The hottest Design Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics
Design Lobster 239 implied HN points 11 Jul 22
  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.
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Digest // Storefronts of Bangkok 39 implied HN points 25 Jan 24
  1. Stay updated on the hottest events in Bangkok by subscribing to a weekly events round-up.
  2. Explore Bangkok's largest design festival with over 500 programs showcasing various themes.
  3. Attend exciting events like underground house parties, design festivals, and pool parties to make the most of your time in Bangkok.
Basta’s Notes 81 implied HN points 08 Feb 24
  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.
Design Lobster 339 implied HN points 10 Jan 22
  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
The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) 99 implied HN points 28 Jun 23
  1. Situated software is made for specific needs in small groups. It may lack polish but works well for those it helps.
  2. Good brittleness means being tailored to a specific situation and easily adapting when things change. This makes systems and products more responsive.
  3. We should focus on building things that are both suited to situations and able to change easily, rather than just aiming for large, flawless systems.
Jakob Nielsen on UX 75 implied HN points 15 Feb 24
  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.
The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past 66 implied HN points 25 Feb 24
  1. The movie 'Perfect Days' explores finding beauty in the everyday moments, emphasizing the importance of living in the present and appreciating the small details around us.
  2. Creativity is about connecting dots in new ways, as showcased in the process behind the film and how it surprises in an AI-driven world.
  3. The film highlights the contrast between modern digital life and traditional analog elements like cameras, film, and cassette tapes, urging a deeper connection with the present moment and our surroundings.
The Intersection 59 implied HN points 02 Nov 23
  1. Authenticity is becoming increasingly valuable in a world where AI can create realistic but artificial images.
  2. Using AI in creative work offers convenience, speed, and experimentation opportunities, but also raises concerns about originality and authenticity.
  3. As AI technology advances, maintaining authenticity, pursuing originality, and ensuring quality become crucial to stand out amid the convenience AI offers.
Obsolete Sony’s Newsletter 2 HN points 18 Aug 24
  1. Sony's MiniDisc format started in 1992, offering basic models with different recording times, such as 60 and 74 minutes. This was the beginning of their journey into the MiniDisc market.
  2. Over the years, Sony introduced various colorful and uniquely designed MiniDiscs. Each new series often featured innovative designs and enhancements to attract users and improve functionality.
  3. By 2004, the Hi-MD format emerged with enhanced features and greater storage capacity. However, it struggled to compete with newer technologies and was discontinued a few years later.
🔮 Crafting Tech Teams 39 implied HN points 02 Jan 24
  1. The focus for 2024 is on developing human and soft skills alongside Software Engineering Fundamentals, starting with architecture and design techniques.
  2. The XP disciplines will be covered in February, building on the foundational knowledge of architecture and design.
  3. The importance of human skills alongside technical skills in technology will be discussed in an upcoming stream on Jan 3rd.
Technology Made Simple 79 implied HN points 31 Jan 23
  1. Group theory in mathematics helps in understanding inheritance and polymorphism in Object-Oriented Programming.
  2. In OOP, inheritance allows classes to inherit properties, similar to how groups inherit properties from subgroups.
  3. Group theory provides a framework for designing efficient and modular systems by understanding class and object relationships.
Bureau of Adventure 59 implied HN points 07 Oct 23
  1. Japan Airlines is offering a clothing rental service for travelers. This could help people pack lighter and reduce the fuel used for flights.
  2. There are new high-speed trains connecting Miami and Orlando, making travel easier in Florida. More routes are being planned too, which is exciting!
  3. United Airlines is expanding its fleet with more planes. This shows they are focusing on premium travelers and growing internationally.
The New Urban Order 59 implied HN points 14 Sep 23
  1. The author is following five fresh cities for their urban development and innovative approaches.
  2. These cities include a North American city repurposing vacant office buildings, an Eastern European city with a dynamic mayor focusing on city design, an Asian megacity with unique urban planning narratives, a city challenging London to become the U.K.'s cultural hub, and an African city undergoing transformation with pedestrianization and tech sector growth.
  3. The author's work revolves around exploring cities with forward-thinking mayors and unique urban development models.
Fight to Repair 59 implied HN points 15 Sep 23
  1. California Legislature passed a Right to Repair Act, a big win for consumers, small repair shops, and the environment, following years of lobbying resistance from tech firms.
  2. Designer Ollee Means breathes new life into old chairs by restoring and revitalizing them, highlighting the importance of repair and sustainability in modern design.
  3. Google agrees to 10 years of Chromebook support and sustainability measures like adaptive charging, saving costs, reducing waste, and promoting longer-lasting devices.
SatPost by Trung Phan 69 implied HN points 27 Jan 24
  1. Apple prioritizes packaging as a form of theater to create memorable unboxing experiences.
  2. The design of Apple packaging is deeply rooted in human psychology, focusing on creating a luxury, multi-sensory experience.
  3. Apple's packaging reflects the company's commitment to perfection and attention to detail, reflecting their dedication to creating a high-quality product.
The Field Trip Newsletter 58 implied HN points 17 Apr 23
  1. The lesson plan focuses on teaching children about different housing styles around the world
  2. Children are encouraged to create a blueprint design of their own home and build a model home from another part of the world
  3. Additional ideas include hosting a mini film festival, studying global weather patterns, and building structures from around the world
skry 58 implied HN points 09 Mar 23
  1. Avatar-Centered Design is essential in the metaverse and web3 to understand avatars' significance and influence.
  2. The increasing importance of digital avatars is driven by trends like self-expression, NFTs, and avatar interoperability.
  3. For Avatar-Centered Design, it's crucial to consider questions about avatar interoperability, value sources, and point of transfer.
Objet 58 implied HN points 22 Mar 23
  1. Objet aims to bring back joy and pride to the relationship people have with their possessions.
  2. Soulful design can be found in everyday objects, like Estelle's designed-by-herself bedside table.
  3. Swatch watches, 40 years old, reinvented watches as fashion items and brought art into everyday life.
CodeLink’s Substack 58 implied HN points 25 May 23
  1. Learn how to go from zero to prototype in just five days using an async design sprint.
  2. Key elements of a design sprint team include Facilitator, Timekeeper, Bus Driver, Decider, and Interviewer.
  3. Daily schedule for a design sprint includes warm-up sessions, group collaboration, individual work periods, and sync-up meetings to stay on track.
Engineering Open Societies 58 implied HN points 12 Mar 23
  1. Design documents are essential for software engineers to communicate ideas and solutions with others.
  2. Design documents should be treated as ephemeral artifacts used to drive a collaborative process and then discarded.
  3. In design documents, focus on presenting the problem, provide solution-independent correctness conditions, and offer a solution with trade-offs and decisions.
Did Someone Say Emoji? 166 implied HN points 02 May 23
  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.
Kenny’s Sub 39 implied HN points 21 Dec 23
  1. Freelancing allows for more control and fulfillment in your work. You can choose projects that excite you instead of being stuck in a regular job.
  2. It's important to build strong relationships and always keep your pipeline full. Referrals can greatly help in getting new clients and sustaining your business.
  3. Shifting your mindset about value and time is crucial. It's about delivering impact, not just billing hours, and you can charge for the value you bring.
Design Lobster 259 implied HN points 14 Feb 22
  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.
UX Psychology 158 implied HN points 13 May 22
  1. Neurodiversity encompasses a wide range of neurological variations in the human population, emphasizing the positive aspects and uniqueness of different thinking styles and cognitive functions.
  2. When designing for neurodiversity, consider factors like font choice, error prevention, clear copywriting, sensory issues, and consistency in design to create inclusive user experiences.
  3. In the workplace, it's important to foster understanding and flexibility to support neurodiverse individuals, from adjusting hiring practices to creating accommodating work environments and providing education and resources.
Design Lobster 259 implied HN points 06 Dec 21
  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.
Only Wonder Knows 39 implied HN points 17 Nov 23
  1. Fuses are essential components for providing protection in electronic circuits by blowing up when the current exceeds a certain threshold.
  2. Fuses have specific ratings like amperage and voltage, and their behavior can be affected by factors like temperature and pulse energy.
  3. Understanding the details of fuses is crucial for designing reliable circuit boards and ensuring proper functionality.