409: Twitter’s Follow Button

409: Twitter’s Follow Button

Author: Brian Lovin, Marshall Bock August 18, 2021 Duration: 21:33

This week, we talk about Twitter’s new follow buttons. Are they a mistake? Or a fix for something broken that we’d all become used to? Our opinions on buttons emerge! In The Sidebar, we talk about what to do with time off.

Sponsor:

  • Baronfig makes tools for thinkers: guided journals, simple notebooks, writing instruments, bags, desk organizers, travel accessories, and more. Their products are beautiful, functional, and simple — we use them and love them. Use the promo code DESIGNDETAILS21 to get 20% off your purchase of $50 or more.

Latest VIP Patrons:

  • Macarena
  • Eunice Kim
  • Jean
  • Ivy Mukherjee
  • Akhil Lochen
  • Jak Stronstad
  • Jing Jin
  • Agnieszka Kroczek
  • Nicky

Golden Ratio Supporters:

Plume empowers a billion smart devices in homes and small businesses through a suite of adaptive WiFi, AI security, and parental control. They're hiring product designers to build the future of smart home services. They're hiring product designers with 2-5 years of experience shipping products — learn more at designdetails.fm/plume. Oh, and they just raised a $270m series E, so now's the time!

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.

Main Topic:

This week, we talk about Twitter’s new follow buttons. Are they a mistake? Or a fix for something broken that we’d all become used to? Our opinions on buttons emerge!

Cool Things:

  • Brian shared The White Lotus, a social satire set over the course of a week-long vacation in Hawaii. The tension is real, and it’s good!
  • Marshall shared 100 Foot Wave, a six-part miniseries on HBO about the decade-long odyssey of surfing pioneer Garrett McNamara who dreams of conquering a 100 foot wave.

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
414: Memorable Software Moments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
This week, we recall our most recent “wow” moments with the products in our lives. What are yours? In The Sidebar, we talk about different loading state strategies and their impact on the user experience.Golden Ratio Sup…
413: Design Mentorship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:27
This week, we talk about design mentorship: what does an effective mentor do, how to find a mentor, how to avoid giving bad career advice, and more. In The Sidebar, we talk about obsessing over the pixels, wasting time o…
412: Side Project Perfectionism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
This week, we talk about how we combat perfectionism in our side projects, the value of shipping, and why sharing a project too early can backfire. In the Sidebar, we recap Apple’s September event with our hot takes and…
411: Follow-upisode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:31
This week, we follow up on last week’s conversation about designing at agencies, hiring contractors, Yelp’s app icons, and Bock’s Constant. In the Sidebar, we talk about designing with your mind’s eye and how learning to…
410: Agency vs In-House Design [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:46
This week, we compare agency vs. in-house design work, dissect the tradeoffs, and share interview tips for anyone moving from an agency to a product company. In The Sidebar, we share our favorite Keynote tips and tricks…
408: News Desk, Vol. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
This week, we talk about Yelp’s new logo and app icons, Apple’s new child safety initiatives, and the miniature masterpieces of the Olympic pictograms. In the Sidebar, we curate practical negotiation tips, strategies, an…
407: Pixel 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:46
This week, we talk about the new Pixel 6 announcement, how it stacks up against the competition, and what we’re most excited about. In The Sidebar, we share our design regrets: things we shipped that ended up being mista…
406: Who Leads UI Design? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:55
This week, we dig into questions like: who should design a team’s visual style guide? And: who should break a tie in subjective aesthetic arguments? In The Sidebar, we share our tips and strategies for succeeding as a ne…
405: News Desk, Vol. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:43
This week, we talk about the new Microsoft emoji, a cool Android 12 feature, the joy of watching Apple iterate in public, and the new “King of Buttons” aka the Steam Deck. In The Sidebar, we talk about the challenge of h…
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…