Snatch cleverly and non-destructively converts any bag into a sling
“To delight someone is to give them a small lesson in seeing the world as something good.”
— FRANK CHIMERO
This time we’re colliding good enough vs. perfect, city vs. country life, Raiders of the Lost Ark, minibikes and a side project. Please skip around, read what you want to. Find something interesting in your own internet travels? Send me a link
—JH
Side Project
I thought you’d enjoy seeing a side project this time. This just went live last week.
Pathwright began in a spare bedroom, but took off at a coworking space. We’ve been working out of Atlaslocal (called simply “CoWork” when I joined in 2011) off and on for fifteen years. It’s independently owned and operated here in Greenville, our hometown.
Sure, the space has hundred-year-old brick walls. Yes, gobs of natural light. A walkable neighborhood, mmhmm.
But the people have always make it special to me. When you’re trying to launch products and features, it really helps to work next to folks with at least as much grit and high standards as you do.
Over the summer I started planning a new website for Atlaslocal. They needed a better representation of their community. And I was itching to try some new things in Framer, my favorite site builder (pathwright.com runs on Framer too).
My concept was to create an arrivals/departures board with actual members to give you a feel for the place. Atlaslocal member and photographer Evan Taylor filled it out beautifully with views of the interior. I love how it all came together.
Look, I do like making web pages. But I love making toys. I hid a few small fun surprises throughout the site.
PS: 👀 Did you discover what “paths” right above the footer on pathwright.com does if you leave your cursor over it?
PPS: If you’re curious about how I built any of this, hit reply and ask! I love talking shop.
10 curious links that would have killed the cat
👜 Snatch is a non-destructive way to convert bags into comfortable slings. And the clips are AirTag compatible! Genius.
CW&T ∙ Designed Objects
🎨 Color Palette Pro is like a sound mixing board but for colors. I loved playing with approaches to building a palette. The responsive design is elegant too—try dragging the window smaller and watch the buttons rearrange.
Color Palette Pro ∙ Tool
💡 Photographic brilliance—click the toggle at the top right. Absolute triumph of art direction and super helpful for shopping purposes. Sometimes you can have it all.
In Common With ∙ Website
🚦 Should your strategy be shipping “good enough” or taking the time to get it right instead? The truth is that no one can decide that for you. Choosing hinges on what you, your resources and your market need. We say both “the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results” and “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. Both true, depending.
Trevor Lasn & Anton Sten ∙ Blog Posts
🎬 Why Raiders of the Lost Ark still looks like a billion bucks. Short answer: It’s all practical effects, even Ford running for his life from that boulder 12 times for the shot. “A computer could do it faster and more perfectly and it would not move you. What moves you is Harrison Ford.”
YouTube ∙ Video
Goro lives life at his own pace
😌 In the mountains of Hokkaido, Goro Obata traded city rules for freedom. “If I just drift, in no time I’ll be an old man. I want to build a fun lifestyle. I could really see myself getting old quickly. So—even if I might get in trouble sometimes—I think sticking to my lifestyle is better for living a richer life.”
YouTube ∙ Video
📚 Enter books you’ve read, get recommendations on what to read next. Solve for too much holiday downtime with more than turkey and movie marathons. I know their model works because after three inputs it spit out a list of other books I’ve read and loved.
Book Recommendations ∙ Tool
🚲 Or get outdoors and rebuild a vintage bike frame instead. Bike Rebuilds shows completed rebuilds with a list of the components you’ll need to follow each build’s recipe.
Bike Rebuilds ∙ Website
🛞 Onewheel made the ‘70s-style electric minibike of your dreams. Just like the good ol’ days. But it doesn’t leak gas on your floor or sound like a bag of pennies falling down a fire escape when it’s running.
Antic Bikes ∙ Product
🔪 The third Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man, hits Netflix in 10 days. I just rewatched the first one—still great. The second was a little silly for me but prescient about how we’d view tech billionaires.
Youtube ∙ Movie Trailer
in Greenville, SC
2 things for you this time:
1️⃣⛺️ We just wrapped up PathCamp for this year two weeks ago. I really enjoyed trading ideas with all of you that came! I already have a few ideas for next year…
2️⃣👋 We don’t do Black Friday deals or anything like that but we do offer free, friendly support 365 :) If you’re trying to figure out something new, chat with our Support folks. We’ll get you connected to whomever on our team knows the most about whatever’s on your mind.
This morning I walked the dog through what my weather app called “Wintry Mix” (significantly less delicious than it sounds). Too wet out to wear headphones—I brought my thoughts instead.
I don’t know about you, but this time of year I require a lot more processing time than usual. In the summer, the living’s easy. But over winter holidays the dryer of my mind always has a load of thoughts tumbling toward dry.
Take yourself for a walk today, even if it’s a Wintry Mix out. It’s good to give your mind fresh air too :)
High five,
Justin Hall
Editor, Partner at Pathwright