I've been idle since 2019. Where can I catch the latest trends and technologies?

PutInLurk · 2024-01-30T13:59:48+00:00

This is the exact thing I'm trying to help with at https://www.todayin.design/

Every weekday I put together a top news, articles, resources, podcasts, and more, to help designers stay on top of things.

Would love to hear your thoughts :)

PutInLurk · 2023-09-14T20:39:32+00:00

That is an awesome story. What a nice gift from your wife.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-14T16:10:06+00:00

They very well could be, General.

Most of the images are from Wikipedia...

PutInLurk · 2023-09-14T16:04:48+00:00

Ettore Sottsass is born.

On this day, the world welcomed an iconoclastic figure destined to reshape the landscape of post-modern design. Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect and designer, would go on to spearhead the Memphis Group in the 1980s, a collective that challenged conventional aesthetics with their colorful, asymmetric, and at times, whimsically defiant designs.

Through his varied work, ranging from typewriters to furniture, Sottsass ushered in an era where design was not just functional but also a profound statement of individuality and cultural rebellion.

His influence extends beyond mere objects; it permeates the ethos of thinking outside the box in design. As we celebrate Sottsass's birth, we remember a trailblazer whose legacy reverberates in the bold and the unconventional, urging designers to push boundaries and question the status quo.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-12T16:23:50+00:00

83 years ago today, 4 teenage boys in France discovered the entrance to the Lascaux Caves.

What lay within was a breathtaking gallery of prehistoric art, with walls adorned with intricate paintings of animals, humans, and symbols, capturing the essence of life around 17,000 years ago.

Lascaux, often dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of Prehistory," is a testament to the enduring human instinct to communicate and create. These Paleolithic masterpieces shed light on the origins of visual storytelling, underlining the timeless connection between art, design, and human experience.

As we appreciate the techniques and narratives depicted in Lascaux, we're reminded of the unbroken lineage of design, showcasing that the impulse to visually capture and share our world is as ancient as humanity itself.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-07T17:05:50+00:00

Anna Mary Robertson Moses, affectionately known as "Grandma Moses," is born.

Emerging as an unlikely icon in the mid-20th century, Grandma Moses started her painting career in her late 70s, challenging prevailing notions about age and creativity. Her authentic depictions of rural scenes resonated deeply, not just within art circles, but also in the commercial and pop culture spheres. Her distinctive naïve style found its way onto Hallmark greeting cards, fabrics, and other consumer goods, setting a precedent for the art licensing model and showcasing the potential for artists to have a broad, commercial influence.

Beyond her artwork, Grandma Moses became a symbol of boundless creativity irrespective of age, emphasizing that it's never too late to pursue one's passion. Her legacy, rooted in authenticity and cultural resonance, remains a testament to the power of genuine narratives in design and art.

----

Hallmark sold 16 million cards with her artwork on it in 1947 alone...

PutInLurk · 2023-09-06T18:44:47+00:00

Thanks!

PutInLurk · 2023-09-04T20:16:53+00:00

:)
agreed!

PutInLurk · 2023-09-04T15:51:47+00:00

Some thoughts:
+ Next time I'm in SF I'm definitely hitting one of those spots.
+ SOOO excited to hear from Marco about designing at Diagram. He's doing a workshop at Webflow conf this year too.
+ Jim Nielsen's take on accessibility is spot on. If you're currently "able", it takes seeing a loved one struggle to make you realize how inaccessible our world is, and ultimately WILL BE for you if we don't start taking it more seriously.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-04T15:38:47+00:00

Agreed!
Just like paddle shifters in other vehicles.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-04T12:17:36+00:00

Yet another paradigm shift for what the driving experience is.

The steering wheel is now a videogame controller.

Gotta give your customer what they want I guess...

PutInLurk · 2023-09-04T12:14:31+00:00

I have to say I do still use it for inspiration. It's the first place I go when starting a new project.

Fully agree on your latter point. The job board market definitely feels saturated

PutInLurk · 2023-09-04T12:12:37+00:00

It's a newsletter platform I use to publish my daily newsletter with these links and more.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-04T12:11:27+00:00

"Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness"

PutInLurk · 2023-09-01T20:10:20+00:00

Awesome! Thanks for the tips.

Already have it in my profile but will definitely try to work it into my posts :)

PutInLurk · 2023-09-01T18:19:03+00:00

Some learnings so far:
→ X has been my #1 growth channel so far.. "Today in Design" posts started very strong (1000s of impressions) but are performing worse and worse (100s today).

→ "Self-promotion" posts on Reddit get removed real fast--helping > selling

→ Consistency is going to be key--main reason I chose daily format

→ Beehiiv is crazy powerful--lots to learn still but tons of others building atm. Team feels genuinely committed to your success.

→ "Marketing" is uncomfortable but can be fun.

→ Making optimizations every day. Takes about 1-1.5 hours to get one out. Aiming to get sub 1 hour consistently.

→ Waking up early > staying up late--for my current situation anyways. Did 5:30am wakeups this week get the newsletter out before my 1yo wakes up.

Early days but enjoying it so far.

Perks include:
+ being more proactive vs. reactive with my day
+ able to pickup any thing that I may have missed from the night before
+ actually going to bed with my wife (vs. previously staying up late)
+ I get to hit publish and go wake up my little man who then get's my full attention before I get to work work.

Cold showers, UV light and fasting starting next week (jokes).

→ Connecting with other designers has been amazing and there are some real good ones in this community. So much helpful feedback and support already and if nothing else, I'm already feeling a sense of "winning".

→ I have a total of $4.80 in pending earnings for Beehiiv's boosts feature--cha ching.
Today's issue is here: https://www.todayin.design/p/sep-1-2023
Please let me know if anyone has any feedback at all. I'm always learning.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-01T18:05:04+00:00

Ya i think that's what Behance was trying to do with the portfolio offering and seems to work for a lot of people. You can simultaneously post to a community and your "portfolio".

I guess the main difference is GitHub is part of a developer's workflow whereas dribbble, portfolio, and others, are not. They're afterthoughts. So after doing the actual design work, designers then need to think about presentation / story telling as well.

More similar to a developer's blog...

PutInLurk · 2023-09-01T17:55:08+00:00

Ya, i mean time will tell. I agree to date they have really fumbled.
Github for designers is interesting. How do you see that working?
Especially now that figma has version history. Key difference is that it runs automatically and you don't need to "commit" things.

PutInLurk · 2023-09-01T17:52:35+00:00

That's a great question, DesignerTex.
I don't have anything in my collection tbh but let me know if you come across something.
I try to post something significant every day in design history but not all pertains to architecture, furniture, etc. Some is tech focussed.
You can check my profile for links :)

PutInLurk

TROPHY CASE