403: The Confidence Gradient

403: The Confidence Gradient

Author: Brian Lovin, Marshall Bock June 30, 2021 Duration: 27:47

This week, we talk about the confidence gradient, how we’ve built confidence over time, and the funny circumstances that can take us out of our element. In The Sidebar, we share our first impressions of Windows 11 and talk about the growing convergence of operation system designs.


Golden Ratio Supporter:

Around

Around is a better way to video call. It’s designed specifically to make it easier to gather small groups together to collaborate in real time, without all the distracting and frustrating interfaces that comes with most video chat software. We love the small floating heads and emphasis on making it easy to work alongside the video call, rather than constantly having to app switch.

You can get started for free by signing up at Around.co!


Latest VIP Patrons:

  • Wiggens
  • Anca Dobrea
  • Frannie Laks
  • Yang You
  • Henning Witzel
  • Ritesh Mandaliya
  • Jeffrey Ayigsi

The Sidebar:

The Sidebar is an exclusive weekly segment for our Patreon supporters. You can subscribe starting at $1 per month for access to bonus content going forward! Sign up at patreon.com/designdetails.


Followup:


Tweets:

  • Ritesh outlined some reasons why he enjoys the show. Thank you for the kind words!
  • Moody asked: is there a way to support the podcast aside from Patreon? – just keep listening! Sharing with friends, tweeting at us, or rating the show on Apple Podcasts are also helpful.

Main Topic:

This week, we talk about our experiences of being in high and low confidence situations, how we’ve dealt with confidence over time, and the funny circumstances that can take us out of our element.


Cool Things:

  • Brian shared Dreamland by Glass Animals. Very catchy, be warned.
  • Marshall shared LEGO Masters Season 2, now from Australia and the UK! SO much LEGO, so little time.

Design Details on the Web:


Byeee!


Every week, Brian Lovin and Marshall Bock settle in for a thoughtful, often meandering chat that pulls back the curtain on how things are made. Their Design Details podcast lives in the rich space where technology and the arts intersect, focusing less on polished case studies and more on the real, sometimes messy, work of design. You’ll hear them dissect the nuances of product decisions, debate the evolving culture of creative teams, and share personal stories from their own experiences in the industry. It feels less like a lecture and more like eavesdropping on a conversation between two deeply knowledgeable friends. The discussions regularly venture into the philosophical side of craft, examining why certain choices resonate and how design shapes our daily interactions with the world. For anyone curious about the thinking behind the pixels and interfaces, this show offers a consistent, grounded perspective. Tuning in provides a sense of community and a candid look at the process, making it a staple for designers and creators who appreciate substance over flash.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Design Details
Podcast Episodes
404: Visual Design and Craft ft. Justin Stahl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:38
This week, we talk with Justin Stahl about visual design and craft, the impact of design systems and tools on the visual landscape, tactical tips for a stronger design interview, and much more. In The Sidebar, we ask Jus…
402: Margin Considered Harmful [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:31
This week, we dig into the best way to think about margin and padding in your component system. In The Sidebar, we break down the basics of design advising and angel investing.Golden Ratio Supporter:AroundAround is a bet…
401: Three Dots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:29
This week, we talk about a ubiquitous design crutch: the three dot menu. We examine the spread of this pattern and discuss potential solutions to avoid it. In The Sidebar, we recap WWDC 2021 and dive deep into our favori…
400: Is Software Ever Finished? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:37
This week, we try to answer a simple question: is software ever finished? In The Sidebar, we talk money: compounding, investing, negotiating, planning, and more.Golden Ratio Supporter:AroundAround is a better way to vide…
399: Strong Opinions, Weakly Held [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:48
This week, we talk about how the framework Strong Opinions, Weakly Held can be used to effectively critique visual design. In The Sidebar, we recap Google I/O 2021, discussing our favorite announcements, Material You, an…
398: Proof of Curiosity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:55
This week, we dig into two frameworks for leveling up at work: Proof of Curiosity and The Helpful Hierarchy. Whether you’re looking for more accountability, want to stand out in a job interview, or just want to be more i…
397: Customer Feedback vs. Team Intuition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:29
This week, we talk about the tension between building what customers explicitly ask for versus building towards a team’s internal vision. In The Sidebar, we talk about the lack of public software critique: Why isn’t ther…
396: Career Cheat Codes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
This week, we discuss the things we’ve done in our design careers that have had an outsized impact on our professional growth. In The Sidebar, we talk about the anatomy of icons and how that anatomy affects user interfac…
395: Config 2021 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:48
It’s event recap week! In this week’s episode we share our reactions to everything announced at Figma’s Config 2021. In The Sidebar, we dig into our favorite updates and the confusing head-scratchers announced at Apple’s…
394: Open Source Design ft. Joey Banks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:37
This week, we caught up with Joey Banks to talk about contributing to open source design. In the Sidebar, we ask Joey bonus questions about ramping up in a new job, the design advocate role, and being Twitter famous.Late…