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Annotated
artificial intelligence

Annotated

Thinking about the overlaps between culture, commerce, ethics, design, people and technology, one messy idea at a time.

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Splitting Atoms & Splitting Hairs
Jun 10, 2026
Atomic design got us from thinking about pages to thinking about components, but we don't need to keep carrying the periodic table around.
1
atomic designdesign systems
The value is in the difficulty
May 14, 2026
On building software, vibe coding, and what happens to market prices when the barriers fall
2
software developmentproduct marketing
Interaction Costs: The High Price of Low Usability
Mar 18, 2026
How Balsamiq's recent redesign broke rapid wire-framing.
product designusability
I work, I think?
Mar 7, 2026
How AI may quietly dismantle the feedback loop that turns inexperienced people into competent ones, and why my work matters to me.
artificial intelligencework ethos
Stop asking users what they want — and start watching what they do.
Dec 4, 2025
People's opinions about themselves and the things they use rarely match real behaviour.
The point is to understand
Oct 16, 2025
Machines can’t make sense of the world for us. Generating content that looks like knowledge isn't the same as producing it. We lose everything by confusing the two.
3
Fidelity scales inline with certainty
Oct 12, 2025
Fidelity in design isn’t about how finished something looks — it’s about knowing when something is ready to be finished.
The AI recruitment ouroboros
Oct 11, 2025
AI is breaking the simple act of getting a job.
Artificial IntelligenceRecruitment
The worst designer I've ever worked with was also the most productive
Oct 9, 2025
When companies mistake volume for value, and incentivise outputs over outcomes.
Bring squiggle birds to your workshops
Oct 8, 2025
A simple silly and powerful drawing exercise that unlocks creative thinking instantly in workshops about complex things
The product designer's paradox
Oct 7, 2025
How UX design’s quest for more influence led to its quiet subordination
Business leaders don’t care about design (and that’s a good thing)
Oct 4, 2025
Or why your boss was probably right not to support your design ideas.