- Entries
- 11
- Span
- 2011–15
- 2015Apr 23
Thinking Offline by Default
Building apps offline-first isn't about supporting poor connections — it's about making software blazingly fast by storing data locally and syncing in the background with web workers.
Apr 23, 2015 / 2 min2 min - 2014Sep 15
End Users Need to Stop Taking Credit for Good Design
Calling an interface intuitive gives users credit that belongs to designers. Good design is costly, iterative, and hard-won — simplicity is just blood, sweat, and tears in sheep's clothing.
Sep 15, 2014 / 2 min - 2014Feb 04
Microsoft Excel Is Causing Great Damage to Modern Software Design
Prototyping in Excel leads developers to build apps that look like spreadsheets. Great software design requires an emotional connection — not just a table of data.
Feb 4, 2014 / 2 min - 2013Dec 05
If You Care About Your Data . . . $B1:$C2#?!
Overreliance on Excel spreadsheets for data storage creates fragile, idiosyncratic systems that break down over time. If you care about your data, use software designed to protect it.
Dec 5, 2013 / 3 min - 2013Aug 28
Minimum Viable Product: Build, Measure, Repeat
Cloudmanic Labs analyzes their own Photomanic launch data to reveal how even experienced teams misjudge MVP scope, and why measuring feature usage is essential to lean product development.
Aug 28, 2013 / 2 min - 2013May 14
Modal Windows Are For Chumps
Why modal windows are overused and misused in web design — covering the UX problems they create, when they are actually appropriate, and how to make better decisions for users.
May 14, 2013 / 3 min3 min - 2012Oct 23
When Designing Software, Think About My Wife
Great software mirrors a great relationship — built on spark, emotional attachment, and trust. Here's how to design products users can't live without.
Oct 23, 2012 / 5 min5 min - 2012Sep 20
Product, Distribution, Product, Distribution...
In the web startup world, the most important mantra isn't location — it's product and distribution in a constant feedback loop. Here's how veterans and first-timers think about it differently.
Sep 20, 2012 / 3 min3 min - 2012Sep 05
Software Design: The "Come Back Later" Problem
Modern software is commitment-free, so when users encounter a confusing advanced feature they mentally note "come back later" — and never do. Build interfaces so simple they don't need to.
Sep 5, 2012 / 3 min - 2011Dec 13
Why the #NewTwitter Kept Me From Deleting My Account
Twitter's 2011 redesign pulled a near-quitter back in — not because of new features, but because the team actually studied how users behaved and rebuilt the interface around real evidence.
Dec 13, 2011 / 4 min - 2011Dec 05
Sucky Products Suck - or is it just that good products are great?
Why do some products inspire fierce loyalty while others just get used? A look at emotional engagement, feature bloat, and why the best products feel more like friends than tools.
Dec 5, 2011 / 3 min
