Mario and Luigi were actually themeable UI elements
“Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.”
— PAUL RAND
This time we’re colliding IKEA catalogs, themeable UIs, talking parrots, surfing dogs and content marketing. More on that last one next.
Skip around, read what you want to! Find something interesting in your internet travels? Send me a link
—JH
Article
By Mark Johnson.
10 curious links that would have killed the cat
🎨 The history of themeable user interfaces. Catch up on how UI got from Xerox to Winamp to customized AI experiences in about 10 minutes of reading and pictures.
🤖 21 ways people are using AI at work. From selecting wine to helping pets get adopted, folks are getting more practical with AI.
🇸🇪 Explore 70 years of IKEA catalogs. “For over 70 years, the IKEA catalogue was produced in Älmhult, constantly growing in number, scope and distribution. The 2021 IKEA catalogue was the very last one printed on paper.”
🗿 Grug make design. Grug not know much. This one’s from my coworker Mark Johnson and man is it good. I wrote down “grug believe in ‘make → test → cry → fix’ “.
🦜 Scientists taught pet parrots to video call each other—and the birds loved it. I identify with just wanting to see my friends more too!
The entire galaxy, according to Star Wars
🗺️ Star Wars Galaxy map shows everything from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim. If you’ve ever wondered how close Alderaan is to Coruscant, this is your moment.
🌊 Photos of dogs surfing at the World Dog Surfing Championship. Which is, I assure you, a real thing.
📚 Everything Kevin Kelly knows about self-publishing. Super interesting to read from a guy who’s tried it all.
☕️ Learning to love light roast espresso. Sweet notes, turbo shots, and modernist coffee renegades.
🐭 Charles E. Cheese arrested for credit card fraud. “New bodycam video from Tallahassee shows surreal moments when the beloved pizza rodent was taken away in handcuffs.”
in Greenville, SC
One interesting bit of news from us here in Greenville, SC.
👀 We’re in early beta with a new feature we’re calling Cover Pages. Cover Pages upgrades your About Page to a more modern, attractive design that's quicker and easier to browse and sign-up for.
If you're interested in testing it on your account, please apply here.
As I write this, all the windows in my house are open.
A breeze blows through, carrying the sound of ruffled leaves mostly still on their trees. The pressure change keeps slamming shut a door upstairs. Warm sunny patches on the floor attract my basking-prone cats. Thomas Newman’s soundtrack for the pretty good The Thursday Murder Club plays over my living room Sonos speakers.
It’s a good morning to get things done. Hope you’re having the same!
High five,
Justin Hall
Editor, Partner at Pathwright