The hottest Visual Design Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

#141 Very superstitious

Design Lobster • 619 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🪑 Design Visual Design
  1. Designers are superstitious about alignment because it signals care and attention to detail in the design process.
  2. Small design choices, like the shape of an iron fish, can have a big impact on user behavior and address practical issues, like iron deficiency.
  3. Designing for human beings is not a formula - the most effective designs often emerge from understanding human behavior, even if it seems irrational.

UX Roundup: 2026 Predictions | AI Analyzing Usability | DeepMind Documentary | Amazon Agent | AI Prescriptions | Mechanical Turk

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 23 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🪑 Design Visual Design
  1. AI is starting to automate UX work by analyzing usability session recordings — models already detect emotions well and could scale to identify usability problems, so organizations should preserve raw test recordings now.
  2. AI agents are being widely adopted in products and healthcare and are showing measurable effects — shopping assistants are driving higher purchase activity and some systems are now authorized to handle prescription renewals, improving convenience and efficiency.
  3. Caution is still needed: generative models have practical limits (like poor character consistency) and remote research data is at risk — platforms such as MTurk show widespread low-quality or AI-generated responses, so use more reliable panels or direct observation and plan for stronger identity verification.

What we don't talk about when we talk about quality...

The faintest idea • 319 implied HN points • 24 Dec 23
🪑 Design Visual Design
  1. Quality really matters in software because it makes products more valuable and worth paying for. Just like with clothes or furniture, better quality provides a better experience.
  2. Software isn't always compared just by quality since functionality plays a big role too. It's important to fix the small details that make a big difference for users.
  3. People will feel the difference in quality when using software, even if it doesn't show up in simple success metrics. That feeling can influence their choices and how much they are willing to pay.

2025 Year in Review: Themes, Trends, Status, Top 10 Articles

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 29 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🪑 Design Visual Design
  1. AI has become the interface. Design now focuses less on pixels and more on defining goals, constraints, guardrails, and when humans should intervene.
  2. Agency is the new professional currency. Careers shift from titles and craft to the ability to frame problems, set intent, and steer AI systems under uncertainty.
  3. Research, creativity, and distribution are refashioned by AI. User research runs at machine speed, visual creation is democratized, and UX must handle time, prompt literacy, and AI‑mediated discovery.

The Year in Image Generation

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 23 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Visual Design
  1. Image rendering is no longer the bottleneck; creators can cheaply produce many bespoke variations, so the scarce resource is attention and editorial selection — the best images earn attention by adding clarity, not noise.
  2. Image models have moved from drawing single objects to composing multi-concept scenes and full layouts, and different models trade visual lushness for prompt adherence; creators need to pick or switch models based on the task and content rules.
  3. AI-generated infographics and comics can look authoritative but still hallucinate facts or structure, so people must verify and correct outputs even as hallucinations steadily decline.
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Please let your readers read?

Disaffected Newsletter • 779 implied HN points • 13 Jan 23
🪑 Design Visual Design
  1. Use high-contrast colors for your text and background to make reading easier. Low contrast can make it hard to read and push people away from your content.
  2. Many readers won't tell you your text is hard to read, and they might leave without saying anything. It's better to get feedback than to lose potential readers.
  3. Remember that your main goal is to share words that people want to read. Avoid trendy designs that harm readability, as they can hurt your audience and support.

What is a good designer?

Elizabeth Laraki • 219 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🪑 Design Visual Design
  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.

#9 - Creating an intuitive in-game menu

A Good Interface • 59 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Visual Design
  1. Understanding player expectations is crucial for designing intuitive in-game menus. Players have certain expectations for content and structure, deviating from which can lead to frustration.
  2. Menu navigation and flow are essential in creating a user-friendly experience. Design clear paths, group similar items, and prioritize important actions for quick and easy navigation.
  3. Consistency in iconography, terminology, and design elements, as well as testing with real players, feedback, and iteration, are key to crafting a well-crafted in-game menu that enhances the player experience.

Graphic Sirens

Chartography • 19 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Design
  1. In high-stakes situations, attracting attention is crucial for success.
  2. Charts need to capture a reader's attention before conveying information.
  3. Fresh and bespoke designs in data graphics are effective in grabbing attention.

Behind the scene: This is a teenager

Big Charts • 2 HN points • 09 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual Design
  1. Keeping a diary of daily work on a project can provide valuable insights into the process and help in understanding project timelines and challenges.
  2. Working with complex data can be intimidating, but once you grasp how to access and interpret data, it can offer a wealth of information for analysis and visualization.
  3. Confronting challenges in a project, such as dealing with 'The Desert' phase where doubts and uncertainties arise, is a normal part of the creative process, leading to eventual breakthroughs and refinements.

Portfolio secrets for product designer

A Generalist newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🪑 Design Visual Design
  1. Have your own website instead of just using platforms like Behance. It makes you stand out and shows you're serious about your brand.
  2. Show only a few of your best projects in your portfolio. Focus on what you did in each project so employers can see your skills clearly.
  3. Let your personality shine in your portfolio. Share interesting things about yourself that make you unique and memorable.

UX is more than just usability or look and feel

A Better Designed World • 7 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Visual Design
  1. UX is composed of five key areas that include usability, utility, functional integrity, visual design, and persuasiveness.
  2. Good UX balances all five areas; a product might excel in one but lacking in others.
  3. Usability is crucial for a product to be easily learnable and memorable; utility determines the value; functional integrity focuses on reliability; visual design impacts appeal and perception; persuasiveness drives conversions and user engagement.