Typography
Why Letter Spacing Changes the Pace of a Page
Letter spacing changes the texture and reading rhythm of a page. Learn what to compare in type, from counters and word…
The archive
All stories
Browse close readings of type, images, symbols and layouts. Each piece starts with a visual question and follows the choices that shape what we see.
Images
Photograph or Illustration: Choosing a Visual Lead
Photograph or illustration: choosing a visual lead by tone and specificity helps you pick an image that sets the right…
Design History
The Arrow Before the App Icon
Trace the arrow before the app icon through documented print examples, and learn to distinguish directional marks from…
Symbols
The Myth of the Universally Obvious Icon
Universally obvious icons are rarer than they look. Learn to check an icon’s visual form, state and label so its…
Layout
A One-Page Event Handout That Works in a Busy Room
A one-page event handout layout helps people find times, rooms and next steps amid chatter, queues and quick glances…
Our point of view
Design is a way of seeing.
We look past the surface to notice how form, context and visual choices shape meaning.