Design

Layer Tennis

In Design, Fun, Geek on 27 March 2009 with 1 comment

Today at noon I’m playing Layer Tennis with Jason Santa Maria with none other than Jim Coudal doing the play-by-play. This is like the principal of the school being your substitute teacher. Be there! And be sure to Twitter your comments.
UPDATE: That was fun! Thanks for attending the match, y’all.

Design for the Wisdom of Crowds

In Conferences, Design, Wisdom of Crowds on 16 March 2009 with 2 comments

Yesterday I gave a fun talk at SXSW. Here are a few photos. As promised, here are the slides.

Related links:

Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception study by Jennifer A. Whitson and Adam D. Galinsky.
Study: Seeing Red, Blue Affects Outcome Of Tasks on NPR.
Radiolab episode: Where am I? Don’t miss the story on fighter pilots.

Layer Tennis with Jason Santa Maria

In Design, Event on 27 February 2009 with 1 comment

Today I’m playing Layer Tennis with Jason Santa Maria with none other than Jim Coudal doing the play-by-play. This is like the principal of the school being your substitute teacher.
UPDATE: Today’s match was cancelled due to a power outage in Chicago. Don’t worry, we’ll reschedule. But no match today. :(
UPDATE 2: Our match has been [...]

We Are What We Do Not Automate

In Design, Interface, Technology on 10 February 2009 with 12 comments

For a while I’ve been keeping a mental list of things I used to have to do myself that technology now does for me. Like: stamp envelopes, wash dishes, pay bills. But nothing snaps the encroachment of technology into focus like buying a car.
A few months ago, I bought a new car – my [...]

Dig My New Lamp

In Design on 27 January 2009 with 5 comments

So there’s this awesome site called Ponoko where you can create your own laser-cut 3D products. And, even better, people can share their designs. So when I wanted a new desk lamp, I visited the site, found an awesome design, downloaded it, gave it my own twist, and ordered my new lamp. The hardest part [...]

Context is Everything

In Design, Powazek on 26 January 2009 with 7 comments

Web visitors might notice a new header. Take a moment to examine it and ask yourself, which orange dot is larger, the right or the left?
The answer is, neither. They’re exactly the same size. It’s called the Ebbinghaus illusion. The perceptual size of each orange dot changes because of what’s around it.
I like the Ebbinghaus [...]

Ignore the Content

In Community, Design, TILTHW, Work on 13 January 2009 with 20 comments

Sometimes, when dealing with an interpersonal conflict, logically addressing the complaints is that last thing that will help. Instead, try to address the emotion behind it.

What’s Your Suggestion?

In Business, Design, TILTHW, Work on 13 January 2009 with 20 comments

Critique sessions are rarely about suggesting solutions. In fact, to suggest alternatives would be insulting. It’d be like someone telling Picasso to make all those brush strokes blend in more.

Reflections on the new MacBook Pro

In Apple, Design on 18 October 2008 with 37 comments

I love almost everything about the new MacBook Pros. The new “unibody” case, carved out of a single piece of aluminum, is a stunning achievement, making the device feel both light and solid. The new “no button” trackpad is brilliant. Use it once and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. The machine, from [...]

Making Wooden Business Cards with Ponoko

In Design, How to on 13 October 2008 with 11 comments

Ponoko is a New Zealand-based print-on-demand service for 3D objects. I decided to give them a try by making some wooden business cards. Here’s how it went.

I started by downloading the Ponoko Illustrator templates. Their “Making Guide” is excellent. Basically you use different colors to denote laser cuts and fills in light, medium, or dark [...]