Journal

Notes onthe work.

• 2026-09-24

  How to reduce form abandonment: order, validation and recovery

  I focus on field order, well-timed validation and recoverable errors to reduce avoidable exits, then measure completed submissions rather than clicks on the submit button.

  7 min
• 2026-09-23

  How to evaluate an ai feature before you ship it

  I evaluate automated features with representative test cases, structured failure logs, and a completion metric that counts correction work rather than hiding it.

  7 min
• 2026-09-23

  How to choose injection moulding versus cnc for a first run

  I compare first-run quantities, tooling commitments and geometry limits to decide when machining buys useful flexibility and when moulding justifies its higher upfront cost.

  7 min
• 2026-09-22

  Workflow automation versus design: which should I choose?

  I compare interface fixes with automation by looking at decision quality, exception handling, maintenance cost and the work that should disappear before anything gets connected.

  7 min
• 2026-09-22

  How to serve images faster with responsive image optimisation

  I treat image delivery as three decisions: which file to send, how much detail the screen needs, and when the browser should request it.

  7 min
• 2026-09-21

  How to use spacing tokens with a 4-point spacing system

  I use a four-point spacing scale, shared layout rules and a small exception policy to keep design files and production layouts from gradually drifting apart.

  7 min
• 2026-09-20

  How to prioritise a backlog when everything is urgent

  I use weighted scoring, explicit exceptions and a fixed capacity limit to separate urgent requests from work that deserves a place in the next delivery cycle.

  6 min
• 2026-09-20

  How to build an ai content pipeline that stays on brand

  I use explicit voice rules, approved examples and automated review gates to keep generated content consistent, with human approval for claims and sensitive material.

  7 min
• 2026-09-19

  Design critique format: how to improve the work

  I use a timed design critique with explicit roles, focused questions, and a decision record to turn competing opinions into changes worth making.

  6 min
• 2026-09-19

  How to build a ui type scale that survives real content

  I choose type sizes around actual interface content, then test line height, text width and wrapping before turning those decisions into reusable tokens.

  7 min
• 2026-09-18

  How to choose one product success metric for a feature

  I choose a feature’s accountable metric by defining the behaviour it should change, fixing the denominator, and checking the measurement before anyone gets access.

  7 min
• 2026-09-18

  How to ship accessible components with keyboard support

  I build accessible components around native controls, predictable focus and documented keyboard behaviour, then test the rendered result rather than trusting the component library.

  7 min
• 2026-09-17

  How to add ai to a product without eroding trust

  I treat disclosure, correction and recovery as product requirements, with practical patterns for showing what automation does and keeping consequential decisions under user control.

  7 min
• 2026-09-17

  How to design a high converting landing page without shouting

  I build landing pages around a clear offer, evidence beside the relevant claim, and one action that makes sense for the visitor.

  7 min
• 2026-09-16

  How to automate client onboarding from contract to kickoff

  I build client onboarding around verified triggers, recoverable actions and one human approval, with clear rules for missing information, duplicate events and failed handoffs.

  7 min
• 2026-09-16

  How to design a pitch deck that reads in 90 seconds

  I build pitch decks around a short reading sequence, claim-led headlines and restrained graphics, then test what someone can recall after ninety seconds.

  7 min
• 2026-09-15

  How to improve Largest Contentful Paint: four fixes

  I diagnose slow Largest Contentful Paint by separating server response, resource discovery, download time and rendering, then fixing the part that actually delays visible content.

  7 min
• 2026-09-14

  How to design readable data tables: density and defaults

  I design readable tables around the comparison someone needs to make, then set density, alignment, scrolling and defaults to keep that task straightforward.

  7 min
• 2026-09-14

  Mobile first web design: layouts that work at every width

  I start with content priorities, then use layout pressure, reachable controls and deliberate expansion to make mobile first web design work beyond a narrow screen.

  7 min
• 2026-09-13

  How to reduce JavaScript bundle size as a project grows

  I keep growing web projects fast by budgeting initial JavaScript, splitting optional features, and checking browser work rather than trusting a smaller output folder.

  6 min
• 2026-09-13

  How to write ui microcopy that removes hesitation

  I use specific labels, timely explanations and clear consequences to help people complete forms, recover from errors and make decisions without second-guessing the interface.

  7 min
• 2026-09-12

  How to set typography for reading long articles on screen

  I set long-form screen typography by balancing line length, leading and paragraph spacing, then testing the hierarchy against real content and narrow screens.

  7 min
• 2026-09-12

  Web imagery art direction: how to choose meaningful images

  I choose website imagery by its purpose, then test whether the crop, placement and alternative text preserve that purpose on small screens.

  7 min
• 2026-09-11

  How to map a user journey your team will actually use

  I keep journey maps useful by limiting their scope, separating evidence from assumptions, and connecting each friction point to a decision someone can make.

  7 min
• 2026-09-11

  Product design brief template: six lines that reduce rework

  I use six lines to agree the problem, user, outcome, time budget, boundaries and risky assumptions before design decisions become expensive to reverse.

  7 min
• 2026-09-10

  How to prepare artwork for print: colour, bleed and proofs

  I treat print artwork preparation as a production check: agree the colour settings, build enough bleed, inspect image resolution and approve a proof that matches the job.

  7 min
• 2026-09-10

  How to scope an mvp without cutting its value

  I scope a first release around one complete user outcome, then cut variations, automation and reach before touching the parts that make it useful.

  7 min
• 2026-09-09

  How to run a usability test with five users

  I use five-person usability tests to find friction in a specific task, with a neutral script, consistent notes, and clear limits on the conclusions.

  7 min
• 2025-03-10

  The Quiet Interface

  On the difference between a product that's busy and a product that's working - and why the best interfaces feel like they were always there.

  6 min
• 2024-11-02

  Design Systems Are Not the Point

  Why most design systems collapse under their own weight, and what to optimise for instead.

  5 min