The hottest Web Design Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Beautiful ugly websites

Product Identity • 931 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🪑 Design Web Design
  1. Function is often more important than form in design. A good example of this is Craigslist, which proves that a simple and effective website can succeed despite being visually plain.
  2. Some websites that are considered 'ugly' actually have a unique charm and authenticity. They focus on heavy text and straightforward layouts, showing that simplicity can be powerful.
  3. While aesthetics matter, there is a shift towards appreciating simple designs that prioritize usability over flashy elements. This challenges the trend of over-designed websites.

ChatGPT5 drops

In My Tribe • 318 implied HN points • 09 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. ChatGPT5 can help students with creative projects, like making a virtual wax museum about economists. It offers guidance on how to set it up and what to include.
  2. The idea is to create interactive exhibits for each economist, showcasing their contributions and ideas in an engaging way. This makes learning about them more fun and relatable.
  3. Even though ChatGPT5 can generate useful starting materials, students still need to put effort into developing their projects. It’s about teamwork between AI and human creativity.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

SITREP

THREE SEVEN MAFIA • 819 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. Announcement of 7HOMAS TV launch and E-7HOMAS website.
  2. Access to audio, video, and written content, as well as personal history and original content.
  3. Website link to be shared on multiple platforms soon.

This barndominium does not exist, part V

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. Vacarino LLC runs many Facebook pages that post fake home images created by AI. These pages are designed to attract clicks and likes.
  2. The person behind Vacarino LLC, who is actually based in Kosovo, uses these pages to promote a mix of real and AI-generated content, often changing the focus of the pages.
  3. Some of these Facebook pages have been repurposed from completely different themes, showing they might have been hijacked for spam purposes.

Reboot's Ins & Outs for 2026

Reboot • 15 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Web Design
  1. Corporate beige microsites and other uniform aesthetics are getting tired while AI-generated "slop" multiplies, so people will crave more playful, varied, and weird corners of the web.
  2. AI evaluation is shifting from multiple-choice benchmarks to proving real-world job performance and economic impact, driving demand for roles like forward-deployed engineers who turn models into practical value.
  3. Institutions and communities are reshaping: non-academic labs will need academic muscle, new folk schools will grow, pop-up village hype may fade, and cultural attention will narrow into deeper specialization.

I HAVE IMPROVED AT DESIGN 😤

vrk loves paper • 159 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🪑 Design Web Design
  1. Design skills can improve over time with practice. The recent work showed noticeable growth compared to earlier projects.
  2. A recent event, the Receipt Printer Meetup, was a success with many attendees enjoying the chaos and fun of printing stickers together.
  3. New creative projects, like the 'Dogs of Fate,' are exciting and can be made quickly, inspiring continued exploration and development of ideas.

Hello AI Agents: Goodbye UI Design, RIP Accessibility

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 180 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. AI agents will change how we interact with the internet by doing tasks for us, making traditional user interfaces less important. Instead of users browsing websites, agents will handle everything, like shopping or booking trips.
  2. Accessibility might become less relevant as AI agents can adapt content for the individual needs of users with disabilities. These agents will tailor their actions and communication according to what each user prefers or requires.
  3. As AI agents become more capable, the way content is designed will shift. Websites may need to focus more on how agents can access and analyze information rather than on making things visually appealing for human users.

Top 10 UI Annoyances

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 48 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. Usability annoyances can make users leave a website, hurting businesses. When users face too many issues, they want to quit, which can lead to lost sales.
  2. Common problems like pop-ups and auto-playing videos frustrate users. These distractions can spoil their experience and make them less likely to return.
  3. Design matters! Poor choices, like tiny buttons or hidden menus, can make it hard for users to navigate. Simple, clear designs improve user satisfaction and keep them engaged.

UX Roundup: Field Observation of Sticky Notes | Performative Privacy | Response Time Delays | Jakob Fireside Session | Content Supremacy

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 23 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. Users struggle with bad designs when they need to write sticky notes to remember how to use a system. This shows that the design is confusing or hard to use.
  2. Many privacy features on websites only look good and don't actually protect users. They often annoy users while providing little real help, which can damage trust.
  3. Long loading times and delays frustrate users. It's important to make systems faster and to give clear updates during wait times to keep users engaged.

#4 - Build a powerful pagination

A Good Interface • 19 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. Learn how to create effective pagination between inventory and leaderboard.
  2. Understand the benefits of pagination like facilitating navigation and saving data in a game.
  3. Improve pagination with tips like correct placement, next/prev buttons, visible states/actions, and offer more control with filters and sorts.

Developers of ‘Stuff and Things’

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. Microsoft is making it easier for anyone to develop apps with tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot. Now, even people without much coding experience can try their hand at building applications.
  2. The introduction of ChatGPT has changed how developers work, allowing them to do both backend and frontend tasks. This means developers can now create all parts of a website or app without needing specialized training for each role.
  3. Although it's said that everyone can be a developer now, there isn’t much data to prove this. However, the possibilities that tools like GPT-4 offer to developers are significant and worth exploring.

Using calc() to create responsive typography

Perspectiv | LAB • 1 HN point • 22 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. The `calc()` function in CSS helps you do math for styling, making it easier to set font sizes for different screens.
  2. By using something like `font-size: calc(1.5rem + 1vw)`, the text size grows with the screen size, creating a more adaptable design.
  3. You can also use `calc()` to set limits on font size, ensuring your text doesn't get too big or too small on any device.

41 Years in UX: A Career Retrospective

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 60 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. Jakob Nielsen has had a long career in UX since 1983, with a consistent mission of making computers user-friendly.
  2. He transitioned from academia to real-world UX work, influenced by his experiences with different computers and usability.
  3. Key achievements include pioneering discount usability, writing a popular book on web usability, and raising public awareness about UX.

Claude Sonnet 3.7 Compared with Previous AI Models

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 13 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. The new AI model, Claude Sonnet 3.7, performs better than previous versions and outperforms other models, like Grok 3, in explaining key concepts like Jakob's Law.
  2. Jakob's Law highlights that users form their expectations based on their experiences with other websites. This means that following common design patterns is crucial for creating a user-friendly experience.
  3. Interactive demos created by AI can help users see how standard and non-standard designs affect usability, making it easier to understand the importance of sticking to familiar web conventions.

WTF- A short comic strip analysis

Turnaround • 98 implied HN points • 09 May 20
🪑 Design Web Design
  1. Browsers are getting more powerful, so make sure your product/app embraces this shift towards client-driven applications with fast startup times.
  2. Simplify design by making buttons more prominent, reducing text, and ensuring users intuitively know how to interact without needing explanations.
  3. Prepare for the future of faster speeds with 5G connectivity - speed will be a critical factor in user experience going forward.

UX Roundup: AI Camera | Web Design Mistakes | UX Job Openings

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 7 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. To create powerful AI-generated videos, human directors still need to guide the AI camera for emotional impact. Learning traditional filmmaking techniques can help enhance the storytelling.
  2. Many web design problems are still the same as they were decades ago. Simple things like clear value propositions and easy navigation are still overlooked by many new websites.
  3. There are roughly equal job openings for both junior and senior UX designers. Many junior designers feel there are only senior positions available, but the data shows that opportunities exist at all experience levels.

An Interview with Ian Fieggen, Shoelace Expert

Syntopikon • 11 HN points • 17 Apr 23
🪑 Design Web Design
  1. Ian Fieggen, known as 'Professor Shoelace,' has compiled extensive shoelace information in various formats for over two decades.
  2. Fieggen uses outdated tools like an old PC running Windows 8 and ancient graphics software to continue his work.
  3. Shoelaces, often underestimated, have led to creative solutions and improvements for different needs, like hiking or running.

raelzie wat yoi've got

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 16
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. The coolest club in Los Angeles is actually on Facebook, where only suggested members can join, creating an exclusive group.
  2. Even the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, focuses on making content go viral with a savvy team and her relatable family.
  3. At Facebook, a team is working on creating tools for online interactions, such as helping users deal with breakups or identifying signs of depression.

Where UX and marketing cross over

Mehdeeka • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Web Design
  1. When making changes to website navigation, consider the impact on user experience and accessibility.
  2. Menu design options include basic lists, simple drop downs, mega menus, and full-screen menus.
  3. The complexity of a menu can affect conversion rates, with smaller menus potentially leading to a better CR.

Những toilet không cửa hay là tại sao phải biết thiết kế

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 13
🪑 Design Web Design
  1. A well-designed toilet should be touch-free to ensure hygiene and ease of use.
  2. The design of everyday items, like toilets, requires careful consideration to meet user needs and protect their health.
  3. Good design balances security and usability, preventing user frustration and errors. Investing in learning about design principles can greatly benefit various products and services.