Workflow 26
Another day, another rough sketch.
Workflow 25
I still always start with a sketch, however rough.
Workflow 24
Doing my best to Learn Sketch 3. We created Sketch specifically for designing interfaces, websites, icons …
Words 127
Listen to ‘Hello my name is Paul Smith’ on Audioboo A few smart words recorded at ‘Hello, My Name is Paul Smith’ exhibition at Design Museum London.
Pictures 70
Currently admiring the simplicity of the Google Drive UI.
Pictures 69
Feedly have a new underbar design.
Pictures 68
An example of a good welcome email – Slack.
Workflow 09
In terms of a quick design inspiration fix, Pinterest is a great place to be – composition, form, typography, color, texture.
Pictures 67
Square Space on dribbble. I’m not sure what else to say but a showcase of inspiring work.
Pictures 66
People tell me “print is dead”.
Words 119
The term “remarkable” means being worthy of notice or attention or, in the context of the web, naturally persuading the viewer to mention or recommend a website to a friend.
Words 118
Design is not purely visual. Visual or graphic design is only a small part of what we do. Knowing that your first role as a designer is “problem-solver”, rather than “guy who draws stuff” is a good place to be.
Words 117
I take time out of each day to sketch.
Pictures 64
A nice package arrived in the post, courtesy of Newspaper Club.
Words 115
Do you label a button Submit or Save or Update or New or Create? That’s copywriting. Do you write three sentences or five? Do you explain with general examples or with details? Do you label content New or Updated or Recently Updated or Modified? All of this matters.
Pictures 63
I recently visited the Käthe Kollwitz Museum, Cologne, Germany – stumbled across these great posters on the way in.
Words 114
When you write like everyone else and sound like everyone else and act like everyone else, you’re saying, “Our product is like everyone else’s”.
Words 110
Think about your customers and think about what those buttons and words mean to them. Don’t use acronyms or words that most people don’t understand. Don’t use internal lingo. Don’t sound like an engineer talking to another engineer. Keep it short and sweet. Say what you need to and no more.
Words 109
Build predictable websites. Design what the user expects. Do not try to build the next big web feature unless its absolutely a better, more intuitive way to complete an old task.
Words 108
Always anticipate that a user may not use your website the way you intend. Predict how they might misuse the website, and don’t let the consequences of misuse be undesirable.
Words 107
Great brands work, they say to people that you care about quality.
Words 106
Always look as good as you can and as good as you wished you felt without being too fussy.
Pictures 55
Admittedly I have never used the service but I love the idea of Newspaper Club.
Pictures 54
Sometimes books are best for inspiration.
Pictures 53
Digging through some old magazines – this Roy Lichtenstein inspired cover design for Creative Review still works for me.
Pictures 52
Holly Daniels and I recently visited the Imperial War Museum – a beautiful building, a posh cafe and some inspiring artwork.
Words 97
Users should never have to guess if something is clickable or not.
Words 96
The price the user sees in their shopping cart should be the same as what the user is charged on their credit card.
Words 95
Showcase your best work, not all of your work.
Pictures 51
A piece of the Berlin Wall.
Words 94
People overestimate what they can accomplish in the near term and underestimate what they can accomplish in the long term.
Words 93
It’s important to get away from work until you miss it.
Words 92
Taking time to sit back and watch is important – a million ideas will come to you.
Pictures 50
Google being helpful again. Intuitive, easy yet descriptive – helping users along their way with minimum fuss.
Pictures 49
An overwhelming amount of amazing design work – the @Dropbox team on @dribbble.
Words 91
You know you’ve done something right when everyone at the conference table is smarter than you.
Pictures 48
One premium package by Viktor & Rolf.
Words 90
Is web design an artistic undertaking? Or, is it a pragmatic process.
Words 89
We do not remember days, we remember moments.
Words 88
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination can take you anywhere.
Words 87
Set goals, reach, repeat.
Pictures 47
I recently visited the Detroit Institute of Arts with team @Nutshell. A truly extensive and varied collection that rivals any museum I have ever been to. If you are ever in the Detroit area, it’s well worth a visit.
Words 86
When Winston Churchill was asked to cut arts funding in favour of the war effort, he simply replied, “then what are we fighting for?”.
Words 85
The young are always coming up with the good ideas; it’s because they waste time. They follow their passion and do something, not looking for a payoff, just doing what’s interesting.
Words 84
Branding is what people say about you when you are not in the room.
Words 83
I want a life that other people tell stories about.
Words 82
Be passionate about whatever you do.
Words 81
It’s not that I have more energy. I also get tired. It’s more a case of choosing to use it.
Words 80
Treat every job interview as a success. You then have very little to lose once you get there.
Words 79
Old, wise or experienced?