The assumption of empathy: Are all designers psychotherapists now?
Empathy, empathy, empathy. It’s a term lavishly tossed about like salt at a fast-food restaurant. As designers, we have become inured to the threadbare pervasiveness that has stripped it of its essential worth. We take its meaning for granted.Munch, Edvard. “Attraction II.” 1895. Original from The A..
Am I going to work with people who inspire me?
Interview with John Ferguson about design excellence and non-linear career paths in design.Illustrated by Shreya DamleLeading with Craftis a limited series of articles where we shed a light on stories of designers with successful careers as individual contributors.
Curating and publishing hundreds o..
Subtraction in design, NFT fanatics, headless UI, and more links this week
Weekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers.Generally speaking, people don’t get paid for removing features. They don’t get applause for eliminating jobs. And they rarely get promoted for telling their bosses they’ve been wasting their money. Much safer to propose something new, whi..
Embrace imperfection to design with character
Imperfections are usually something we try to hide, but there are some great examples where they have been turned into decisive strengths.What do these have in common?
Pixar choosing to make its first movie about toysThe decor of Friends, unchanged for 10 seasonsThe scratchy sound of a vinyl recordA..
Why icons alone won’t save your navigation
Photo by Brett Jordan on UnsplashThis article was inspired by a conversation I had with Ryan Warrender on our Podcast Design Huddle.
There is also the old joke of a kid seeing a floppy disk for the first time and asking his Dad why he has a 3D printed version of the save icon.
Well a while back when..
Design practices that can shape values-driven futures
Design thinking that challenges perceptions, broadens inclusion and fosters co-creation
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What’s wrong with “everyone’s a designer”
Casino heists, Disney movies, and more.
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Brutalism at its best
The days when one of architecture’s most controversial styles looks at its most resplendentThe Barbican Centre in London in all its sublimity.This morning I awoke, like I often do, and fired up my laptop from which I lazily scrolled through the various news and sports websites; an act which encompas..
The role of Reflection in the design process
The often-overlooked last step.In product design, when we release a feature into the wild, we can expect a degree of objectivity in the feedback we get. We can tell if our designs are helping or hurting based on the feedback and metrics after we ship.
Getting my hands on these metrics can be challen..
The Ikea effect: accepting change by creating it
In our drive for efficiency and effectiveness, we tend to present finished solutions and ready-made decisions to employees. However…
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