It’s easy to talk about how Apple focuses on simplicity, but showing it is far more powerful. This is why Apple will soon have a successful personal and home ecosystem in a way that no other company does. Mobile device, wearables, home systems, etc.—all working together. This is only possible where the obstacles to use are either dissolved…
Anatomy of a Single Page iPhone Homescreen
I like clean interfaces, and I’ve attempted to extend this to my mobile device. With iOS 8, Apple’s mobile search features (via Spotlight) have improved greatly. What I’ve done is leverage Spotlight to get my homescreen down to one page. Here’s how I have my apps organized on that single screen: The overall concept is that there are…
This is Why Google+ Failed
Many thought Google+ was going to curbstomp Facebook. I took one look at the interface and knew it had limited life. Google just doesn’t get how to build a compelling interface for most of its products. Here’s a great example: Hangouts.
The Best Pen: The Zebra Sarasa 0.4
I derive pleasure from the procurement, use, and appreciation of writing implements. My favorite pencil is the 0.5 Rotring Rapid PRO, and my favorite pen is the Zebra Sarasa 0.4. This pen is extraordinary. It’s a 0.4 instead of 0.5, so the line is extremely tight. And it just feels…precise. Extremely smooth, and extremely crisp. Highly recommended. […
Auto-sharpening Mechanical Pencil
Pencil porn. Just bought one from Amazon. [ Uni Kuru Toga Roulette Model Auto Lead Rotation Mechanical Pencil ]
A Minor Design Slip by Apple
Apple is famous for attention to detail, but occasionally they miss. Here’s an example. In the screenshot above, the iOS7 keyboard is shown in its default state, i.e. without capitalization activated. Something about this bothered me for a while, but I just figured out what it was: The activation color scheme for the SHIFT is opposite that of…
Butterick’s Typography Book is a Thing of Beauty
I’m going through Butterick’s Typography Book again, and I’m noticing a feeling that’s similar to admiring a perfect workspace, or even doing amateur astronomy. It’s about an effort towards perfection, with keen focus on the experience of all involved. I think it’s an Apple thing as well, now that I think about it. The typography in the book,…
mem:o Simple Data Visualization Tool For the Design Oriented
To create a chart, all you need to do is chose a color palette from seven options and start entering your data. Each chart gives you the option of adding a unit (dollars, hours, minutes, miles, yards or feet), the date and time for each entry, as well as tags and a brief text note. You can see your data…
The Power of Good Design
Man, this is a stunning site. Very few things make me as happy as strong typography—especially when done in a simple style. It honestly makes me want to associate with that thing, whatever it is. It feels as if it makes me a better person. I think that it’s a simple matter of association. Being in a bookstore,…
Left vs. Right-side Navigation: Which Big Sites Use Which?
I’m thinking about redesigning my theme again and I’m considering a few key design options: single vs. dual sidebars, and, if I go with a single, which side to put it on. First I started reading about the prominent opinions on the matter but quickly realized that I preferred the “what are people actually using” approach. One of…