Importance of design/taste in products

Your average e-mail client, browser software, spreadsheet software does not have an opinion regarding how it should be used. Instead, it provides a maximum of flexibility which is appreciated by the average user, yet, not optimal for particular target groups. This enables an untapped potential for challenger firms which are capable of two things ( ... See more

Opinionated = Strong character 👨🏻‍🎤: Products such as Superhuman or Roam Research stand for something — they polarize. An E-Mail ending with “sent via Superhuman” signals professionalism. It’s more than the aura of a new product — it can become a sustainable branding advantage. Overall, I’m convinced that the importance of branding will increase... See more

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But what happens when the default approach conflicts with customer feedback? The Linear team believes there’s an art and a science to it. The team is generally more opinionated at the atomic level—deciding to add labels and due dates as issue properties, for example. As they move up the stack to broader concepts like projects, they take more cues ... See more

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At past companies, the team saw how steep learning curves and jargon kept people from adopting certain productivity apps. Rather than coming up with new terms, the Linear team landed on straightforward units of work—like projects and teams—that are universal and easy to understand. One of the team’s firm opinions is that you shouldn’t need a hand... See more

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At past companies, the team saw how steep learning curves and jargon kept people from adopting certain productivity apps. Rather than coming up with new terms, the Linear team landed on straightforward units of work—like projects and teams—that are universal and easy to understand. One of the team’s firm opinions is that you shouldn’t need a hand... See more

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At its core, opinionated software is software that’s purpose-built for specific use cases. At Linear, that use case is helping teams build better products. Unlike a general purpose tool to be adopted across many disciplines or workflows, it guides you toward a default process. “We design it so that there’s one really good way of doing things,” say... See more

Unlike scattered, generalized software, a laser-focused niche permits your brand to create visuals that actually resonate with your user base instead of abstract visuals to suit the masses.Think about how different an accounting software for tattoo shops would look compared to Quickbooks.Or how you could integrate pool-party motifs into a CRM for p... See more

And how do you apply it to the services and apps we design? The Browser Company has written that software can optimize for emotional needs rather than just functional needs. Jason Yuan has promoted the idea of “fidgetability” where, similar to a key fob or lighter, digital actions can be designed to feel satisfying. Rahul Vohra has talked about mak... See more

Feel is not something we talk much about as digital product designers. It’s difficult to quantify in metrics or even describe in words, so it tends to fall to the bottom of a priority list. But we know it’s important. As legend goes, what sold internal teams at Apple on the bold choice of building a phone around a touchscreen interface was the simp... See more