The hottest Web Design Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Hello AI Agents: Goodbye UI Design, RIP Accessibility

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 180 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI agents User Experience Web Design Automation Accessibility
  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.

Claude Sonnet 3.7 Compared with Previous AI Models

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 13 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI User Experience Web Design Usability Software Development
  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.

Beautiful ugly websites

Product Identity • 931 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🪑 Design Graphic design Web Design User Experience Interface Design Visual communication
  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.
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I HAVE IMPROVED AT DESIGN 😤

vrk loves paper • 159 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🪑 Design Graphic design Product Design Fashion & Design Interior 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.

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

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 7 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Web Design Job Market Video Production Usability
  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.

41 Years in UX: A Career Retrospective

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 60 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology User Experience Academia Inventions Startups 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.

Time Scales of UX: From 0.1 Seconds to 100 Years

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 50 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology User Experience Web Design AI Organizational Change Data Management
  1. User experience is not a place or thing, but it unfolds over time.
  2. The time scales in UX range from 0.1 seconds to 100 years, with a huge variability.
  3. Design decisions in UX can impact events that last from a fraction of a second to a century, requiring a broad perspective and high IQ to navigate effectively.

Developers of ‘Stuff and Things’

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Software Development AI Programming 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 CSS User Experience
  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.

WTF- A short comic strip analysis

Turnaround • 98 implied HN points • 09 May 20
🪑 Design UI/UX Web Design Product Design Tech stack
  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.

An Interview with Ian Fieggen, Shoelace Expert

Syntopikon • 11 HN points • 17 Apr 23
🪑 Design Illustration Web Design Graphics User Experience
  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.

HN blogs - 6/10/24

HackerNews blogs newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Web Design Data Management Artificial Intelligence
  1. Learning about bypassing authentication can help understand security weaknesses in websites. It's important to know how these vulnerabilities can be exploited.
  2. SVG cursors can be a fun way to enhance user experience on websites. They allow for creative and customizable mouse pointers.
  3. Regularly interviewing, even when not looking for a job, helps keep your skills sharp and prepares you for future opportunities.

raelzie wat yoi've got

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 16
🕹 Technology Social media Internet culture Web Design Digital Trends
  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.

Using shape of stories for web site analysis

Experiments with NLP and GPT-3 • 0 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Web Design Content Strategy Information Architecture Usability
  1. Websites can have a certain flow or structure, similar to stories. This means the way content is organized can affect how users experience the site.
  2. Using AI can help analyze website content to identify strengths and areas for improvement. It can suggest ways to make a site more engaging and comprehensive.
  3. Improving a website involves expanding the topics covered, deepening content on existing topics, and making connections between different parts of the site clearer.

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 Usability Security Software Web Design Books
  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.

Deliverable authentication as a useful pattern

ciamweekly • 0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Authentication Web Design User Experience Software Development Online Security
  1. Some accounts don't need strong security, so using email or phone for login is enough. It's easy for users who only want to use something once or rarely.
  2. Many people prefer quick login methods, like magic links or one-time codes, instead of complicated passwords. This reduces hassle and makes using apps simpler.
  3. Removing barriers to access can benefit both users and companies. When login is easier, users are more likely to engage with the app.

www.tuoitre.com.vn thay đổi cách thiết kế menu

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 07
🕹 Technology Web Design Usability Security
  1. The menu design change on www.tuoitre.com.vn, making menus unclickable, has caused inconvenience and confusion to users.
  2. The new menu design implies restrictions on readers, limiting access to all news in a topic area and forcing them to navigate through submenus.
  3. There is a connection between usability and security in software and websites, where good usability often correlates with better security measures.