Design is entering a new era—customized, but not bespoke. The one-size-fits-all model of persona and pain point is more antiquated than I think most have realized.

ChatGPTV
Watching TV with ChatGPT running so I can ask it for additional details about a scene or what the artists were intending. On-the-fly documentary track.

After all these years, how has the Apple Music team still not figured out a way to make it clear if you’re looking at the Library (local content) versus Apple Music?

Sometimes I honestly wonder what everyone is even doing at a company this large…They barely put out anything, and bugs/design tech persist for decades.

I might be part of an A/B test, but who thought removing star ratings from Amazon’s search results was a good idea? Star ratings are one of the main reasons I use the site. Stupid.

Brilliance is born in the freedom to explore, but true genius lies in the strength to refine.

Designers who hide behind rigid processes and endless documentation stifle creativity and churn out uninspired designs that miss the mark.

In the 2010s, many designers lacked the depth needed to excel, relying on frameworks instead of honing their intuition. Now, they’ve climbed the ranks, enforcing ineffective policies that suffocate innovation. They demand more research and documentation, frustrating those with the vision to make real change.

Recent layoffs have weeded out many of these “B players.” Now is the time for the design industry to refocus on genuine growth and mentorship. Experienced designers should be valued for their expertise and encouraged to guide newcomers, fostering intuition and leadership skills. Companies should prioritize continuous learning and balance structured methods with intuitive decision-making.

By embracing mentorship and ongoing growth, we can elevate design quality and move the industry forward. I think it’s time to champion real expertise and prepare the next generation to lead with vision and creativity.

Via Scott Jenson:

Most importantly, in 99% of cars on the road today, I don’t need to RTFM to turn steer, accelerate, brake, use the turn signals, or turn on the damn defroster. That’s why these things are standardized. There are lots of things I will likely need the manual for but not these basics. The v11 design broke this.

Standardization exists for a reason. When basics become complex (due to clearly baseless modifications), user experience suffers.

This doesn’t appear to be fixed in v12, FYI.

Reddit manages to balance the sensationalism of grocery store tabloids with the pretentiousness of a TED talk.

New states rolling out Apple Wallet supported drivers licenses makes me think there could be an interesting opportunity to have law enforcement register their phones to temporarily accept drivers licenses and insurance when requested during traffic stops. Could make the whole data transfer experience as painless as using a tap-to-pay kiosk.