Recent Blog Posts
Why good design usually starts with better constraints
“We’re open to anything” sounds generous. It’s the worst brief you can get, because nothing in it tells you when a decision is right. Real constraints eliminate bad options and give you a test you can actually run.
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Apple Spent a Year Defending Liquid Glass. In macOS 27, It Started Fixing It.
Mac users spent a year complaining about Liquid Glass, from unreadable sidebars to battery drain on older machines. At WWDC26, Apple stopped defending it and started fixing it. Here’s what changed in macOS 27, including the new clear-to-tinted slider, the rebuilt material, and the return of a uniform toolbar.
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Why the Design Phase Makes or Breaks a Furniture Project
Most commercial furniture projects focus heavily on materials, finishes, and installation timelines. These details matter, …
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What Four ’80s Movies Taught Me About Design Before I Knew It Was Design
Nostalgia is a lazy argument. “It was better back then” isn’t a claim, it’s a …
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Take a Hike: Why the Outdoors Makes You a Better Designer
Stepping away from the screen and into the wild can unlock better ideas. Hiking, camping, and unplugging help break creative blocks and sharpen your instincts as a designer.
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I’m John McArnold. Retired designer and agency owner. Welcome to my journal.