---
title: The shape of design & measuring what matters
date: 2025-09-23
source: mailchimp
original: https://mailchi.mp/pathwright/collider-september-23-25
retrieved: 2026-11-09
visibility: public
author: /people/justin-hall.person.md
---

# The shape of design & measuring what matters

[![The indestructible ’79 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon conquers sand dunes with ease](./assets/hero.webp)](https://www.gq.com/story/history-of-mercedes-g-wagon-gelandewagen)

*The indestructible [’79 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon](https://www.gq.com/story/history-of-mercedes-g-wagon-gelandewagen) conquers sand dunes with ease*

> *“When you make something no one hates, no one loves it.”*
>
> —Tibor Kalman

This time we’re colliding the shape of design, a concert meant to put you to sleep, moon photos from 1874 and going beyond smile sheets. 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

---

*Live Session*

## Measure What Matters

PathCamp Live Session ∙ [View in browser](https://paths.pathwright.com/library/pathcamp-25-235512/register/701390/)

PathCamp ’25 is back this Thursday for another noon session. Here’s Christian to intro Will Thalheimer, our speaker:

[![](./assets/feature-1.webp)](https://paths.pathwright.com/library/pathcamp-25-235512/register/701390/)

Will Thalheimer has spent years studying how to make course evaluations more meaningful. In this session, he’ll share practical insights from his book *Performance-Focused Learner Surveys*, which challenges the limits of traditional “smile sheets” and offers research-based ways to ask better questions.

You’ll learn simple, evidence-driven techniques for crafting questions that capture learning impact, encourage thoughtful responses, and yield feedback you can actually use to improve teaching and course design.

Join us for a lunch hour session live on Zoom with Q&A to follow. See you there!

[Save my spot](https://paths.pathwright.com/library/pathcamp-25-235512/register/701390/)

---

## Dead Cat

*10 curious links that would have killed the cat*

[@include](./01-dataguessr-is-a-game-that-helps-you-update-your-knowledge-of.link.md)

[@include](./02-there-is-nothing-to-watch.link.md)

[@include](./03-the-shape-of-design.link.md)

[@include](./04-why-a-good-user-experience-isnt-enough.link.md)

[@include](./05-when-composer-max-richter-premiered-sleep-in-2015-the.link.md)

[@include](./06-james-nasmyth-made-what-look-like-photos-of-the-lunar.link.md)

[@include](./07-vw-sings-happy-birthday-to-itself-with-a-chorus-of-screaming.link.md)

[@include](./08-speaking-of-cars-the-history-of-the-mercedes-benz-g-wagon.link.md)

[@include](./09-an-hour-and-twenty-two-minutes-of-excellent-jazz-on-vinyl.link.md)

[@include](./10-nycs-best-cubano-is-hidden-in-times-square.link.md)

---

## New at HQ

*in Greenville, SC*

One interesting bit of news from us here in Greenville, SC.

🏆 As I mentioned above, Thursday we’re doing a live session at Noon ET called [Measure What Matters](https://www.pathwright.com/pathcamp#session-3). Join us for Will Thalheimer’s method of measuring actual impact from your courses. See you there!

[Save my spot](https://paths.pathwright.com/library/pathcamp-25-235512/register/701390/)

---

As I write this I’m sitting in a bag chair at the mouth of my garage, looking out at the neighborhood.

Leaves drift down lazily. I can barely hear a jet reaching altitude as it slides through atmospheric strata far above me. I see the deep blue butterfly that likes our rose bush at the front of the lawn fluttering past.

Inside, my dog barks at the sound of a passing truck. She was up sick last night. All the house windows are open—you can figure out why. She’s fine now; just a bug she picked up from the pet hotel last weekend. Soon she’ll be sniffing the pile of shoes by the entryway, her way of asking for a walk.

But for now, thank goodness for bag chairs, laptops and good weather. It really is amazing to be able to work from anywhere.

High five,

[Justin Hall](https://www.pathwright.com/about#humans)\
Editor, Partner at [Pathwright](https://www.pathwright.com/)