Design For Startups - Issue #30

November 14, 2016

What a week it has been: new currency (or the absence of it), a dash to Delhi for UxNow (talking about Arranged marriage and Ux) and back to Bangalore for the very first edition of DesignUp. All in a weekend.

After the deluge of actionable advice and takeaways from DesignUp (and more coming your way), it's time for some reflective articles. Spanning tech, ideas and intent, work ethics and existential questions...

I have a sneaky suspicion that I've already shared this one earlier. I have revisited this one and I would definitely recommend it for a re-read: "Every day, innovative companies promise to make the world a better place. Are they succeeding?"

This one is a interesting thought piece - thanks to @Somyeah for sharing via a tweet: "One of the most persistent myths in design is that “the best designs are invisible.” There have even been books written about how to make your design more invisible, claiming the best UI is no UI…"

When creativity and tech collide: "Abovitz found an outlet for his creative side in the Hour Blue Project–his own fictional fantasy world, an alien planet full of fantastic creatures like talking robots and flying whales. In 2010 he started a new company, Magic Leap Studios, to develop the project as a graphic novel series and a feature film franchise." And then? This is that fantastical non-fiction...

"Death is on my mind for a lot of reasons. It is the nature of every technology to die. It is the nature, therefore, of a lot of technology businesses to die, which leaves you with an eternal question – how can we stay alive?" 

I would recommend this short talk (14min, via YouTube). Thanks to Ravi Vyas for the video link!

Not exactly Ux...

In a new creative order where instant 'likes' and 'hearts' dominate, here's a thought piece from a very different world. Of work ethic and respect for mastery. Though not Ux, there are certainly takeaways for us all. "For 20 years, Mira Nakashima singularly focused on mastering the craft of woodworking alongside her father, her perfectionist teacher. After finally taking over the family’s studio, she looks back and answers the question: Was the sacrifice worth it?"

Until next week,

@JDallcaps @SAIFpartners