a crucial role in aligning the level of risk in an AI system with what the organization is willing to accept.
  3. Addressing brand safety creatively involves different approaches like incorporating safety checks, narrow use cases, and extensive testing to mitigate risks.

Branding You

The Intersection • 19 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
💼 Business Design
  1. To build a personal brand as a designer, focus on relevance by offering something unique and valuable that stays relevant over time.
  2. Differentiate yourself by having fresh ideas, articulating them well, and giving them simple and memorable names.
  3. Pay attention to your presentation by consistently showcasing your brand, both visually and through your work, to establish recognition.

Can you build delighters?

Seth’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Design
  1. Delightful software is not just useful, but loved by passionate fans.
  2. Delighters in software can be intentional features that bring convenience or surprise.
  3. Achieving higher-order delight in software is like appreciating a work of art, requiring dedication and craftsmanship.

To Rebrand or Not to Rebrand?

The Intersection • 19 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
💼 Business Design
  1. When considering rebranding, it is essential to have a clear trigger such as a change in the business direction or a product update for successful outcomes.
  2. Rebranding efforts should not be triggered by superficial reasons like a new CEO or CMO, but rather by substantial changes in the company's core.
  3. A successful rebranding requires a thoughtful integration with the product or service, not just a surface-level change for the sake of change.