Design@SAIF - Issue #27

A lot has been happening in the last 2 weeks, as it always does everyday around the world. Bob Dylan won the Nobel for literature and set off celebrations and critiques. Author Hari Kunzru called it the "lamest Nobel win since they gave it to Obama for not being Bush". However, Google seems to have got away with designing an iPhone impersonator. Interestingly the company also unveiled its VR cradle, "aimed at supporting its 'Daydream' layer for standardising VR across the Android ecosystem."

From big announcements to little local things—

In a first, I gave Ux PowerUp (and its readers, you) a break last week. Partly because we were gearing to open up registrations for DesignUp - the 1st Design-For-Startups conference. And 5 days later, we are 76% sold out! I look forward to meeting many of you in mid-November.

In the meantime, here's the interesting and actionable from the last 2 weeks...

If this question was on your mind—then this is the place to hear it, from Tim Brown.

Neil Lutsky writes about data literacy in terms of the “construction, communication, and evaluation of arguments.” Why is this relevant to you as a designer? Well, many design decisions are increasingly driven by data.

There was a time when we said that 4 clicks were one too many. We're now in a world where every tap or swipe is one too many. And increasingly while adoption of alternate interfaces is on the rise what should visual designers do? This may not be a deep article, but its a quick read and a springboard for more discussions.

An interesting thought piece on removing friction: from buttons to batteries. Recommended read and a good one to pair up with the article above.

[Video, 30:12 including some microphone/video issues] A casual, conversational talk from Matias Corea, Co-founder of Behance at Awwwards Conference New York City. The talk resonates with me as it involves a journey through a wide range of design disciplines and (knowing Mathias and Scott)—I am chuffed at their focus on Designer-led (not just Design-led) product definition.

Not exactly Design, but by Design

[Video/Audio 37:21] Paul Dolan is a Professor of Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics, interested in narratives—the "social constructions of stories, in the things that evolution, society, our parents, or historical accident tell us about the lives that we ought to be leading". His special interest is on how they "sometimes get in the way of us being happier".

The author of Happiness by Design shares his story...

Until next week,

@JDallcaps @SAIFpartners